How to set up and configure domain DNS for Google Workspace

Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite) is a suite of cloud-based productivity tools & services designed for business use. With Google Workspace, you can use Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and other tools with your own custom domain name. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps required to configure and set up your domain for Google Workspace using DNS.

Before you begin, you’ll need to have couple of things like Google Workspace account and a domain name. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to begin the configuration process.

Requirements:

1. A Domain name – You need a domain name, you can register any TLD

2. Access to Control Panel – access to the either Domain Control Panel, only in case your Name Servers are default to your domain registrar provided ones OR Webhosting Control Panel If your Names Servers are pointing to your Hoting and domain registrar doesn’t manage your DNS then you will need Webhosting Control Panel Access.

3. Google Workspace – Signup for Google Workspace account for any plan and any number of accounts you want.

Now you have everything needed to configure Google Workspace.

Follow the steps below to configure your domain DNS to work with Google Workspace:

Step 1: Log in to your domain registrar’s website or your Hosting Control panel if DNS is managed through hosting and access your DNS settings.

Your domain registrar is the company where you purchased your domain name. You’ll need to log in to their website and access your DNS settings. The process for doing this will vary depending on your registrar, but it usually involves going to the “Domain Settings” or “DNS Settings” section of your account.

Similarly for Hosting Control Panel it will also be similar like “Manage DNS” or “Manage Zone” “Zone”

Step 2: Create a new DNS record for your domain.

To configure your domain for Google Workspace, you’ll need to create a new DNS record. This will usually involve creating a new “MX” (Mail Exchange) record, which specifies where email should be delivered for your domain. The process for creating a new DNS record will vary depending on your registrar, but typically you’ll need to select “Add Record” or “Create Record” and then choose “MX” from the list of record types. If doing in your Hosting double check for duplicate or local MX record make sure you only have 1.

Step 3: Add the Google Workspace MX records to your DNS settings.

Next, you’ll need to add the Google Workspace MX records to your DNS settings. These are the records that tell email servers where to deliver email for your domain. You will need to add five MX records in total, with priority values ranging from 1 to 5. The details of these records can be found in the Google Workspace admin console under “Setup > Domains.” Here’s an example of what your MX records might look like:

For Current Google Workspace Version (April 2023 & later):

Use one MX record:
Name/Host/Alias: Blank or @
Priority: 1
Value/Answer/Destination: SMTP.GOOGLE.COM

For Legacy Google Workspace Version (before 2023):

Priority 1: ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Priority 5: ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Priority 5: ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Priority 10: ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Priority 10: ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM

To add these records, you’ll need to enter the hostname (e.g. “ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM”) and priority value (e.g. “1”) in the appropriate fields in your DNS settings. Again, the exact process will vary depending on your registrar, but you’ll typically need to enter the hostname in the “Name” field and the priority value in the “Priority” or “Preference” field.

If you are configuring DNS for Google Workspace in your hosting control panel you may have local mail MX record with priority 0 (zero), you may have to delete this record in order to avoid conflicts.

Step 4: Verify your domain with Google Workspace.

Before you can start using Google Workspace with your domain, you’ll need to verify that you own the domain. This involves adding a TXT record to your DNS settings with a unique verification code provided by Google Workspace. To do this, go to the “Domains” section of your Google Workspace admin console and click “Verify domain.” Follow the on-screen instructions to add the TXT record to your DNS settings.

Step 5: Set up any additional DNS records required for your domain.

In addition to the MX and TXT records, you may need to set up additional DNS records for your domain, such as “CNAME” or “TXT” records for email authentication (e.g. SPF, DKIM, DMARC). These records help prevent spam and ensure that email sent from your domain is authenticated. The specific records you’ll need to set up will depend on the email authentication standards you’re using, but you can find more information on this in the Google Workspace admin console under “Security > Advanced Settings.”

Your SPF record for Google Workspace may look like this: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

Step 6: Wait for DNS propagation to complete.

After you’ve made all the necessary DNS changes, you’ll need to wait for DNS propagation to complete. DNS propagation is the process by which DNS servers around the world update their records with the new DNS information for your domain. This process can take up to 48 hours, although it typically happens much faster.

During this time, you may experience some temporary issues with email delivery and other services, as some servers may still be using the old DNS information for your domain. However, once DNS propagation is complete, your domain should be fully configured and set up for Google Workspace. So, it is adviced to have patience and wait for atlease few hours or a day.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, configuring and setting up a domain for Google Workspace using DNS may seem little technical and difficult at first, but it’s actually a fairly straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this post, you should be able to get your domain up and running with Google Workspace in no time. If you encounter any issues along the way, be sure to check the Google Workspace Help Center or reach out to Google Workspace support for assistance.

Additionally, it’s important to note that once you’ve configured your domain for Google Workspace using DNS, you’ll need to set up user accounts and other settings in the Google Workspace admin console. This includes creating email accounts for your users, setting up security settings, and configuring other Google Workspace features such as Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Docs.

Finally, it’s worth noting that if you’re not comfortable with configuring DNS settings yourself, you may want to consider hiring a professional to help you out. There are many webmasters, web developers and IT professionals who specialize in setting up and configuring Google Workspace and other cloud-based services, and they can help ensure that everything is set up correctly and running smoothly. Whatever approach you choose, be sure to take the time to properly configure your domain for Google Workspace, so you can make the most of this powerful suite of tools and services.

Article Updated: 21-08-2024