Google Workspace SPF, DKIM records to GoDaddy DNS settings – Verify Custom Email Method
Security of your Google Workspace custom email against spoofing, phishing, and spamming is important. Therefore, you should also add SPF and DKIM records of your Google Workspace email in the DNS settings of GoDaddy. For the step-by-step process, you can watch our videos – links are provided below.
Method to Enter SPF Records
To enter SPF record, open this support page of Google Workspace.
Copy below text string from that page.
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
Sign-in to Domain Manager of GoDaddy at this link.
Click on the domain where you want to add MX records of Google Workspace custom email. On the next page, click on ‘Manage DNS’ link. On the ‘DNS Management’ page, click ‘Add’ button. As you click ‘Add’ the four DNS empty fields will be created below the button.
Select ‘TXT’ in the Type field, enter @ in the ‘Name’ field.
Paste the SPF value (v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all) in the ‘Value’ field.
In TTL field, keep it default or select ‘1 Hour’ from the drop-down list.
Click on ‘Add record’ button and SPF record will be instantly added in the DNS settings of GoDaddy domain.
Method to Enter DKIM Records
In the admin console of Google Workspace, click on Apps. Then under ‘Google Workspace’ please select ‘Gmail’ and there click on the option of ‘Authenticate email’. On the next page, please click on ‘GENERATE NEW RECORD’ button.
Please note that after adding MX records, Google Workspace will take 24 to 72 hours before it can generate DKIM key for your domain. You will see ‘DKIM authentication settings update failed’ notification if you try earlier. It took around 60 hours for generating the key in my case.
In the dialog box, the best options of 2048 for key bit length and ‘google’ as prefix selector are already provided. Please note that GoDaddy supports 2048-bit length for DKIM key. Click on ‘GENERATE’ button in the dialog box.
Google Workspace will generate and display the DKIM key.
In fact, the DKIM key looks like a long string of text characters as shown in our tutorial video. This is unique key specific to each domain.
Copy the bold text in the first string which is written just under the “DNS Host name (TXT record name)” in Admin Console of Google Workspace.
Now open the DNS settings of your GoDaddy domain, following same steps as described above. Select ‘TXT’ in Type field. Paste this first string of domain key in the ‘Name’ field.
Now copy the bold text in the second and long text string which is written just under the “TXT record value” in admin console of Google Workspace.
Paste that long and unique key in the ‘Value’ field of GoDaddy domain DNS settings. Select TTL as 1 hour.
Click ‘Add record’ button.
Congratulations. You have successfully added the DKIM unique key of Google Workspace in the DNS settings of GoDaddy domain.
Method to Verify SPF and DKIM Authentication
If you want to verify the DKIM authentication.
Send a test email message from your Workspace custom email to someone else in your friends or family who is using Gmail.
Your friend will open the email message. On the top right corner, select ‘three dots’ or More options. Select ‘Show original’ which will open a new page. It will display some text having the word of ‘PASS’ next to SPF and DKIM entries.
It means that SPF and DKIM records of your Workspace custom email are successfully authenticated and now your email is better secured by Google Workspace.
Optionally, you can also add DMARC record for your custom email in the DNS settings of domain host. Link for support article of Google Workspace is provided below.
As next steps, you can customize settings for the Google Workspace. You can also click on ‘gear’ icon on the top right screen in Gmail for playing with settings.
More Resources
Following resources might be helpful for you.
Method of entering Google Workspace Gmail MX records to GoDaddy DNS settings.
Google Workspace custom email subscription tips.
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