---
title: "How to set up a custom tracking domain in Smartlead"
description: "Set up a custom tracking domain in Smartlead with one CNAME record, so open, click and unsubscribe links in your emails use a subdomain you own."
url: https://helpcenter.smartlead.ai/en/articles/50-how-to-set-up-a-custom-tracking-domain-in-smartlead
collection: "Setting Up Email Infrastructure"
updated: 2026-11-05
language: en
---

# How to set up a custom tracking domain in Smartlead

Set up a custom tracking domain in Smartlead with one CNAME record, so open, click and unsubscribe links in your emails use a subdomain you own.

A custom tracking domain makes the open-tracking, click-tracking and unsubscribe links in your emails use a subdomain you own, instead of Smartlead's shared tracking domains.

You set it up for each mailbox. You add one CNAME record at your DNS provider, then enter the subdomain in the mailbox's settings.

## Before you start

-   A domain you own, and access to its DNS settings.
    
-   A subdomain to use for tracking, for example `emailtracking.yourdomain.com`.
    

## Step 1: Open the mailbox settings

1.  Go to **Sender Accounts** and click on the mailbox you want to add tracking to.
    
2.  On the **General** tab, scroll to **Custom tracking domain**.
    
3.  Tick **Use a custom tracking domain**.
    
4.  Choose how your tracking links work:
    
    -   **Use https://**: links use https, through Smartlead's SSL propagation. This helps deliverability and security.
        
    -   **Don't use https://**: links use the standard http tracking domain, without SSL propagation.
        

The section then shows the CNAME value to use. **Use https://** only appears if your plan includes it.

![Custom tracking domain settings section shows the enabled custom domain option, “Don't use https://” selected, a CNAME instruction, and a domain field. Visible: Custom tracking domain, Setup guide, Use a custom tracking domain, Use https://, Don't use https://, Add a new CNAME record.](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/ajQo85JZBYvv70Ktnl3u18J3Uy7bJI6W1ZrvUGoVPa7qcqewnLBW1w2U54Bsda8As0HwzPw098k.png)

## Step 2: Add the CNAME record

1.  Open your domain provider, for example GoDaddy or Namecheap, and go to its DNS management.
    
2.  Add a CNAME record with these values:
    

```
Type:  CNAME
Host:  emailtracking         (your tracking subdomain)
Value: open.sleadtrack.com   (if you chose Don't use https://)
Value: app.sleadt.com        (if you chose Use https://)
TTL:   Automatic
```

You can also see these values in Smartlead. Hover the info icon next to the CNAME instruction in the **Custom tracking domain** section.

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

## Step 3: Enter the domain and check it

1.  Back in **Custom tracking domain**, type your tracking subdomain, for example `emailtracking.yourdomain.com`.
    
2.  Click **Check Status**.
    
3.  Click **Save**.
    

Type only the subdomain. The field shows `http://` or `https://` in front of it for you, based on your choice in Step 1. After the check, a status badge shows whether the CNAME and SSL are verified.

## Good to know

-   **The setting is per mailbox.** Repeat these steps for each mailbox that should use your tracking domain.
    
-   **You can use one tracking domain for many mailboxes.** Enter the same tracking subdomain on each mailbox, or set it on many at once with Bulk Update. Keep in mind that if that domain gets blacklisted, every mailbox using it is affected.
    
-   **https is set one mailbox at a time.** Bulk Update can set the tracking domain, but it can't switch mailboxes to https.
    
-   The verified status is only refreshed when you click **Check Status** or save the mailbox. Nothing re-checks it on a schedule.
    

## If something goes wrong

-   **Check Status doesn't verify.** The CNAME is missing, points somewhere else, or hasn't propagated yet. Make sure the host points to `open.sleadtrack.com` (http) or `app.sleadt.com` (https). Wait up to 48 hours, then click **Check Status** again.
    
-   **The saved domain ends with a dot.** Re-enter the subdomain without the trailing dot, click **Check Status**, then **Save**.
    

Still stuck? Contact support from the chat in your Smartlead dashboard.

## Related articles

-   [How to Set-Up Custom Domain Tracking for GoDaddy Domains](https://helpcenter.smartlead.ai/en/articles/194.md)
    
-   [How to Set-Up Custom Domain Tracking for Bluehost Domains](https://helpcenter.smartlead.ai/en/articles/195.md)
    
-   [All You Need to Know About Secondary Sending Domains for Cold Email Campaigns](https://helpcenter.smartlead.ai/en/articles/147.md)