Google Workspace + Bluehost

Set up Google Workspace email on Bluehost

The records Google Workspace needs, written with the field names Bluehost uses (Host Record, Points to, TXT Value), in the order to add them.

  • 5 steps
  • 5 DNS records

Before you start

  1. Have your Google Workspace account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the Google Admin console .
  2. Open DNS at Bluehost: Log in to the Bluehost Portal and click Domains in the left-hand menu. Select your domain, then open the DNS tab.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

Google Workspace on Bluehost: what to know

How long changes take

Bluehost says saved changes are processed in a few minutes but can take up to 8 hours to fully propagate, depending on caching and TTL.

Source: How to Edit MX Records (Bluehost Help)

Records to add

Copy each value with the button next to it. Rows marked “Copy from Google Admin console” are unique to your account.

Domain verification Proves you own the domain Type TXT Host Record @ Value Copy from Google Admin console Looks like: google-site-verification= followed by your unique code Priority n/a TTL Default
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host Record @ Value smtp.google.com Priority 1 TTL Default
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Host Record @ Value v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all Priority n/a TTL Default
DKIM A signature on every message Type TXT Host Record google._domainkey Value Copy from Google Admin console Priority n/a TTL Default
DMARC record What to do with fakes · recommended Type TXT Host Record _dmarc Value v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com Priority n/a TTL Default

Step by step in Bluehost

Verify your domain

Your email provider needs proof that you control this domain before it accepts email for it.

Type
TXT
Host Name
@
TXT Value
Copy it from Google Admin console (see below)

Where to find your value

In the Google Admin console go to Menu > Account > Domains > Manage domains, click Verify domain, then Get started. In the TXT record section, copy the Value, including google-site-verification=.

It looks like: google-site-verification= followed by your unique code

  • Leave the host blank or enter @.
  • Once Google has verified the domain, this TXT record can be safely removed. Removing it earlier makes verification fail.

1 more note from Google Workspace on this record

In Bluehost

  1. On the DNS tab, click + Add Record and select Single Record.
  2. Set Record Type to TXT and Refers to to Other Host.
  3. Enter the Host Name and paste the TXT Value.
  4. Click Add.

Point your MX records

MX records tell other mail servers where to deliver your email. How MX works

Type
MX
Host Record
@
Priority
1
Points to
smtp.google.com
  • Remove any other MX records. Email might not work correctly if old or incorrect MX records stay in place.

3 more notes from Google Workspace on this record

In Bluehost

  1. Under the DNS tab, go to Manage Advanced DNS Records and click Add Record.
  2. Set Type to MX. Type @ in Host Record, enter the mail server in Points to, and set the Priority. Leave TTL at its default.
  3. Save the record.

Add the SPF record

SPF lists the services allowed to send email as you. How SPF works

Type
TXT
Host Name
@
TXT Value
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
  • If other services also send email for your domain, list each one in the same record, for example: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:amazonses.com ~all.

2 more notes from Google Workspace on this record

In Bluehost

  1. On the DNS tab, click + Add Record and select Single Record.
  2. Set Record Type to TXT and Refers to to Other Host.
  3. Enter the Host Name and paste the TXT Value.
  4. Click Add.

Set up DKIM

DKIM signs your mail so receivers can trust it. How DKIM works

Type
TXT
Host Name
google._domainkey
TXT Value
Copy it from Google Admin console (see below)

Where to find your value

In the Google Admin console go to Menu > Apps > Google Workspace > Gmail and click Authenticate email. Select your domain, generate a new record (2048-bit if your domain host supports it, otherwise 1024-bit) and copy the TXT record value.

  • After the record is published, go back to Authenticate email and turn on authentication for the domain.

3 more notes from Google Workspace on this record

In Bluehost

  1. On the DNS tab, click + Add Record and select Single Record.
  2. Set Record Type to TXT and Refers to to Other Host.
  3. Enter the Host Name and paste the TXT Value.
  4. Click Add.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

DMARC tells receivers what to do with mail that fakes your domain. How DMARC works

Type
TXT
Host Name
_dmarc
TXT Value
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com
  • Start with p=none so nothing is blocked while you read the reports. Google suggests running it for about a week.

3 more notes from Google Workspace on this record

In Bluehost

  1. On the DNS tab, click + Add Record and select Single Record.
  2. Set Record Type to TXT and Refers to to Other Host.
  3. Enter the Host Name and paste the TXT Value.
  4. Click Add.

Check your setup

Once the records are saved, run a live check. We look up your domain in public DNS and tell you what is right, missing or wrong, with the fix in Bluehost’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Google Workspace on Bluehost

Leaving old MX records in place

Google says email might not work correctly if old or incorrect MX records stay. Remove every MX record except smtp.google.com.

Adding a second SPF record

A domain must have only one SPF record. If you already have one, add include:_spf.google.com to it instead of creating another.

Bluehost: Replace Bluehost's default MX record

By default Bluehost's MX record points to your own domain, which delivers mail to Bluehost's local server. Change it to your provider's mail server.

Bluehost: Set email routing to Remote

If Bluehost doesn’t host your email, change the domain’s email routing setting to Remote. Otherwise Bluehost keeps treating mail for the domain as local.

3 more Google Workspace mistakes to avoid

Visit Google Workspace Visit Bluehost

Google Workspace on Bluehost: questions

I changed the MX records but mail still lands in my Bluehost inbox.

Set Email Routing to Remote Mail Exchanger in Bluehost. Do it last, after adding and deleting MX records, because Bluehost says those edits can reset the routing setting.

Bluehost says the record already exists. What now?

Find the existing entry in the zone’s records and edit it to match Google’s values instead of adding a second one.

Can Bluehost set up Google Workspace for me?

Bluehost says it includes tools to set up Google Workspace automatically. If something still fails afterwards, it points you to these manual DNS steps.

Where do I add Google Workspace DNS records in Bluehost?

Log in to the Bluehost Portal and click Domains in the left-hand menu. Select your domain, then open the DNS tab. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Host Record field at Bluehost?

Enter @ for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter google._domainkey.

Do I need to delete my existing MX records at Bluehost?

Remove any other MX records. Email might not work correctly if old or incorrect MX records stay in place. By default Bluehost's MX record points to your own domain, which delivers mail to Bluehost's local server. Change it to your provider's mail server. If Bluehost doesn’t host your email, change the domain’s email routing setting to Remote. Otherwise Bluehost keeps treating mail for the domain as local.

How long until Google Workspace email works on Bluehost?

New MX records can take up to 72 hours to be recognized. Bluehost says saved changes are processed in a few minutes but can take up to 8 hours to fully propagate, depending on caching and TTL.

Sources

Every value and step on this page comes from these official pages. Dashboards change, so if something doesn’t match what you see, tell us.

Google Workspace on other hosts

Other email providers on Bluehost