Verifying domain ownership
How to prove you own a domain to Google, Microsoft, email providers, and other services — usually by adding a TXT record to your DNS.
Many services — Google Workspace, Google Search Console, Microsoft 365, and others — ask you to "verify" that you own your domain before letting you use it. This guide explains what that means and how to do it.
Quick summary
Domain ownership verification usually involves adding a TXT record to your DNS with a unique code provided by the service. Once the record is in place and DNS has propagated, the service checks for it and confirms you control the domain. We handle this for you as part of setup.
Why services ask you to verify
Anyone can claim to own any domain. Verification is the way a service confirms you actually have control over the DNS settings for a domain — proving you're the legitimate owner.
The most common method is the TXT record verification. The service gives you a unique string of text, you add it as a TXT record in your DNS, and the service then checks your DNS to confirm the record is there. Only the real domain owner can add DNS records, so this proves ownership.
Common verification scenarios
| Service | Why it verifies | How |
|---|---|---|
| Google Workspace | To set up email at your domain | TXT record |
| Google Search Console | To access your site's search data | TXT, HTML file, or other methods |
| Google Tag Manager | To confirm site ownership | TXT record or HTML file |
| Microsoft 365 | To set up email at your domain | TXT record |
| HubSpot | To connect your domain for tracking | TXT record |
| Mailchimp | To enable email sending from your domain | TXT record (DKIM) |
| Facebook/Meta | To verify a business domain | Meta tag or TXT record |
How to add a TXT verification record
Get the TXT record value from the service. During setup, the service will show you a TXT record with a unique code. It might look like: google-site-verification=abc123xyz456.
Log in to wherever your DNS is managed. This is either your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) or a DNS provider like Cloudflare.
Navigate to DNS management for your domain. Look for a section called "DNS Records," "DNS Zone," or similar.
Add a new TXT record with:
- Name/Host:
@(which represents your root domain) — or whatever the service specifies - Type: TXT
- Value: The code provided by the service
- TTL: Leave at the default, or use 3600
Save the record.
Return to the service and click Verify. The service will check your DNS for the record. If DNS has propagated, verification will succeed within a few minutes to a few hours. See DNS propagation: why changes take time.
Verification records can stay in DNS permanently
Once verified, you can leave the TXT record in your DNS — it won't cause any problems. Many services re-verify periodically and will alert you if the record is removed.
Alternative verification methods
Some services offer alternative methods if you can't edit DNS:
- HTML file — Upload a specific file to your website
- HTML meta tag — Add a specific tag to your homepage's HTML
- CNAME record — Add a CNAME record to DNS (some services use this instead of TXT)
We recommend the TXT record method where available, as it's the most reliable.
Common questions
Related guides
- DNS records explained (A, CNAME, MX, TXT)
- What is DNS?
- DNS propagation: why changes take time
- Give us access to manage your DNS
- Common DNS problems & fixes
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