How to configure my domain to work with Google Workspace if my DNS is not managed by SiteGround?

Modified on Fri, 10 Nov 2023 at 05:52 AM

If your domain is not pointed to SiteGround’s name servers (ns1.siteground.net and ns2.siteground.net or any private DNS provided by SiteGround), your domain’s DNS zone is not managed by SiteGround. To configure your domain to use Google Workspace, add the following DNS records to your domain’s remote DNS zone. For domains pointed to SiteGround name server refer to this article.

1. Set your domain’s MX records to Google

Add Google’s MX records to your domain’s DNS zone:

NAME/HOST/ALIAS	PRIORITY	VALUE/ANSWER/DESTINATION
Blank or @	1	ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	5	ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	5	ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	10	ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	10	ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM

2. Set your domain’s SPF record to Google

SPF stands for Sender Policy Framework. It is a TXT DNS record, which ensures mail servers will accept emails sent from your domain only if they are sent from a list of trusted servers you set up.

If you only send email from Google Workspace, enter this SPF record:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

3. Set your domain’s DKIM record to Google

DKIM stands for DomainKeys Identified Email. DKIM is an email authentication method used to prevent email spoofing by allowing the receiver to check if an incoming email claimed to have come from a specific domain, was indeed authorized by the owner of this domain.

Follow these steps to configure your DKIM record with Google:

Sign in to your Google Admin console (at admin.google.com).
Go to Apps > Google Workspace > Gmail.
Click Authenticate email.
Select the domain and click Generate new record. A DNS TXT record will be generated.
Add the DKIM TXT DNS record to your domain’s DNS zone.
After adding the DKIM TXT DNS record, click on “Start Authentication” in your Admin console in Google Workspace.

Please note that every DNS change requires up to 72 hours to propagate and take effect. After that, your mail will be handled exclusively by Google Workspace.