Google Workspace + Cloudflare

Set up Google Workspace email on Cloudflare

The records Google Workspace needs, written with the field names Cloudflare uses (Name, Mail server, Content, Target), 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 Cloudflare: Sign in to the Cloudflare dashboard and select your domain. Open the DNS Records page.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

Google Workspace on Cloudflare: what to know

How long changes take

Cloudflare says Google typically verifies within a few minutes, though DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours.

Cloudflare says changes to your DNS records take effect worldwide within 5 minutes, usually much less. A record you replaced can stay cached until its old TTL runs out.

Source: Set up Google Workspace DNS records (Cloudflare Docs), FAQ (Cloudflare DNS Docs)

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

Step by step in Cloudflare

Verify your domain

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

Type
TXT
Name
@
Content
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 Cloudflare

  1. On the DNS Records page, select Add record.
  2. Choose TXT as the Type.
  3. Fill in Name and Content.
  4. Select Save.

Point your MX records

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

Type
MX
Name
@
Priority
1
Mail server
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 Cloudflare

  1. On the DNS Records page, select Add record.
  2. Choose MX as the Type.
  3. Fill in Name, Mail server and Priority.
  4. Select Save.
  5. Delete any other MX records: select Edit on each one, then Delete, and confirm.

Add the SPF record

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

Type
TXT
Name
@
Content
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 Cloudflare

  1. On the DNS Records page, select Add record.
  2. Choose TXT as the Type.
  3. Fill in Name and Content.
  4. Select Save.

Set up DKIM

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

Type
TXT
Name
google._domainkey
Content
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 Cloudflare

  1. On the DNS Records page, select Add record.
  2. Choose TXT as the Type.
  3. Fill in Name and Content.
  4. Select Save.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

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

Type
TXT
Name
_dmarc
Content
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 Cloudflare

  1. On the DNS Records page, select Add record.
  2. Choose TXT as the Type.
  3. Fill in Name and Content.
  4. Select Save.

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 Cloudflare’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Google Workspace on Cloudflare

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.

Cloudflare: Turn off Cloudflare Email Routing first

If Email Routing is on, Cloudflare has added locked MX records (route1, route2 and route3.mx.cloudflare.net) and an SPF record with include:_spf.mx.cloudflare.net. Unlock them or disable Email Routing (Compute > Email Service > Email Routing > your domain > Settings) before switching to another provider. Email Routing can't be used with an outside mail server.

3 more Google Workspace mistakes to avoid

Visit Google Workspace Visit Cloudflare

Google Workspace on Cloudflare: questions

I use Cloudflare Email Routing. Can I add Google’s MX record next to it?

No. Cloudflare says Email Routing and Google Workspace MX records can’t coexist on the same domain, so turn Email Routing off before you add Google’s MX record. Turning it off also removes the MX, SPF and DKIM records it added.

Google says “Domain already in use”. Is that a Cloudflare problem?

No. Cloudflare says this message comes from Google’s side, not from your Cloudflare DNS records.

I have several domains on Cloudflare. Do I add everything by hand each time?

Cloudflare suggests exporting the records from DNS > Records and importing them on the other domains. Generate a separate DKIM key for each domain, because DKIM values are unique per domain.

Where do I add Google Workspace DNS records in Cloudflare?

Sign in to the Cloudflare dashboard and select your domain. Open the DNS Records page. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Name field at Cloudflare?

Enter @ for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter only the part before your domain, for example google._domainkey. Cloudflare adds your domain automatically.

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

Remove any other MX records. Email might not work correctly if old or incorrect MX records stay in place. If Email Routing is on, Cloudflare has added locked MX records (route1, route2 and route3.mx.cloudflare.net) and an SPF record with include:_spf.mx.cloudflare.net. Unlock them or disable Email Routing (Compute > Email Service > Email Routing > your domain > Settings) before switching to another provider. Email Routing can't be used with an outside mail server.

How long until Google Workspace email works on Cloudflare?

Cloudflare says Google typically verifies within a few minutes, though DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. Cloudflare says changes to your DNS records take effect worldwide within 5 minutes, usually much less. A record you replaced can stay cached until its old TTL runs out.

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 Cloudflare