GoDaddy: Activate Gmail for Google Workspace

Why do I need to do this?

For your company to use Gmail with Google Workspace, you need to direct people's incoming messages to Google's mail servers. You do this by changing your domain's MX records  at your domain registrar.

Change MX records at your domain registrar to direct your company's emails to Gmail. Explain this more

Before you begin

Make sure now is a good time to make this change. It can take time for the rest of the internet to learn about your new MX records. You might keep receiving mail with your old email provider during this time.

To complete this task, open two separate tabs in your web browser, like this:

Tab 1: Get ready to sign in to GoDaddy

Before you get started, make sure you have the account ID and password you need to sign in to GoDaddy. If you have trouble signing in to this account, find out how to change your GoDaddy password.

Tab 2: Open the Google Workspace setup tool 

You get instructions and complete this task using the setup tool. You also use the tool to add any remaining email accounts—every existing address in your company must be associated with a Google Workspace account. You must use the setup tool to complete this task.

If you don't already have the setup tool open in another tab, click below to open it.

Open the setup tool

I'm stuck and need help

I get an error when I click the blue button

The setup tool is for Google Workspace and Cloud Identity administrators only. It doesn't work with any other Google product.

Make sure you're signing in with an admin account.

It says Gmail is activated for my domain

Your MX records are already set up.

If you're reading this article because your company is having trouble receiving email:

• Check these troubleshooting steps.
• Review some additional problems that can interrupt email delivery.

My email address ends in @gmail.com

Oh no! You've ended up in the wrong place. Click here for help with @gmail.com issues.

Follow these instructions to activate Gmail

Work across the 2 tabs you opened earlier, as follows:

	Find your DNS records (a) Open GoDaddy and sign in with the account you used to buy your domain. (b) Find the domain you're setting up today and click more and then choose the Manage DNS option. I'm stuck and need help Contact GoDaddy for help with these issues: I can't sign into my GoDaddy account I can't find my GoDaddy domain I don't understand GoDaddy DNS settings
	Set up the MX records for Google Workspace (a) Check your list of DNS records. If you see existing MX records, delete them. Click the Delete button next to an existing MX record. Repeat these steps until you've deleted all existing MX records. (b) Click Add at the top of the DNS Records table (c) Complete the form. Select MX for the Type. Enter @ for the Name. Set the Priority to 1. Enter smtp.google.com in the Value field. Leave the TTL field set to Default. Click Add record to create your new MX record.
	Tell Google Workspace to activate Gmail (a) Return to the browser tab where you have the Google Workspace setup tool open. (You can reopen the tool if you closed it.) (b) Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Activate Gmail. Important: Some registrars may require additional time to publish your MX records. If the Google Workspace setup tool can't find your new records, wait an hour before you try again. If you need additional help with your DNS settings, contact your registrar. They are experts in managing your domain and are eager to help you.

You might have to wait and try again

Some registrars take longer than others to let the world know that you have a new email provider:

• If Google Workspace can't find your new MX records, come back in a couple of hours and click the Activate button again.
• After you activate Gmail and until the rest of the internet notices your new MX records, you'll still get email messages in your old email client.

Changes can take up to 48 hours but typically happen more quickly. Learn more