Fix Google Workspace domain verification issues

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Fix Google Workspace domain verification issues

Last updated October 05, 2026 18:10

Resolve common errors that occur when authenticating your Google Workspace domain.

To sign up for Google Workspace, you need to first verify your domain ownership so no one else can use your domain. If you’re having issues with the verification process, it might be because you haven’t completed the sign up process, or your domain is blocked. Learn how to fix these and more common verification issues.

Note: If you’re still having trouble after following this guide, contact us instead of canceling your Google Workspace account. You can’t start over after canceling, and it prevents you from reactivating Google Workspace through Squarespace.

How do I know if I have a domain verification issue?

If Google can’t verify your Google Workspace domain:

  • You'll get a “Google couldn't verify your domain” error message in your Google Workspace panel.
  • A banner appears at the top of the Google Workspace Admin console, prompting you to verify your domain.

Complete the sign up process

To successfully verify your domain, ensure you've completed the initial setup steps:

  1. Log into your account with your Google Workspace temporary password, which we send in a welcome email after you sign up. The email subject line is “Welcome to Google Workspace.” If you can’t find the email in your inbox or spam folder, re-send it.
  2. Accept Google’s Terms of Service. You can’t verify your domain before accepting Google’s terms.
  3. Verify your Google Workspace domain in the Google Workspace Admin console.

Unblock your domain if necessary

If you've completed the sign up process and still can't verify your domain, check to ensure your domain is unblocked.

Unblock your domain if you have a Squarespace website

If you have a Squarespace website and Google still hasn’t verified your domain, your domain may be blocked. To unblock your domain:

If you don't have a Squarespace website

If you don't have a Squarespace website and Google still shows your domain isn't verified, retry the domain verification in Squarespace before trying to verify your domain with a TXT record.

Retry domain verification

If you get a “Google couldn't verify domain” message in your Google Workspace panel, try to verify your domain again. After the message disappears, you should be able to access your Google Workspace account. To try domain verification again:

  1. Open the domains dashboard, then click the domain linked to the Google Workspace account you'd like to manage.
  2. Click Email.
  3. Click Manage plan.
  4. Click Verify Domain.
  5. Refresh your browser. If the Verify Domain button disappears after refresh, then you successfully verified your domain. If the button reappears, your domain isn’t verified yet.

Add a TXT record to verify your primary domain

If you retried domain verification and still get an error, try verifying your primary domain with a TXT verification record.

I have a Squarespace domain using Squarespace default nameservers

If you have a Squarespace domain using Squarespace default nameservers, to verify your primary domain with a TXT record:

  1. Open a private or incognito window and log into your Google Workspace admin console.
  2. Follow Step 1 in Google's documentation to get your unique verification record. The record begins with google-site-verification= followed by a series of numbers and letters.
  3. In another tab in your browser, open your domains dashboard.
  4. Click your domain name, then click DNS. If you can't add DNS records, try using an incognito window.
  5. Click the Add Preset dropdown menu and select Google Workspace verification.
  6. Paste your TXT record in the Verification code field.
  7. Click Add.
  8. Return to your Google Workspace Admin console and click Verify. It may take 10 minutes to an hour for Google to identify the newly added TXT record.

I have a third-party domain or use custom nameservers

If you have a third-party domain, or a Squarespace domain using custom nameservers, review Google’s documentation or visit their provider-specific TXT record guides to add the TXT record in your domain host's DNS settings.

Verify secondary Google Workspace domains

To verify a secondary Google Workspace domain, add two MX records to the domain instead of a TXT record.

To find the required MX records:

  1. Log into your Google Workspace admin console.
  2. In the domains panel, click Verify domain.
  3. In Squarespace, add the MX records to your domain.
  4. It can take up to 48 hours for the changes to your DNS settings to take effect.

Note: Don't use the Google Workspace verification preset option in your DNS settings panel. That option only works for primary domains.

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Fix Google Workspace domain verification issues