# Error: Domain is not activated (SendLayer)

Source: https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/error-sendlayer-domain-not-activated/
Updated: 2026-10-19 · By Duane Garner

SendLayer has not confirmed the DNS records for your sending domain. Add the records it lists, verify them, and send from that domain.

This article is for sites using the **SendLayer** mailer where a send fails because the sending domain is not activated.

 

> **The error as you see it:** `Domain is not activated` (sometimes with the domain name, for example "The domain example.com is not activated")
>  
> Shown by the **SendLayer** mailer, in the failed-send banner, in **Tools → Debug Events** and in the **Email Log**.

 

## What this error means

 

SendLayer sends mail only from domains you have added to your SendLayer account and proved you own. You prove it by adding a few DNS records that SendLayer gives you (they also set up SPF, DKIM and a return-path for your mail). Until SendLayer finds those records, the domain stays inactive and any email from it is refused. The domain checked is the one in your **From Email**.

 

## Common causes

 
- **The DNS records were never added**, or were added at the wrong place (for example at the registrar while your DNS is hosted elsewhere, such as Cloudflare).
- **The records were added recently** and DNS has not spread yet. This can take from minutes to a day or two.
- **The records were typed wrongly.** Common slips are adding the domain twice (`em.example.com.example.com`) or turning on a proxy for a CNAME record.
- **The From Email uses a different domain** from the one you added in SendLayer.
- **The records were removed** during a DNS move, so the domain became inactive again.

 

## How to fix

 
1. Open your sending domains
  Sign in to `https://app.sendlayer.com/` and open the domain settings (the dashboard currently lists them under **Settings → Sending Domains**; look for the page that shows your domain and its DNS records).
2. Read the records
  Open the domain. SendLayer lists each record's type, name and value, and which ones it has not found.
3. Add them at your DNS host
  Sign in where your domain's DNS is managed. Add each record exactly as shown. If your DNS host adds the domain automatically, enter only the part before it as the name. For Cloudflare, set CNAME records to *DNS only* (grey cloud).
4. Verify in SendLayer
  Return to the domain page and use its verify or check button. Wait and retry if records are still missing; DNS changes can take time.
5. Match the plugin
  In **CRM-NG SMTP → Settings → General**, make sure **From Email** uses the activated domain. Tick **Force From Email** so other plugins cannot change it. Press **Save Settings**.
6. Send a test
  Go to **CRM-NG SMTP → Tools → Email Test**, fill in **Send To** and press **Send Email**.

 

## Verify it worked

 

The domain shows as verified or active in SendLayer, and the test page reports "Test email sent successfully! Check your inbox to confirm delivery." The "Deliverability and domain authentication" section on the test page should also find your SPF record.

 

## Notes

 
- You can check whether a record is visible on the internet with any public DNS lookup tool before asking SendLayer to verify again. See [Verifying your DNS records](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/verify-dns-records/).
- If the account itself is unverified, fix that first: [Account not verified](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/error-sendlayer-account-not-verified/).

 

## Related

 
- [SendLayer](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/mailer-sendlayer/)
- [Adding DNS records: SPF, DKIM and DMARC](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/dns-records/)
- [Verifying your DNS records](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/verify-dns-records/)
- [Error: Account not verified (SendLayer)](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/error-sendlayer-account-not-verified/)
- [Troubleshooting email delivery](https://catalystgroup.gg/docs/email-delivery/troubleshooting/)