Google Workspace + Namecheap

Set up Google Workspace email on Namecheap

The records Google Workspace needs, written with the field names Namecheap uses (Host, 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 Namecheap: Sign in to Namecheap and select Domain List in the left sidebar. Select Manage next to your domain. Open the Advanced DNS tab.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

Google Workspace on Namecheap: what to know

How long changes take

Namecheap recommends waiting about 30 minutes after adding the records. Its default TTL is 30 minutes, so an old value can stay cached that long.

Namecheap’s default TTL is 30 minutes, so after a change other DNS servers can show the old value for up to 30 minutes.

Source: Google Workspace domain registered with Namecheap: ownership validation (Namecheap Knowledgebase), How do I set up host records for a domain? (Namecheap Knowledgebase)

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

Step by step in Namecheap

Verify your domain

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

Type
TXT
Host
@
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 Namecheap

  1. In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose TXT Record.
  3. Fill in Host and Value, and pick a TTL.
  4. Select the check mark, or Save All Changes, to save.

Point your MX records

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

Type
MX
Host
@
Priority
1
Value
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 Namecheap

  1. In the Mail Settings section, choose Custom MX from the drop-down list. You may need to scroll the list to find it.
  2. Select Add New Record.
  3. Enter @ as the Host, the mail server as the Value, and the Priority in the box to the right of the Value.
  4. Select the check mark to save the record.
  5. Delete every other MX record with its trash icon, then confirm with Yes.

Add the SPF record

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

Type
TXT
Host
@
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 Namecheap

  1. In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose TXT Record.
  3. Fill in Host and Value, and pick a TTL.
  4. Select the check mark, or Save All Changes, to save.

Set up DKIM

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

Type
TXT
Host
google._domainkey
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 Namecheap

  1. In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose TXT Record.
  3. Fill in Host and Value, and pick a TTL.
  4. Select the check mark, or Save All Changes, to save.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

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

Type
TXT
Host
_dmarc
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 Namecheap

  1. In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose TXT Record.
  3. Fill in Host and Value, and pick a TTL.
  4. Select the check mark, or Save All Changes, to 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 Namecheap’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Google Workspace on Namecheap

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.

Namecheap: Switch Mail Settings to Custom MX first

MX records for an outside email provider go in the Mail Settings section, and only after you choose Custom MX. The other options (Email Forwarding, Private Email, No Email Service) manage MX records for you.

Namecheap: Don't use the Gmail option

Namecheap marks its Gmail option in Mail Settings as temporarily not working and says to use Custom MX for Google Workspace instead.

Namecheap: No CNAME on the bare domain

A CNAME record on the bare domain (yourdomain.com) overrides every other record for that name and breaks email.

3 more Google Workspace mistakes to avoid

Visit Google Workspace Visit Namecheap

Google Workspace on Namecheap: questions

My domain is at Namecheap but uses another DNS provider. Where does the Google record go?

In Namecheap only if the domain uses Namecheap’s BasicDNS, PremiumDNS or FreeDNS. If it points to another DNS provider, Namecheap says to add the verification records there instead.

Can I verify Google Workspace with a CNAME record at Namecheap?

Yes. Namecheap’s guide says you can add a CNAME record instead of the TXT record for ownership verification, in the same Host Records section.

Where do I add Google Workspace DNS records in Namecheap?

Sign in to Namecheap and select Domain List in the left sidebar. Select Manage next to your domain. Open the Advanced DNS tab. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Host field at Namecheap?

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. Namecheap adds your domain automatically.

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

Remove any other MX records. Email might not work correctly if old or incorrect MX records stay in place. MX records for an outside email provider go in the Mail Settings section, and only after you choose Custom MX. The other options (Email Forwarding, Private Email, No Email Service) manage MX records for you. Namecheap marks its Gmail option in Mail Settings as temporarily not working and says to use Custom MX for Google Workspace instead. A CNAME record on the bare domain (yourdomain.com) overrides every other record for that name and breaks email.

How long until Google Workspace email works on Namecheap?

Namecheap recommends waiting about 30 minutes after adding the records. Its default TTL is 30 minutes, so an old value can stay cached that long. Namecheap’s default TTL is 30 minutes, so after a change other DNS servers can show the old value for up to 30 minutes.

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 Namecheap