# Setting up email delivery with SendGrid

You create an API key at SendGrid, store it under Connections, and then monitor status and authenticated domains directly in MainPath.

> Source: https://www.mainpath.ai/en/docs/smtp-sendgrid-setup/

SendGrid is integrated into MainPath as its own connection type. You store only an API key; MainPath handles sending through SMTP (`smtp.sendgrid.net`, user `apikey`), the status display, and the monitoring of your authenticated domains.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  cred["Organization's SendGrid connection"]
  svc["Your project's backend"]
  api["SendGrid API / SMTP"]
  mx["Recipient's mail server"]
  svc -->|"reads credentials"| cred
  svc -->|"API key"| api
  api --> mx
```

For a different provider, create a generic **Email (SMTP)** connection instead; [Email delivery]({{< relref "email-delivery" >}}) describes the differences.

## Preparing at SendGrid

1. Create an account at [sendgrid.com](https://sendgrid.com/) or sign in.
2. Under **Settings → Sender Authentication**, add your sender domain and set the displayed DNS records for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC at your domain provider; sending is only enabled after verification. You can also take care of this step later from within MainPath.
3. Under **Settings → API Keys**, create a key with **Mail Send** and domain authentication rights, then copy it.

The same API key is used as the SMTP password. The SMTP user is always `apikey`.

## Creating the connection in MainPath

1. Open **Connections** in the sidebar and click **Add connection**.
2. Choose the **SendGrid** tile.
3. Enter the **API key**, optionally with a **sender name** and a **sender address** from your authenticated domain.
4. Save. The connection is then available in projects under **Mail account**.

## Monitoring status and domains in MainPath

The SendGrid connection's tile opens its detail view with the **status** of the connection, your authenticated domains with their verification status, and for each domain the DNS records with type, name, value, and check status. With **Add domain** you create new sending domains right here.

## Selecting the mail account in the project

When editing the project, select the SendGrid connection under **Mail account** in the backend's settings. SendGrid, Resend, Mailtrap, and SMTP connections are listed there together.

## If something does not work

If the **status** shows an error, check the API key and create a new one at SendGrid if necessary. If SendGrid rejects sending or mail does not arrive, the domain is usually not authenticated yet; compare the DNS records in the detail view with those at your domain provider. If a domain is missing from the list, create it with **Add domain** and set the displayed records.

## See also

- [Connections]({{< relref "connections" >}})
- [Email delivery]({{< relref "email-delivery" >}})
- [SMTP with Mailtrap]({{< relref "smtp-mailtrap-setup" >}})
- [SMTP with Resend]({{< relref "smtp-resend-setup" >}})