Getting Started with CenterLeap
Welcome to CenterLeap - secure email you actually own. This guide will walk you through setting up your account, adding your first domain, and sending your first encrypted email.
Setup Overview
Create Account
Sign up and set your encryption password
Add Domain
Connect your custom domain
Verify DNS
Configure DNS records
Create Email
Set up your first mailbox
Create Your Account
Start by creating your CenterLeap account at centerleap.com/auth/register.
Important: Your Encryption Password
During registration, you'll create an encryption password. This password is used to encrypt your private key - it's never sent to our servers. Choose a strong, unique password and store it safely.
What happens during registration:
- Your RSA key pair is generated locally in your browser
- Your private key is encrypted with your password before storage
- A recovery key is generated - save this somewhere safe!
Add Your Domain
Navigate to Dashboard → Domains and click "Add Domain".
Steps to add a domain:
- Enter your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com)
- Click "Add Domain" - we'll generate a verification token
- You'll be shown the DNS records you need to configure
Tip:If you don't have a domain yet, you can purchase one from any domain registrar (Namecheap, GoDaddy, Porkbun, and Hover are popular choices).
Configure DNS Records
You'll need to add several DNS records to your domain. Go to your domain registrar's DNS settings and add:
Routes email to our mail servers
Authorizes CenterLeap to send email on your behalf
Cryptographically signs your outgoing emails
Tells receiving servers how to handle authentication failures
For detailed DNS setup instructions, see our Domain Setup Guide.
Create Your First Email Account
Once your domain is verified, go to Dashboard → Email Accounts and click "Create Email Account".
- Choose a username (the part before @) - e.g., "hello" for hello@yourdomain.com
- Set a display name (shown when you send emails) - e.g., "John Smith"
- Click "Create" - your mailbox will be provisioned
You're ready!
Open your inbox by clicking "Open Inbox" in the sidebar to start sending and receiving secure emails.