Verify your domain with a TXT record

Prove ownership for your Google Workspace domain

To make sure no one else uses your domain with Google Workspace, you need to add a unique text (TXT) record in your domain settings, which proves you own your domain.

Note: If you purchased your domain through a Google partner when you signed up for Google Workspace, your domain might be verified already.

To verify your domain, you need to complete the following steps:

  1. Copy a unique TXT record value from the Google Admin console
  2. Paste the unique TXT record value in your domain registrar settings
  3. Verify ownership in the Google Admin console

Step 1: Copy a unique TXT record value from the Google Admin console

  1. In the Google Admin console, go to Menu and then  Account and then Domains and then Manage domains.

    Requires having the Domain settings administrator privilege.

  2. Click Verify domain for the domain or subdomain you want to verify.

  3. In the domain setup tool, click Get started, then choose your domain registrar and click Continue.

    If your domain registrar isn't in the list, select My domain uses a different host.

  4. In the "TXT record" section, copy the Value, including "google-site-verification=".

Step 2: Paste the unique TXT record value in your domain registrar settings

Detailed instructions for popular domain registrars

General instructions

  1. Sign in to the website where you manage your domain. This is where you can change your domain's DNS records.
  2. Go to your domain's DNS settings. Look for something like DNS Records, Domain Management, or Name Server Management.
  3. Find the TXT records.

  4. Add a new TXT record, using the following values:

    Type TXT
    Name / Host / Alias Leave this blank, or enter @

    If you're adding a subdomain to an existing Google Workspace account, enter the subdomain value in this field. (Example: For the subdomain support.your-company.com, you would enter support)
    Value / Answer / Destination

    Enter your unique ID, copied from the Google Admin console.

    Example: google-site-verification=abcdef123_456wx789yz

  5. Save your new TXT record.

  6. Wait for the changes to take effect. It can take up to 72 hours for the new TXT records to be recognized. After your domain registrar publishes the code, we'll be able to recognize you as the domain's owner.

Note: The unique TXT record must stay in your domain's DNS settings until Google detects it and verifies ownership.

Once verified, the TXT record can be safely removed. Removing it before Google verifies ownership will cause the verification to fail.

Step 3: Verify ownership in the Google Admin console

  1. Log in to the same user account as in Step 1. Return to your Admin console where the TXT record value was copied. If the window is closed, repeat Step 1.
  2. Select Come back here and confirm..., then click Confirm. Your Admin console then searches for your unique TXT record and checks if it's associated with the domain you're verifying.

  3. If the Google Admin console finds your unique TXT record associated with the expected domain, you're all set. Click Activate Gmail to continue the setup process, or Explore Google Workspace.

    If it can't find your TXT record, a message appears telling you that your domain couldn't be verified. Review the tips on screen and try the troubleshooting steps in this article for help.

Troubleshooting steps

  • Double-check your entries: Make sure you typed everything correctly, following your domain registrar's preferred format.
  • Wait 72 hours: It can take some time for TXT record changes to be recognized across the internet.
  • Contact your domain registrar's support: They can help you troubleshoot any issues with your DNS settings. If you're not sure which registrar to contact, read our tips about how to identify your domain registrar.