Overview
Google changed the name of its G Suite product to Google Workspace. See the following article for more information:
When you enable Google Workspace, your mail DNS records must point to Google. How this happens is based on where your DNS is currently hosted, per the following:
Google's new MX record
The instructions in this article reflect Google's older configuration, which used five MX records. Google recently simplified their MX records into a single record of smtp.google.com.
What does this mean?
Do NOT change your records if you have configured them in the past as shown below. As stated in Google's documentation:
If Gmail is working, don't change your MX records. Doing so could cause incoming email messages to bounce.
If you are a new Google Workspace customer and are configuring your MX records for the first time, you can use smtp.google.com or the five records described in this article since both will function. View the following article for further details:
If your DNS is hosted at DreamHost but you've signed up for Google Workspace at Google
If your nameservers are currently pointed to DreamHost, your site's DNS is hosted at DreamHost. If you purchased a Google Workspace account at Google, you must then update your site's MX records in the DreamHost panel to point to Google.
MX records
When setting up your domain with Google Workspace, Google's panel will guide you through the configuration of your MX records. Within the Google Workspace panel, the following MX records display:
1 ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 5 ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 5 ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 10 ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 10 ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com
You must enter these records into your DreamHost panel as shown below. Make sure to enter the priority before the record name.
You can copy and paste each record from the list above.
Updating your MX records
- Navigate to the Custom MX page.
- To the right of your domain, click the Edit button.
- Enter Google's MX records at the bottom of this page:
Once saved, it will take about 6 hours to update online. Your email will then be hosted with Google.
SPF record
You must also update your SPF record to point to Google using the following record:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
View the following article for instructions on how to create an SPF record in your panel:
If your DNS is hosted at DreamHost and you've signed up for Google Workspace in the panel
If your nameservers are currently pointed to DreamHost, your site's DNS is hosted at DreamHost. In this case, DreamHost sets up your MX records, verifies the domain with a token in a TXT record, and then updates your site's SPF record. For example, the following DNS records are automatically adjusted:
MX records
1 ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 5 ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 5 ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 10 ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 10 ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com
SPF record
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
CNAME
DreamHost creates a custom CNAME for the 'mail' subdomain that points to ghs.googlehosted.com.
TXT verification
DreamHost uses the method of creating a TXT record with a verification string. This verification string is added automatically when you sign up for Google Workspace in your DreamHost panel. You can view this record using the DNS tab on the Manage Websites page. See the Adding DNS article for more information.
If your DNS is not hosted at DreamHost but you've signed up for Google Workspace in the panel
If your nameservers are pointed to another company, DreamHost sends you an email with information on how to update your DNS records at that company. Here are a few links that may be of help for some popular hosts:
- GoDaddy — Change my IP address
- Shopify — View or edit the DNS for a domain
- Squarespace — Option 2 to add custom records manually
- Wix — Adding MX records
MX records
When setting up your domain with Google Workspace, Google's panel will guide you through the configuration of your MX records. Within the Google Workspace panel, the following MX records will display:
1 ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 5 ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 5 ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 10 ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com 10 ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.com
View the following link for information on what MX records you need to update at your current host:
Your hosting company may use different labels for the name and value fields. You may also be required to add the trailing period at the end of the server name. Make sure you follow the specific instructions for your domain host when entering the following values:
You can use the five MX records shown in the previous section or the one in the following table. If Gmail is working, don't change your MX records as doing so can cause incoming email messages to bounce. See Google Workspace MX record values for more information.
| Name/Host/Alias | Time to Live (TTL*) | Record Type | Priority | Value/Answer/Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blank or @ | 3600 | MX | 1 | ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM. |
| Blank or @ | 3600 | MX | 5 | ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM. |
| Blank or @ | 3600 | MX | 5 | ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM. |
| Blank or @ | 3600 | MX | 10 | ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM. |
| Blank or @ | 3600 | MX | 10 | ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM. |
SPF record
You must also update your SPF record at your site's hosting company to point to Google using the following record:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
Domain verification with an MX record
You can also verify your domain for Google Workspace with an MX record. The Google Workspace Setup Wizard provides a unique MX record, with a priority of 15, for verification. This record is only available from the Setup Wizard that appears right after you sign up for Google Workspace.
Optional CNAME records
You may also create the following CNAME records if you need them:
| CNAME | Time to Live (TTL) | Record Type | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3600 | CNAME | ghs.googlehosted.com | |
| calendar | 3600 | CNAME | ghs.googlehosted.com |
See also
External links
- Authorize email senders with SPF - Google Workspace Admin Help