A TXT record is a DNS record that stores text. It does not usually send website visitors anywhere. Instead, it is often used to prove domain ownership, verify services, or support email authentication.
TXT records are common in business email, marketing tools, analytics platforms, and search tools.
What a TXT Record Looks Like
A TXT record usually has:
- Name or host
- Value or text
- TTL
For example:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| TXT | @ | v=spf1 include:example.com ~all |
The value depends on the service that gave you the record. Copy TXT values carefully because small changes can make verification fail.
What TXT Records Are Used For
TXT records are commonly used for:
- Domain ownership verification
- SPF email authentication
- DKIM email authentication
- DMARC email policy
- Microsoft 365 setup
- Search engine verification
- Email marketing platform verification
- Website security or analytics tools
If a service asks you to add a TXT record, it is usually checking whether you control the domain or whether email should be trusted.
TXT Records and Business Email
TXT records are especially common with business email.
SPF helps identify which mail servers are allowed to send email for your domain.
DKIM helps receiving mail systems verify that a message was signed by an approved system.
DMARC tells receiving mail systems what to do when messages fail authentication checks.
These records can help reduce spoofing and improve trust, but they need to be set up correctly.
Where to Add a TXT Record
Add TXT records wherever DNS is managed for the domain.
If the domain uses Tech Help Canada Hosting DNS, start from the Tech Help Canada Hosting account area and open the domain’s DNS records.
If the domain uses another DNS provider, add the TXT record in that provider’s DNS dashboard.
Updating a TXT record in the wrong account will not help if the domain’s nameservers point somewhere else.
Before You Add or Edit a TXT Record
Check:
- The exact host or name
- The exact value
- Whether quotation marks are needed or added automatically
- Whether another TXT record already exists for the same purpose
- Whether the service expects the root domain or a subdomain
- Whether email is already using SPF, DKIM, or DMARC
For SPF, most domains should only have one SPF TXT record. If you need to authorize more than one sending service, the values usually need to be combined into one SPF record rather than added as separate SPF records.
Common TXT Record Problems
The TXT value is copied incorrectly.
The record is added to the wrong host.
The record is added where DNS is not actually managed.
Multiple SPF records exist at the root domain.
DKIM hostnames are entered incorrectly.
The service checks the record before DNS has updated.
Old verification records are removed while a service still needs them.
After Adding a TXT Record
Wait for DNS to update, then return to the service that requested the TXT record and run its verification check.
If verification fails, compare the record character by character with the value the service gave you. Also confirm that the record was added to the active DNS provider.
Keep notes about what each TXT record is for. A label such as “Microsoft 365 SPF” or “Search verification” can save time later.
If you want business email using your domain, you can explore Microsoft 365 through Tech Help Canada Hosting.
I can suggest related Tech Help Canada articles based on the topic you’re reading now.
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