Inbound Mailbox Setup (/inbox)
Configure an inbound mail domain and mailbox aliases in EmitMail.
EmitMail can receive mail for configured domains, display messages in the dashboard inbox, and send inbound message events to subscribed webhooks.
1. Configure DNS: Inbound Root MX Record
To receive mail for a domain, publish an MX record that points to a mail hostname resolving to your server. Use the hostname configured for your EmitMail deployment. The example below is illustrative; confirm the value with your administrator:
| Type | Host / Name | Mail Server Target | Priority | Proxy Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MX | @ (root domain) | mail.yourdomain.com | 10 | DNS only; do not use an HTTP proxy |
Single MX Routing
Changing MX records affects mail delivery for the whole hostname. Do not replace existing Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or other provider MX records unless you intend to move that domain's inbound mail. Use a dedicated subdomain if appropriate, and check your existing provider's setup before changing DNS.
2. Creating Mailboxes in Dashboard
Configure and verify the domain
Add and verify the domain in Dashboard -> Domains. For inbound delivery, confirm its MX record points to the configured mail host and that the host resolves to your server IP. The inbound mailbox setup checks the domain's MX configuration.
Create an Inbound Mailbox Alias
In Dashboard -> Inbox, create a mailbox on the configured domain:
- Exact Alias: Enter
supportto receive mail atsupport@yourdomain.com. - Team Alias: Enter
hello,contact, orbilling. - Catch-All Mailbox: Enter
*to accept mail for otherwise unassigned addresses. Use this carefully because it can receive unwanted mail.
Send a Test Email
From an external email client (such as your personal Gmail or Outlook account), send an email to support@yourdomain.com.
Real-Time Ingestion & Thread Replies
The incoming message arrives at your VPS on port 25, is validated by EmitMail's recipient gate (onRcptTo), parsed via mailparser, and appears inside /inbox in real time. Click the email thread to read rich HTML, view attachments, and reply directly.