Guide to Using Google Workspace with an External Domain

Having a professional email address is crucial for establishing your identity as a brand and building trust. While free email services are available, there is a significant difference between using a generic address and your own domain. This is where Google Workspace becomes valuable. And yes, you can use your own domain name to set up Google Workspace.

Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite that facilitates team collaboration across different locations and devices.

HostGator makes it convenient for you to sign up for Google Workspace by providing you with a guided setup to link your own domain, regardless of whether your domain was registered with HostGator or with another registrar. While you can now use a domain not registered with HostGator to set up Google Workspace, a manual DNS verification is still required. You can verify your domain by adding a TXT record to your domain's DNS records at your registrar or hosting provider, using a value provided in the Customer Portal.

This article will help you set up your Google Workspace using an external domain or a domain NOT registered with HostGator.

How to Order and Set up Google Workspace with a Domain NOT Registered with HostGator

To set up Google Workspace with a domain NOT registered with HostGator, follow the steps below.

• Step 1: Complete the purchase of Google Workspace⤵
• Step 2: Set up Google Workspace (Post-purchase)⤵
• Step 3: Verify your domain (Post-purchase)⤵
• Step 4: Update your domain's MX records (Post-purchase)⤵

Step 1: Complete the purchase of Google Workspace

You can purchase Google Workspace within your Customer Portal or https://www.hostgator.com/google.

Via the Customer Portal

1. Log in to your Customer Portal.
2. Click Marketplace on the left-side menu.

   

3. Scroll down to the Email category and click Claim Offer under Google Workspace.

   

4. In the pop-up window, enter the domain you want to use for your email.

   

5. Scroll down and click the Continue button.
6. In the next pop-up window, select your Google Workspace plan.

   

7. Select your preferred payment method from the dropdown. If you don't have a payment method on file, you may need to enter your billing details. Click the BUY NOW button.
8. You'll be redirected to the Checkout page, where you can complete the payment transaction.

Via https://www.hostgator.com/google

1. Go to https://www.hostgator.com/google.
2. Click the Sign up button.

   

3. You'll be prompted to log in to your Customer Portal. Enter your username and password.

   

4. On the next page, fill out the required information. Select your preferred number of users (or seats), and then click Continue.

   

5. Choose the domain you want to use with Google Workspace. You can use your existing domain or purchase a new one.

   To use your existing domain, select the checkbox for "I want to use a domain I already own," enter your domain, then click the Use This Domain Name button.

   

6. Review your Cart and Order Summary. Enter your Promo Code if you have one available (optional).
7. Click Continue To Checkout to proceed. 
8. You'll be redirected to the Checkout page, where you can complete the payment transaction. Make sure you have a payment method saved. If you don't have one on file, you'll be asked to enter one.

You can now start setting up your Google Workspace account.

Step 2: Set up Google Workspace (Post-purchase)

1. Once you have completed the purchase, you will see an alert banner in your Customer Portal prompting you to start the Google Workspace setup. Click the Setup button to launch the setup window.

   

   If you happen to miss or close the alert banner, you can still proceed with the setup by clicking the Email & Office tab on the left-side menu and selecting Google Workspace.

   

   Click the Setup button under the Overview section to launch the setup window.

   

2. A pop-up window will appear, informing you that you are about to set up your domain with Google Workspace. Click the Get Started button.

   

3. In the next pop-up window, fill out the required fields with the following information:
   • Primary email
   • First and last name
   • Organization (optional)

     

4. Click the Continue button.
5. In the next pop-up, enter a recovery email address.

   

6. Click the Setup button.

Step 3: Verify your domain (Post-purchase)

Using Google Workspace with an external domain requires manual DNS verification. After you click Setup, the External Domain Verification pop-up window will appear. Follow its four steps to verify your domain by adding a TXT record to your domain's DNS records.

1. Under Step 1: Copy your verification code, click the Copy button to copy your verification code. (The image below shows a sample verification code.)

   

2. Under Step 2: Find your external domain's DNS records, open a new browser tab and log in to your registrar's website (typically where you purchased your domain or host your website). Locate the domain management section, select the domain you are setting up, and find the option to manage its DNS records. This area might be called:
   • DNS settings or DNS management
   • Nameserver management
   • Advanced settings
   • Control panel

   Your domain management section may vary depending on your hosting provider. If you need assistance finding your domain management section, please contact your registrar or hosting provider.

   

3. Under Step 3: Add the verification record to your external domain, follow these steps:
   1. If you haven't already, copy your verification code from Step 1.
   2. Switch to the browser tab with your registrar's website. It should already be in the DNS management area from Step 2.
   3. Look for the option to create a new TXT record and select it.
   4. In the field labeled Name, Host, Hostname, or Alias, enter "@", your domain name, or a subdomain, as required by your registrar. Contact your registrar for help if needed.
   5. In the field labeled Value, Data, Answer, or Destination, paste the verification code you copied in Step 1.
   6. Save your newly created TXT record.

   

4. Under Step 4: Tell Google Workspace to check your verification record, go back to the browser tab with your Customer Portal and click Verify My Domain to have Google Workspace check your verification record.

   

   Please note that DNS updates can take up to 2 hours to take effect. Updates may resolve faster in some locations than others because many name servers on the Internet retrieve updates at different times.
5. A prompt will appear informing you about the status of your domain verification. If Google Workspace fails to verify your domain, it will show "Verification failed. Please try again." DNS updates may take up to 2 hours. Try verifying your domain again.

   

   If your domain was successfully verified, the prompt will show "Verification successful." You can proceed to the next step.

   

Step 4: Update your domain's MX records (Post-purchase)

Once Google Workspace successfully verifies your domain, you need to update its MX records. This is also done in your registrar or hosting provider's domain management section. You can also check this article for more information about updating MX records: Changing DNS Zones (MX, CNAME, and A Records) in cPanel.

If you signed up for Google Workspace ON or AFTER April 2023, here is the MX record you need:

If you signed up for Google Workspace BEFORE April 2023, your MX records look like these:

Propagation may take some time. Once it is done, you can log in to your Google Workspace account, accept the Google Workspace Terms of Service, and fully enjoy the benefits of Google Workspace!

Why Does My Google Workspace Show a Temporary Domain Name Instead of My Own?

Every Google Workspace account has a default address in the format mydomain.com.c-XXXXXXXX.appstempdomain.goog, where c-XXXXXXXX is the internal Google ID for the account. Normally this stays in the background, but you may see it surface if Google can no longer verify that you own your primary domain. This is almost always caused by one of two things: DNS records being accidentally deleted (commonly during a website migration or DNS host transfer, or if the domain was verified under a different Google Workspace account), or your domain name itself expiring. If you're seeing an unverified warning or your services aren't working, it's because something changed in your DNS zone that removed Google's verification record.

Related Articles

Learn more about our Google Workspace email service!

• Google Workspace (Formerly G Suite) Tools Overview
• What is Google Workspace (Formerly G Suite)?