Google Workspace + SiteGround

Set up Google Workspace email on SiteGround

The records Google Workspace needs, written with the field names SiteGround uses (Name, Destination, Value, Resolves to), 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 SiteGround: Open Site Tools for your site. Go to Domain > DNS Zone Editor.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

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 Leave empty 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 Name Leave empty Value smtp.google.com Priority 1 TTL Default
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Name Leave empty Value v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all Priority n/a TTL Default
DKIM A signature on every message Type TXT Name google._domainkey Value Copy from Google Admin console Priority n/a TTL Default
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 Default

Step by step in SiteGround

Verify your domain

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

Type
TXT
Name
Leave this field empty
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Point your MX records

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

Type
MX
Name
Leave this field empty
Priority
1
Destination
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the MX tab and choose Add your own MX records.
  2. Leave Name empty, enter the Priority and the Destination.
  3. Click Create.
  4. Under Manage DNS Records, delete SiteGround's default MX records.

Add the SPF record

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

Type
TXT
Name
Leave this field empty
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Set up DKIM

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

Type
TXT
Name
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

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

Type
TXT
Name
_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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

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 SiteGround’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Google Workspace on SiteGround

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.

SiteGround: Delete SiteGround's default MX records

New sites start with three MX records for SiteGround's own mail: mx10, mx20 and mx30.antispam.mailspamprotection.com. Remove them when you use another provider.

SiteGround: SPF lives under Email > Authentication

SiteGround manages SPF in Site Tools > Email > Authentication. Edit the Include List there instead of adding a second SPF record in the DNS Zone Editor.

3 more Google Workspace mistakes to avoid

Visit Google Workspace Visit SiteGround

Google Workspace on SiteGround: questions

Where do I add Google Workspace DNS records in SiteGround?

Open Site Tools for your site. Go to Domain > DNS Zone Editor. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Name field at SiteGround?

Leave it empty 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. SiteGround adds your domain automatically.

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

Remove any other MX records. Email might not work correctly if old or incorrect MX records stay in place. New sites start with three MX records for SiteGround's own mail: mx10, mx20 and mx30.antispam.mailspamprotection.com. Remove them when you use another provider.

How long until Google Workspace email works on SiteGround?

New MX records can take up to 72 hours to be recognized.

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 SiteGround