How to Add a TXT Record in GoDaddy (Step-by-Step)

Adding a TXT record in GoDaddy takes about 4 minutes plus propagation. GoDaddy’s DNS is slower than Cloudflare or Route 53 — expect 30-60 minutes.

Prerequisites

• GoDaddy account with the domain
• Domain using GoDaddy’s default nameservers (not delegated elsewhere)

Step 1 — Open DNS Management

1. Log into GoDaddy
2. My Products → Domains → click your domain
3. DNS section → click Manage DNS (or the DNS tab)

Step 2 — Add Record

Scroll to the Records list. Click Add (or Add New Record).

Step 3 — Fill in the Fields

• Type — TXT
• Host — depends on record type:
  • SPF → @ (root)
  • DMARC → _dmarc
  • DKIM → {selector}._domainkey
  • Google/Microsoft site verification → @
• TXT Value — the record content, e.g., v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
• TTL — 1 hour (default) — fine

Step 4 — Save

GoDaddy saves the record. Propagation begins.

Step 5 — Wait 30-60 Minutes

GoDaddy DNS propagates slower than more modern providers. Give it 30-60 minutes before verifying globally.

Step 6 — Verify

Verify with the DNS query tool — should return your record.

For deeper validation:

• SPF: SPF lookup tool
• DMARC: DMARC lookup tool
• DKIM: DKIM lookup tool

Long Records

DKIM records over 255 characters — paste the whole value; GoDaddy handles the internal string splitting.

Common Miss

• GoDaddy’s UI shows the FQDN in the Host field (e.g., _dmarc.yourdomain.com) — enter only the subdomain part (_dmarc)
• Two SPF records → PermError
• Not waiting long enough for propagation before verification (30+ minutes)

Consider migrating to Cloudflare or Route 53 if DNS propagation speed matters — how to change nameservers in GoDaddy covers the migration. Verify DNS with the DNS query tool.

Related

Browse every major DNS record type, check the TXT record glossary entry, and read how to change nameservers in GoDaddy.