====== Google Apps: Domain verification by TXT record ======

One of the ways that you can verify your domain name for use with Google Apps is by adding a TXT record in your zone file.

Google will provide you with a code that you will need to add as a TXT record in your domain's zone file. This unique security token is 68 characters long, and starts with: ''google-site-verification='' 

You can find it under the "verify domain ownership" section of your **Google Apps** account:

{{ en:domains:management:googleapps:get-txt.jpg?645 |}}


===== Add the TXT record =====

You can add the TXT record by editing your domain's zone file in either Normal or Expert mode.

<note>
For more detailed information about TXT records, see [[en:dns:zone:txt-record]]. \\
If you don't know how to make an editable copy of your zone file, see [[:en:dns:zone:edit]].
</note>

==== Normal mode ====
If editing your zone file in normal mode, just follow the example below:

{{ en:domains:management:googleapps:add-txt-record-normal-.jpg?400 |}}

Select ''TXT'' from the drop-down menu.

You can usually leave ''TTL'' as it is.

For ''Name'', enter ''@''.

For ''Value'', paste the verification code you got from the Google Apps setup.

Quotation marks will be added automatically to the entry if you don't include them.

==== Expert mode ====

We're using the expert interface for this example. As you can see below, you just need to append a TXT entry containing the verification code in the correct format to your zone file:

{{ en:domains:management:googleapps:add-txt-record-expert-.jpg?645 |}}

Here is a model that you can follow (of course, you need to replace the bit between quotation marks with what Google gave you):

  @ 10800 IN TXT "google-site-verification=whatever-google-gave-you"

Simply add your line to the bottom. Quotation marks will be added automatically to the entry if you don't include them.

==== Submit & Confirm ====

When you are done, click on the "Submit" button on the bottom of the page to continue (don't forget to activate the new version of your zone file).

After a few minutes, you can return to the Google Apps setup and click the "Verify" link:

{{ en:domains:management:googleapps:validate-at-google.jpg?460 |Once you've added your TXT record and activated the new version of your zone file, you can come back and start clicking Verify over and over compulsively.}}

If you haven't added the TXT record correctly, or if you click "Verify" at Google before the change has propagated, you will see an error:

{{ en:domains:management:googleapps:verification-failed.jpg?630 |"We weren't able to verify your domain. Verification failed using the DNS record method (less than a minute ago). Your verification DNS TXT record was not found. You might need to wait a few minutes before Google sees your changes to the TXT records." Go walk the dog.}}

If you've added the TXT correctly, the "Verify" link should work within half an hour or so:

{{ en:domains:management:googleapps:success.jpg?500 |Congratulations, you have successfully read the manual!}}

===== See also =====

  * [[http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=183895|Google's help page on this topic]]
  * [[:en/domains/management/googleapps|Our other Google Apps documentation]]