Verifying Domain Ownership

Domain verification proves that you control a domain. Some modules check the pages of your site with the VitalSentinel crawler. These modules start only after you verify the domain.

Which Modules Need ItCopy Anchor Link

All other modules work without verification. VitalSentinel does not fetch or store pages for Site Health Monitoring or Page Monitoring before the domain is verified.

You verify each domain one time. After that, VitalSentinel checks your proof again every day. See When Verification Lapses.

Who Can VerifyCopy Anchor Link

Workspace owners and admins can verify a domain. Members can see the verification status, but they cannot change it. A member sees the message "Ask a workspace owner or admin to verify this domain."

See Team Members for the roles.

Where to VerifyCopy Anchor Link

You can verify a domain in two places:

• Domain Settings. Open the domain and select Settings in the Domain group of the sidebar. The Domain verification card is the first card on the page.
• The module page. Open Site Health Monitoring or Page Monitoring in the sidebar. For an unverified domain, the page shows Verify your domain with the same methods as numbered steps.

The Domain verification card shows Verified with and the method name, or Not verified. Each method has a status chip, for example Verified, Not verified, Could not check, or Not checked yet. Each method also shows when VitalSentinel last checked it. A Primary chip marks the method that verifies the domain.

Verification MethodsCopy Anchor Link

You need only one method that passes. You can set up more than one method. Then the domain stays verified if one method stops passing.

Google Search ConsoleCopy Anchor Link

This method is automatic.

1. Connect Google Search Console to the workspace. See Workspace Integrations.
2. Link a Search Console property to the domain. See Google Search Console.
3. On the Domain verification card, click Check now.

The property must cover the full site. Use a Domain property, or a URL-prefix property for the root of the site. Your Google account needs Owner or Full user access to the property.

CloudflareCopy Anchor Link

This method is automatic. It uses the Cloudflare connection of Server Log Monitoring.

1. Connect Cloudflare as a log source in Server Log Monitoring.
2. Make sure that the connected Cloudflare account has an active zone for the domain.
3. On the Domain verification card, click Check now.

A zone that is not active yet does not verify the domain.

DNS TXT RecordCopy Anchor Link

1. On the Domain verification card, click Set up a DNS record. On the module page, click Show my TXT record.
2. Copy the Type, the host name, and the Value that VitalSentinel shows.
3. Open the DNS settings at your domain provider. This is where you bought the domain, or where it is managed.
4. Add the TXT record with these values.
5. Click Check now.

DNS changes can take a few minutes to spread. If VitalSentinel does not find the record, wait and click Check now again.

You can add the record on your main domain instead. Then the record covers every host under that domain.

HTML Meta TagCopy Anchor Link

1. On the Domain verification card, click Set up an HTML meta tag. On the module page, click Show my tag.
2. Copy the Meta tag.
3. Paste the tag between the <head> and </head> tags of your homepage. Most site builders and SEO plugins have a field for extra head code.
4. Publish the change.
5. Click Check now.

Keep the tag on your homepage. VitalSentinel looks for it again about once a day.

HTML FileCopy Anchor Link

1. On the Domain verification card, click Set up an HTML file. On the module page, click Show my file.
2. Click the Download button with the file name to get the file. You can also create a plain text file with the File name and File content that VitalSentinel shows.
3. Upload the file to a .well-known folder at the root of your site.
4. Open the Address that VitalSentinel shows. Make sure that the file opens without a login.
5. Click Check now.

Keep the file on your site. VitalSentinel looks for it again about once a day.

Results of the Meta Tag and File ChecksCopy Anchor Link

The VitalSentinel crawler visits your site to find the tag or the file. The check usually takes about a minute.

• Found. The card shows "We found the tag. This domain is confirmed." or the same message for the file.
• Not found yet. The card tells you what to check. Fix the problem and click Check now again.
• Blocked. Your firewall or bot protection did not let the crawler through. Open How to let our crawler through for the steps. A blocked check is not counted against you.

If the check takes longer than usual, you can leave the page. VitalSentinel continues the check and shows the result when you come back.

Send the Steps to Someone ElseCopy Anchor Link

Your developer or DNS provider can add the record, tag, or file for you.

1. On the Domain verification card, click Email me these instructions.
2. Select the Method: DNS TXT record, HTML meta tag, or HTML file.
3. In Send to, type the email address.
4. Click Send instructions.

When the record, tag, or file is in place, click Check now.

Phone SiteCopy Anchor Link

Some sites show a different host to visitors on phones, for example m.example.com. After you verify the domain, the card can show "Your site serves visitors on phones from" and the host name.

To check that host as part of the same site, click Also check and the host name. The card then shows Added as phone site. To stop, click Remove.

Your proof must cover the phone host. Use a Search Console Domain property, a DNS record on your main domain, or a Cloudflare zone.

When Verification LapsesCopy Anchor Link

VitalSentinel checks every method that you set up again about once a day. A manual Check now that fails does not count against you.

If no method passes, the domain stays verified for a short grace period. During this period:

• The Domain verification card shows "No method is passing right now. Verification lapses in N days unless one passes again."
• Workspace owners and admins get a notification and an email.

If no method passes before the grace period ends, verification lapses. Owners and admins get a second notification and email. Then:

• Page Monitoring pauses every watched page on the domain. The page status shows Paused – not verified.
• Site Health Monitoring stops checking pages. The module page shows Verify your domain again.
• Sitemap Monitoring and all other modules continue as before.

To restore verification, fix a method and click Check now. When a method passes, the paused pages start checking again.

TroubleshootingCopy Anchor Link

Search Console Is Connected, but the Domain Is Not VerifiedCopy Anchor Link

• The linked property covers only part of the site, for example a URL-prefix property with a path. Link a Domain property or a root URL-prefix property, or use a DNS record.
• Your Google access to the property is below Full user. Ask the property owner for Full user or Owner access.
• The Google account needs to be reconnected. See Workspace Integrations.

Cloudflare Is Connected, but the Domain Is Not VerifiedCopy Anchor Link

• The connected Cloudflare account has no zone for this site. Connect the account that holds the zone.
• The zone is not active yet. Finish the zone setup in Cloudflare, then click Check now.

The TXT Record Is Not FoundCopy Anchor Link

• Wait a few minutes. DNS changes can take time to spread.
• Make sure that you copied the host name and the value exactly.
• Make sure that you added the record at the DNS provider that manages the domain now.

The Meta Tag or File Is Not FoundCopy Anchor Link

• Make sure that the tag is inside the <head> of the homepage, not in the <body>.
• Make sure that the file is at the exact address shown, and that its only content is the text shown.
• Clear your site cache or CDN cache. A cache can serve an older copy of the page.
• Make sure that the homepage or the file opens without a login.

The Check Is BlockedCopy Anchor Link

A firewall, a CDN, or bot protection can block the VitalSentinel crawler. Allow the crawler, then click Check now. See How to allowlist.

RelatedCopy Anchor Link