Connect a catch-all domain

This guide shows you how to connect a domain so that mail to any address on it lands in your ExitNode inbox. You’ll then be able to use a different address for each profile, with no mailboxes to create.

You connect domains in the web app. The desktop app shows the mail, but doesn’t have the connect screen.

Before you start

• You need a domain you own, and access to its DNS settings at your registrar.
• Use a domain you’ve set aside for this, so its mail stays separate from your everyday email. A subdomain such as mail.example.com works too.
• You need the Manage level for Inbox & codes. Without it, you can see domains but there’s no Connect domain button. See Members and roles.

Connect the domain

1. In the web app, click Domains in the sidebar.
2. Click Connect domain.
3. Type your domain, such as mail.example.com.
4. Click Add domain.

The domain appears in the list with the status Pending.

Add the DNS records

1. Click the domain in the list to open it.
2. Click Records. The dialog shows two records.

Type	Name	Value
MX	your domain	10 mx.exitnode.app
TXT	your domain	exitnode-verify= followed by your token

3. Click Copy beside each value.
4. At your domain registrar, add both records.

The TXT value is different for each domain, so copy it from the dialog.

Wait for it to verify

The domain’s page updates by itself. Three steps show how far it has got:

1. Domain added
2. DNS verified
3. Domain verified

When all three are done, the status shows Verified and the domain is ready. You don’t need to click anything.

The page also shows when it was Added, Last checked and Verified.

What each status means

Status	What it means	What to do
Pending	ExitNode is looking for your records.	Wait, and check you added both.
Verified	The domain is ready.	Nothing.
DNS changed	It was verified, but its records have changed.	Click Records and check them at your registrar.
Timed out	The records weren’t found in time.	Fix the records, then click Try again.
Disabled	The domain has been turned off.	Contact support if you didn’t expect this.

On the Domains page, you can filter by status, sort by Newest first or Oldest first, or use Filter by domain…. The heading shows how many are verified.

Give each profile its own address

Because the domain is a catch-all, any address on it works. There’s nothing to create first.

1. Choose an address for the profile, such as profile-01@mail.example.com.
2. Open the profile and use that address on whichever site you’re signing up for.
3. Write the address in the profile’s Note, so you can find it later. Open the profile’s options and use Note under General, or click its Notes cell in the table.

Mail sent to the address now appears in your inbox.

Read the mail

In the desktop app, click Inbox in the sidebar. The web app has the same Inbox page.

To see one profile’s mail, use the filters in the desktop app’s toolbar. The web app has an Account filter that works the same way as the first one here.

Filter	What it shows
All accounts	Pick an address to see only mail sent to it. It appears once a message has arrived.
All domains	Pick one connected domain.
All inboxes	Pick one ExitNode address.

Clear resets them. Search inbox… searches the messages.

Click a message to read it. It shows From, To and Date, then the message. Unread messages have a dot.

The layout buttons at the end of the desktop toolbar switch between a split view, with the list beside the message, and a table. The table has Columns too. Use Prev and Next to move between pages.

Verification codes in this mail are picked out for you. See Verification codes.

Remove a domain

1. Open the domain from the Domains page.
2. Click Remove domain.

It happens straight away, with no confirmation. All domains takes you back to the list.

ExitNode addresses

You don’t need your own domain to receive mail. Your organization can also have addresses on exitnode.app.

These aren’t catch-alls for any address you like. There’s one shared address for the organization, and personal ones for each person.

In the desktop app

Click the gear beside Inbox. The My ExitNode catchalls card has:

1. Claim your org’s address: type a short name such as acme, then click Claim. You need permission to do this, and it’s done once.
2. Claim a personal address: type a label such as jdoe, then click Claim.

Each address then has a row with a tag of Org or Personal, and a copy button. You can release a personal address. Releasing means it stops receiving mail, and any forwarding pointed at it starts bouncing, so the app asks first.

In the web app

On the Inbox page, click the gear for ExitNode addresses:

• Org address slug, then Set slug.
• Your address, then Create address.
• Shared org address is marked Everyone. Every member can see its mail.
• Your personal address is marked Only you. Remove gives it up.

If something goes wrong

“Enter a valid domain (e.g. mail.acme.com)” Type only the domain, with no https:// or spaces.

“Domain already connected” This domain is already connected, possibly by another organization.

“Unauthorized” Your role can’t connect domains.

“Failed to retry” Try again didn’t go through. Reload the page and click it again.

“Could not claim address” The name may be taken. Try another.

“Enter a slug” or “Enter a label” The box is empty.

“Pick an organization first” Choose an organization in the title bar. Mail settings belong to one.