Chapter 5 · 5.6
TXT records for verification (Google, Microsoft and others)
Many services want to check that a domain really belongs to you before you can use it: Google Search Console, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Facebook, newsletter services and webshop platforms. They'll ask you to add a TXT record with a code to your DNS. They then check whether that code is there.
Adding a TXT record
- Open DNS Administration and choose the right domain.
- Click ADD RECORD.
- For Record Type, choose TXT.
- Under Name (1), your domain name is already shown with a dot after it, such as yourdomain.com.: that's the domain itself. If the service asks for a TXT record on @ or on your domain, leave it as it is. If the service asks for a name like _github-challenge-yourcompany, replace the content with that name, without your domain name after it.
- Leave TXT Record Type (2) set to Plain.
- Under Value (3), paste the code, for example google-site-verification=abc123... or MS=ms12345678.
- Click ADD.
Then go back to the service and click to check or verify. If it doesn't work straight away, wait a quarter of an hour and try again.
Good to know
- Multiple TXT records are allowed. You can have as many verification records side by side as you like, even with the same name. The only exception is SPF: a maximum of one applies (see Setting up and adding to SPF).
- You don't need to type quotation marks. DirectAdmin adds them automatically.
- After verification, the record can usually stay in place. Some services check it again later.
- Does the service ask for a CNAME record instead of a TXT record? Then check CNAME records and the trailing dot.