Uploading an HTML file to your domain's web server is one way to verify domain ownership and activate Google Apps for your domain. This requires that you have access to the server and can upload files to it. If your domain doesn't have a web server (for example, if you never set up a website for it), or if you use a content management system that doesn't let you upload to the server, you can verify domain ownership in other ways, instead (view other options).

Generate and upload the HTML file

If you're not sure how to upload files to your web server, contact the person who manages your site for help.

1. Sign up for Google Apps and follow the instructions that appear to verify domain ownership.
    
2. Choose HTML file upload from the verification options. If the HTML file method doesn't appear as the recommended method, go to the Alternate methods tab to find it.
    
3. In the instructions that appear, click this HTML verification file to download the file provided by Google.
   
   It will have a name resembling google4ddabfacdb4f6795.html and contents of "google-site-verification:" following by the name of the file, like so:
   google-site-verification: google4ddabfacdb4f6795.html
    
4. Leave the Google Apps control panel browser window open and upload the HTML file to the root folder (top-level folder) of your domain's website.
   
   Do not upload it to a sub-folder. In short, the file must be visible at http://your_domain.com/your_filename.html and not http://your_domain.com/some_subfolder/your_filename.html.
   
   The root folder's name can vary by hosting provider, but it's typically public_html, www, or wwwroot.

Make sure the HTML file was correctly uploaded

1. Open any browser window.
    
2. Go to the address of the uploaded file on your website. This is your site's URL including the filename, as in:
   http://your_domain.com/your_filename.html
   
   Be sure to replace your_domain.com with your actual domain name and your_filename.html with your actual filename.

If the file uploaded correctly, you'll see in your browser "google-site-verification:" followed by the string of characters in the file you uploaded.

Complete domain verification

1. Return to the verification instructions in your Google Apps control panel.
    
2. Click the Verify button at the bottom of the page.
   
   This prompts Google to check for this HTML file at the same address you viewed it above. Once we find the file, we'll activate service for your domain.

Want someone to do this for you? Get professional help with setup.

Alternatively, if you would like some help, contact Google Support.

If you are having trouble verifiying domain ownership via HTML file, consider using another verification method.