Shopify created an internal ticket for me, but no further update.
Topic summary
Users purchasing new domains through Shopify are encountering an error when attempting to add MX records for third-party email providers (primarily Zoho and Google Workspace): “Email forwarding is not allowed for this domain.”
Root Cause:
Starting December 2024, Shopify disabled the Email Hosting & Forwarding feature for all new domain purchases as part of a platform update to “streamline services and improve overall performance.”
Resolution Process:
- This is not a user-fixable issue and requires Shopify support intervention
- Users must contact Shopify support via live chat to request manual re-enablement
- Support escalates cases to technical teams who restore the feature on a per-domain basis
- Resolution typically takes 2-5 minutes once connected with the right support agent, though some cases require escalation and longer wait times
Workarounds:
- Switch to CloudFlare nameservers and manage DNS records there (requires technical knowledge)
- For Zoho specifically: Navigate to Domains → Email Forwarding → “Switch to email hosting” → Select Zoho Mail and enter only the verification code portion
Current Status:
No platform-wide fix announced. Each affected user must individually contact support for manual resolution.