Set up the DNS of a domain
Whether OpenEmail writes the records of a domain itself, through which connected zone, and where each kind of record stands.
Runs any of 3 calls on your workspace.
GET /domains/{id}/dns
Whether OpenEmail writes the records of a domain itself, through which connected zone, and where each kind of record stands.
Read the setup
Needs domains:read. managing is true while OpenEmail writes the records itself. zone says which connected zone answers for the domain: one is resolved, several are ambiguous and need a choice, none holds it, or the connections could not be asked (unusable). Add ?refresh=true to ask the providers again.
curl "$OE/domains/b3e1f0a4-6c2d-4e8a-9f17-2d5c8a0b4e6f/dns" -H "$AUTH"{ "object": "domain_dns", "domainId": "b3e1f0a4-6c2d-4e8a-9f17-2d5c8a0b4e6f", "domain": "acme.com", "managing": true, "connectionId": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "connection": { "id": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "status": "active", "subject": "[email protected]", "accounts": [{ "id": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "name": "Acme" }] }, "zoneId": "023e105f4ecef8ad9ca31a8372d0c353", "zoneName": "acme.com", "zoneHolder": "Acme", "state": "ready", "steps": [ { "purpose": "mx", "ok": true, "detail": "MX records are in place.", "visibility": "public", "records": [] } ], "leftovers": [], "probe": null, "error": null, "syncedAt": "2026-09-30T08:01:12.000Z", "zone": { "kind": "resolved", "checkedAt": "2026-10-01T09:00:00.000Z", "cached": true, "candidate": { "connectionId": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "subject": "[email protected]", "status": "active", "accounts": [{ "id": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "name": "Acme" }], "account": { "id": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "name": "Acme" }, "zone": { "id": "023e105f4ecef8ad9ca31a8372d0c353", "name": "acme.com", "accountId": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "active": true, "status": "active", "type": "full", "nameServers": ["ana.ns.cloudflare.com", "bob.ns.cloudflare.com"], "covers": true } }, "candidates": [], "reason": null, "connected": null, "host": null, "blocked": [] }}leftovers lists records OpenEmail wrote and could not take down, to delete by hand at the provider.
Choose the zone
Needs domains:write. PUT /domains/{id}/dns with { connectionId, zoneId } attaches the domain to a zone when several could answer for it. The zone has to cover the domain, be active and take a test record. Nothing is written yet.
curl -X PUT "$OE/domains/b3e1f0a4-6c2d-4e8a-9f17-2d5c8a0b4e6f/dns" -H "$AUTH" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "connectionId": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "zoneId": "023e105f4ecef8ad9ca31a8372d0c353" }'{ "object": "domain_dns", "domainId": "b3e1f0a4-6c2d-4e8a-9f17-2d5c8a0b4e6f", "domain": "acme.com", "managing": true, "connectionId": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "connection": { "id": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "status": "active", "subject": "[email protected]", "accounts": [{ "id": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "name": "Acme" }] }, "zoneId": "023e105f4ecef8ad9ca31a8372d0c353", "zoneName": "acme.com", "zoneHolder": "Acme", "state": "awaiting-sync", "steps": [ { "purpose": "mx", "ok": true, "detail": "MX records are in place.", "visibility": "public", "records": [] } ], "leftovers": [], "probe": null, "error": null, "syncedAt": "2026-09-30T08:01:12.000Z", "zone": { "kind": "resolved", "checkedAt": "2026-10-01T09:00:00.000Z", "cached": true, "candidate": { "connectionId": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "subject": "[email protected]", "status": "active", "accounts": [{ "id": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "name": "Acme" }], "account": { "id": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "name": "Acme" }, "zone": { "id": "023e105f4ecef8ad9ca31a8372d0c353", "name": "acme.com", "accountId": "4f1c2b3a5d6e7f8091a2b3c4d5e6f708", "active": true, "status": "active", "type": "full", "nameServers": ["ana.ns.cloudflare.com", "bob.ns.cloudflare.com"], "covers": true } }, "candidates": [], "reason": null, "connected": null, "host": null, "blocked": [] }}A zone that does not cover the domain is 422 invalid_parameter on zoneId. A domain set up through another zone is 409 dns_zone_conflict, and a zone that is not active or refuses the test record is 409 dns_zone_unusable.
An OAuth access token needs a verification code for this call. Until the app has verified one in the last 60 minutes, the call answers 403 step_up_required and changes nothing. An API key is never asked. The Authentication page shows how to ask for a code and verify it.
Write the records
Needs domains:write. POST /domains/{id}/dns/sync writes or repairs every record the domain needs, as Sync does in the app, and attaches the zone first when only one answers. Send { "purpose": "dmarc" } to write only one kind of record.
curl -X POST "$OE/domains/b3e1f0a4-6c2d-4e8a-9f17-2d5c8a0b4e6f/dns/sync" -H "$AUTH"{ "object": "domain_dns_sync", "outcome": "synced", "message": null, "attached": false, "provision": { "outcome": "applied", "state": "ready", "connectionId": "dnsl_3f9a1c2e7b4d4e6f8a0b2c3d", "zoneId": "023e105f4ecef8ad9ca31a8372d0c353", "proven": true, "ownership": "The ownership record is in place.", "written": [{ "purpose": "dmarc", "name": "_dmarc.acme.com", "type": "TXT", "mode": "created" }], "adopted": 6, "conflicts": [], "failures": [], "steps": [], "retired": [], "leftovers": [], "probe": null, "error": null }, "dns": { "object": "domain_dns", "domain": "acme.com", "managing": true, "state": "ready", "…": "…" }, "zone": { "kind": "resolved", "cached": false, "…": "…" }}When no single zone answers, nothing is written: outcome is refused, message says why, and zone lists the zones to choose from.
A sync already running on the domain is 409 dns_busy, and a provider that refuses the request is 502 dns_provider_error. A domain waiting for its records is verified once they are in place.
An OAuth access token needs a verification code for this call. Until the app has verified one in the last 60 minutes, the call answers 403 step_up_required and changes nothing. An API key is never asked. The Authentication page shows how to ask for a code and verify it.