If you're a Google Workspace admin struggling to receive emails because your domain is inactive, it's crucial to act promptly to ensure smooth email delivery. This article walks you through re-registering your domain and setting up the necessary DNS records to activate email reception using Google Workspace services such as Gmail and Google Groups for Business.
Step 1: Re-register Your Domain
Check Domain Status
- First, verify that your domain is inactive. You can use WHOIS lookup services to confirm the domain's current status and expiration date.
Choose a Domain Registrar
- If your domain is inactive, you’ll need to re-register it through a reputable domain registrar. Consider using the same registrar if possible, to ease the reactivation process.
Complete the Registration
- Follow the instructions provided by the domain registrar to complete the domain registration. Ensure that you renew the domain for a sufficient period to avoid future interruptions.
Step 2: Add Necessary DNS Records
Once your domain is active, you need to set up specific DNS records for Google Workspace services:
Access DNS Settings
- Log in to your domain registrar's DNS management console.
- Locate the section for modifying DNS records.
Add MX Records
To allow Gmail to receive emails, add the following MX records:
Priority Mail Server 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
Verify Domain in Google Workspace
- Go to your Admin Console.
- Follow the instructions for domain verification if you haven’t already done this in the setup process.
- Once verified, update any other recommended DNS records such as SPF, DKIM, or DMARC, to enhance security and deliverability.
Step 3: Test Email Functionality
- Send Test Emails
- Use another account to send test emails to your newly configured domain email address to ensure that emails are being delivered correctly.
Additional Troubleshooting
- If emails are still not being delivered, check your DNS settings to ensure that they match Google's recommendations.
- Ensure DNS changes have propagated. It might take up to 48 hours for changes to fully propagate across the internet.
By following these steps, you should be able to reactivate your domain and restore email functionality in your Google Workspace account. For more details, refer to Google's detailed domain setup guide.
