# Install email

Email can be installed from the Channels Marketplace. Once installed, you'll be able to send and receive emails.

### What you'll need

* Your own email domain, which you control
* Your own email hosting provider and access to your DNS provider setting

## Step one: Add your domain

* Go to **Settings > Marketing > Email > Domains**
* Click on **Add** on the top right

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2FK3OowZPPrOADfcApXTu1%2FScreenshot%202025-12-09%20at%2010.45.39%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=bf9b3a1a-43d5-4602-8649-9a87e8f4f6fb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Give the details such as
  * **Domain name**: Enter your domain name, such as `example.com` or `subdomain.example.com` in the 'Custom sending domain name' field.
  * **Channel Name:** In the 'Channel name' field, enter a recognizable name for your email channel, such as 'Email - US Marketing'.
  * Select you **IP Pool:** Default is set as Shared IP Pool. If you have  a dedicated IP Pool you can select that.

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2Fj0yyjZZX35KcvvfuhU8N%2FScreenshot%202025-12-09%20at%2010.46.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=64c19025-d39b-47aa-bec2-c19a1a8365a1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Click **Next**.

### Step two: Verify your domain for email configuration

{% hint style="warning" %}
The exact steps you'll need to take to verify your domain will vary depending on your DNS provider.&#x20;

Find DNS verification instructions for popular domain providers here:

* [GoDaddy](https://www.godaddy.com/help/verify-domain-ownership-dns-or-html-for-my-ssl-certificate-7452)
* [Shopify](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/organization-settings/security/verify-domain)
* [Google Domains](https://support.google.com/a/answer/6248925)
* [Bluehost](https://www.bluehost.com/help/article/dns-management-add-edit-or-delete-dns-entries)
  {% endhint %}

Before you can start sending and receiving emails, you'll need to verify your domain. This lets us know that you own the domain you're trying to set up.

1. Check the **Verify** tab of your installed email domain
2. Copy the **Hostname** and the **Values**.
3. Go to the settings of your DNS provider.
4. Locate the option to add a new record, and select **TXT** as the record type.
5. In the hostname or name field, enter the hostname.
6. In the value or data field, enter the value provided by Bird. This is a long string of characters that contains the verification information for your email domain.
7. Save the record.
8. Return to Bird and click **Verify domain**.
9. You must also verify your **Bounce domain** and **Tracking domain** as well.

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2FipnT43w8R6OjvFAuG2ja%2FScreenshot%202025-12-09%20at%2010.46.47%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=befd3067-6397-4df8-a2e4-4220c69e6f7d" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step three: Set up email forwarding (only for inbound emails)

After verifying your domain with Bird, the next step is to set up automatic forwarding rules in your Email Service Provider (ESP) so that Bird can receive emails on your behalf. To do this, you will need to copy the destination address provided by Bird and add it to your ESP's forwarding rules.

{% hint style="warning" %}
The exact steps you'll need to take to set up email forwarding will depend on your email provider

Find instructions for popular email providers here:

* [forwarding-emails-from-gmail](https://docs.bird.com/applications/channels/channels/supported-channels/email/forwarding-emails-from-gmail "mention")
  {% endhint %}

#### Verify your new Bird email address

* Click the **copy** button to copy the destination address. This will serve as the destination address for email forwarding. You can find the destination address under **Settings > Workspace > Connectivity > Channels > Email**
* Select the domain / installed email channel
* Click on the **Gear icon** on the top right

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2F6PugrOc8KaQzzk1Z7sgP%2FScreenshot%202025-12-09%20at%2010.54.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=09e065f3-82e2-43c9-8be4-2b750ea518fe" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Scroll down to Inbound email configuration and copy the destination address

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2FvsojU7NstQ7h3nqSguHh%2FScreenshot%202025-12-09%20at%2010.54.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a92d29d7-c540-42dc-b657-8562b8ecb7cb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. In your Email Service Provider, create a new email forwarding rule for the email address you want to use with Bird. Follow your Email Service Provider's specific instructions for creating a forwarding rule, as each provider may have a different process.
2. When prompted, paste the unique email address generated by Bird as the forwarding destination.
3. Verify the email forwarding rule through your Email Service Provider's verification process, which typically involves clicking a verification link sent to your new Bird email address. This will appear in **Inbox** if you have toggled "Conversations" **on** during setup.

Once verified, Bird will receive emails sent to your designated email address and you can start using Email by Bird to send and receive emails with your customers.


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