Activate Gmail for Google Workspace (2025)

Table of Contents

Why do I need to do this? Before you begin Tab 1: Sign in to your domain registrar Who is my domain registrar? Tab2: Open theGoogle Workspace setup tool I'm stuck and need help I get an error when I clickthe blue button It says Gmail is activated for my domain My email address ends in @gmail.com What you'll do at the setup tool Activate Gmail (generic steps) Find your DNS records Set up the MX records for Google Workspace Add MX records for a subdomain (existing customers only) Where do I copy the Google MX records? Tell Google Workspace to activate Gmail You might have to wait and try again Still need help? After you activate Gmail Start using Gmail Set up more Gmail security Was this helpful? Need more help? Try these next steps: Manage MX (Mail Exchange) records

Tell the internet where to deliver your company's email messages

This article is for people who manage Google services or devices for a company, school, or group. If you're using a personal (@gmail.com) account, go instead to the Google Account Help Center.

Why do I need to do this?

For your company to use Gmail withGoogle Workspace, you need to direct people's incoming messages to Google's mail servers. You do this by changing your domain'sMX recordsat yourdomain registrar.

ChangeMX recordsat your domain registrar to directyourcompany's emails toGmail. Explainthismore

Before you begin

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

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

Tab 1: Sign in to your domain registrar

You update your domain settings at your domain registrar's website, not at Google. To get started, make sure you have the account ID and password needed to sign in to your domain registrar.

Google can't sign in to your domain registrar—only a domain's owner can do that. Contact your registrar if you need help accessing this account.

Who is my domain registrar?

Usually your domain registrar is:

Tab2: Open theGoogle Workspace setup tool

You get instructions and complete this task using thesetup tool.You also use the tool to add any remaining email accounts—every existing address in your company must be associated with aGoogle Workspaceaccount.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

To continue, follow the instructions in the setup tool and return to this page only if you need more information.

I'm stuck and need help

I get an error when I clickthe blue button

The setup tool is forGoogle Workspaceand Cloud Identity administrators only. It doesn't work with any other Google product.

Make sure you're signing in with anadmin 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 ishaving trouble receiving email:

Check these troubleshooting steps.
Review some additional problemsthat 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.

What you'll do at the setup tool

Explaining how to change MX records is challenging because the steps are slightly different for each domain registrar. We recommend that you follow steps at the setup tool, orfind steps for your domain registrar. But to preview generic steps now, click below.

Activate Gmail (generic steps)

Find your DNS records

Before you begin:we have custom instructions for many popular domain registrars. Look for yours here.

(a)

In a new tab, sign into your domain registrar with the account and password you used to buy your domain or to manage your website.

(b)

Go to the section where you can update your domain's MX records. This section should have one of the following labels:

DNS settingsorDNS management
Mail settings
Advanced settings

Important: If you have trouble finding MX records, contact your domain registrar for help.

Set up the MX records for Google Workspace

(a)	Review your existing DNS records and delete any non-Google MX records you see.
(b)	Create a new record.
(c)	Fill in the fields for thew new MX record. ChooseMXfor the type of record. Look for a field labeledName,Host, orAlias. Enter@. (If@causes an error leave this field blank). Copy the MX record from the setup tool. Paste it into the field labeledValue, Answer, Destination, or Server. Enter1 hourin the TTL field, or you can leave the default value. Enter1in the priority field. Note:if your registrar rejects a Google MX record, try adding a period after the.COM. Add MX records for a subdomain (existing customers only) If you're adding a subdomain to an existingGoogle Workspaceaccount, enterthesubdomain in your registrar'sName/Host/Aliasfield. For example, if your new subdomain is support.your-company.com, you would addsupportto theName/Host/Aliasfield. Don't enter@in this field.
(d)	Continue using the setup tool to add any other MX records required for your domain. Where do I copy the Google MX records? You should have the setup tool open in another tab. You can reopen the tool if you closed it.

Tell Google Workspace to activate Gmail

(a)

Return to the browser tab where you have theGoogle Workspacesetup 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 theGoogle Workspacesetup tool can't find your newrecords, 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 backin a couple of hours and click the Activatebutton again.
After you activate Gmail, updates can take up to 48 hours. Until the rest of the internet notices your new MX records,you'llstill get email messages inyour old email client.

Still need help?

After 72 hours, if you still need help or if you can't access your domain's DNS settings:

Contact your domain host directly for assistance.
Go to Troubleshoot MX records to troubleshoot the issue yourself.

After you activate Gmail

Start using Gmail

Sign in to admin.google.com with your Google Workspace user name and password.
In the top right corner, click the AppLauncherMail.

Set up more Gmail security

To help prevent spam and other security risks, we strongly recommend you enable email authentication and security methods for Gmail.

For detailed steps, go to Help prevent spoofing, phishing, and spam.

_{Google, Google Workspace, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companieswith which they are associated.}

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