Porkbun's DNS editor has fields for Type, Host, Answer, TTL and Priority. To receive mail at every address on a domain with Free Domain Mail, add one TXT record that proves you own the domain and one MX record that sends incoming mail to mx.freedomainmail.com, then remove Porkbun's own email forwarding MX records.
Step-by-step setup
- 1Sign in to Porkbun, open ACCOUNT, then Domain Management.
- 2Choose Details next to the domain, then the edit icon next to DNS Records.
- 3Add a TXT record with Host _maildock-verify and the maildock-verify=… value shown in the app as the Answer.
- 4Add an MX record with Host left blank, Answer mx.freedomainmail.com and Priority 10.
- 5Delete the fwd1.porkbun.com and fwd2.porkbun.com MX records, and do not run Fix DNS afterwards.
- 6Wait for propagation, then run DNS Checker below; once both records pass, every address at the domain receives mail.
What goes in each DNS field
| Type | Name / Host | Value / Data | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
MX | (blank) | mx.freedomainmail.com | 10 |
TXT | _maildock-verify | maildock-verify=… (shown in the app) | — |
Interface reference: Porkbun — How to add DNS records. Always copy the domain-specific values shown inside your Free Domain Mail setup.
The two records for a catch-all inbox
Free Domain Mail turns a domain you own into a catch-all inbox: every address at the domain receives mail, and there are no mailboxes to create. It is receive-only, so it never sends or forwards mail, and messages are kept for 30 days.
You add two records: a TXT record at _maildock-verify that proves you own the domain, with the maildock-verify=… value shown in the app (it is unique to your domain, so copy it exactly), and an MX record for the root of the domain that points to mx.freedomainmail.com with priority 10.
Type Name / Host Value Priority
TXT _maildock-verify maildock-verify=… (shown in the app) —
MX (blank) mx.freedomainmail.com 10Add the records in Porkbun
Sign in, open ACCOUNT, then Domain Management. Next to the domain choose Details, then the edit icon next to DNS Records.
Add a TXT record with Host _maildock-verify and the maildock-verify=… value from the app as the Answer. Then add an MX record with the Host left blank, which Porkbun uses for the root of the domain, Answer mx.freedomainmail.com and Priority 10. Leave TTL at the default.
Remove Porkbun's forwarding MX records
Porkbun domains often start with MX records for fwd1.porkbun.com and fwd2.porkbun.com, used by Porkbun's own email forwarding, plus an SPF record that includes _spf.porkbun.com. Delete the two fwd MX records, otherwise some senders deliver to Porkbun instead of your inbox. A domain has one set of MX records, so Porkbun email forwarding and Free Domain Mail cannot both receive mail for it.
Do not run Porkbun's Fix DNS tool afterwards: it restores Porkbun's MX and SPF records. If the domain already receives mail you depend on, connect a different domain instead.
SPF, DKIM and DMARC: only if this domain also sends mail
Free Domain Mail never sends mail, so the catch-all inbox does not need SPF, DKIM or DMARC. These records are only needed if this domain also sends mail through another provider.
In that case keep one SPF TXT record at the root and merge every sending service into it rather than adding a second v=spf1 record. Copy DKIM selectors exactly as that provider shows them, and publish DMARC as a TXT record at _dmarc, starting with p=none. The Porkbun SPF include is only needed while Porkbun sends or forwards mail for the domain.
Check the result
Wait for the old TTL to pass, then run an MX lookup from outside Porkbun. The answer should list only mx.freedomainmail.com.
Send a message from an outside account to any name at the domain, even one you have never used. If it arrives in the inbox, the catch-all is working.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving fwd1.porkbun.com and fwd2.porkbun.com in place next to mx.freedomainmail.com.
- Running Fix DNS, which puts Porkbun's MX records back.
- Typing the domain name into the Host field, which creates a record at _maildock-verify.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com.
Frequently asked questions
What do I put in Host for the MX record?
Leave it blank. Porkbun uses an empty Host for the root of the domain.
Can I keep Porkbun email forwarding?
Not on the same domain. Forwarding needs Porkbun's MX records, and the MX records decide where all mail for the domain goes.
What if my domain uses Cloudflare or other nameservers?
Then add the records at that DNS provider instead; Porkbun's DNS editor only matters while the domain uses Porkbun's nameservers.
Do I need to create each email address?
No. Once the TXT and MX records are verified, every address at the domain receives mail.