How to verify domain ownership with a DNS TXT record

October 20, 2026, 3 min read

Sooner or later, a service will ask you to prove you own a domain. Search tools, email providers and marketplaces all do it, and the most common method is a DNS TXT record. It takes a couple of minutes once you know where to look.

What a TXT record is

Your domain's DNS settings are a list of records that tell the internet where to find things: which server hosts the website, which one receives email, and so on. A TXT record is a record that simply holds text. It doesn't change how your website or email works.

Because only the person who controls a domain can change its DNS records, adding a specific piece of text is a reliable way to prove control. The service gives you a unique value, you add it, and the service checks that it's there.

What you'll be given

The service will give you two things:

A host, or name. Sometimes this is "@", meaning the domain itself. Often it's a special name such as an underscore followed by a word. Using a separate name keeps the verification record apart from your other records.
A value. A string of text, often starting with the service's name, followed by a long code.

Some services also mention a TTL, which is how long the record may be cached. If you're not asked for one, the default is fine.

Where to add it

You add the record wherever your domain's DNS is managed. That's usually one of:

your registrar, where you bought the domain,
your hosting provider, if your domain's nameservers point to them, or
a separate DNS service.

If you're not sure which, look up your domain's nameservers. Their names usually show which company manages your DNS.

Adding the record

The exact screens differ, but the steps are similar everywhere:

Log in and open the DNS settings for your domain. Look for "DNS," "DNS records," "Zone editor" or "Manage DNS."
Choose to add a new record, and select the type TXT.
In the host or name field, enter what the service gave you. Some providers want only the part before your domain, others want the full name. If the service gave you a name like the example _verify and your domain is example.com, try _verify first; the provider usually adds your domain automatically.
Paste the value exactly. Don't add extra spaces. Some providers add quotation marks themselves; that's normal.
Save.

Wait, then check

DNS changes aren't always visible straight away. Often they're live within minutes, but they can take longer depending on the provider and caching. If the service says it can't find your record:

wait a little and try again,
double-check the host field, as this is the most common mistake,
make sure you added it at the provider your nameservers actually point to, and
check that you didn't paste extra characters.

You can also use a free online DNS lookup tool to see whether the TXT record is visible publicly.

Can I remove it afterwards?

It depends on the service. Some only check once, so the record can be deleted afterwards. Others check again from time to time, and removing it may undo the verification. The service's instructions will say which.

How we use it

When you list a domain on our marketplace, we ask for a TXT record exactly like this before the listing goes live. It's how buyers know every domain for sale is offered by someone who really controls it. You only need to keep it until the listing is verified. If you'd like to try it, you can list a domain for free and follow the on-screen instructions.