> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.seocrawler.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# DNS Verification

> Verify domain ownership through DNS TXT records

## Overview

Domain verification ensures you have permission to crawl a website. This protects site owners from unauthorized scanning and ensures you're the rightful administrator of domains in your account.

<Info>
  Verification is a one-time process. Once verified, a domain remains verified unless you remove it from your account.
</Info>

## How DNS Verification Works

DNS verification requires adding a TXT record to your domain's DNS settings:

| Field         | Value                                  |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| **Type**      | `TXT`                                  |
| **Host/Name** | `_seocrawler-verify`                   |
| **Value**     | `seocrawler-verification=<your-token>` |

When you click **Verify**, we query your DNS for this record. If found with the correct token, your domain is verified.

## Step-by-Step Instructions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get Your Verification Token">
    From your domain's verification page, copy the full TXT record value:

    ```
    seocrawler-verification=abc123xyz789
    ```

    <Warning>
      Each domain has a unique token. Don't reuse tokens between domains.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access DNS Settings">
    Log into your domain registrar or DNS provider's dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add TXT Record">
    Create a new TXT record with:

    * **Name/Host**: `_seocrawler-verify`
    * **Value/Content**: Your verification token
    * **TTL**: 300 or lowest available
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for Propagation">
    DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate, though most complete within 15 minutes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Verify">
    Return to SEO Crawler and click **Verify Domain**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Provider-Specific Instructions

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Cloudflare">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Log into Cloudflare">
        Go to [dash.cloudflare.com](https://dash.cloudflare.com) and select your domain.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Open DNS Settings">
        Click **DNS** in the sidebar, then **Records**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add Record">
        Click **Add record** and configure:

        | Field   | Value                             |
        | ------- | --------------------------------- |
        | Type    | `TXT`                             |
        | Name    | `_seocrawler-verify`              |
        | Content | `seocrawler-verification=<token>` |
        | TTL     | Auto                              |

        <Note>
          Leave the proxy status as **DNS only** (gray cloud). TXT records aren't proxied.
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Save">
        Click **Save** to create the record.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="GoDaddy">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Log into GoDaddy">
        Go to [godaddy.com](https://www.godaddy.com) and sign in.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Open DNS Management">
        Navigate to **My Products** → Your domain → **DNS**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add Record">
        In the Records section, click **Add**.

        | Field | Value                             |
        | ----- | --------------------------------- |
        | Type  | `TXT`                             |
        | Name  | `_seocrawler-verify`              |
        | Value | `seocrawler-verification=<token>` |
        | TTL   | 1 Hour                            |
      </Step>

      <Step title="Save">
        Click **Save** to create the record.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Namecheap">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Log into Namecheap">
        Go to [namecheap.com](https://www.namecheap.com) and sign in.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Open DNS Settings">
        Go to **Domain List** → **Manage** → **Advanced DNS**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add Record">
        Click **Add New Record**.

        | Field | Value                             |
        | ----- | --------------------------------- |
        | Type  | `TXT Record`                      |
        | Host  | `_seocrawler-verify`              |
        | Value | `seocrawler-verification=<token>` |
        | TTL   | Automatic                         |
      </Step>

      <Step title="Save">
        Click the checkmark to save the record.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="AWS Route 53">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Route 53">
        Go to the [Route 53 Console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/route53/).
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select Hosted Zone">
        Click **Hosted zones** → Select your domain.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create Record">
        Click **Create record** and configure:

        | Field       | Value                               |
        | ----------- | ----------------------------------- |
        | Record name | `_seocrawler-verify`                |
        | Record type | `TXT`                               |
        | Value       | `"seocrawler-verification=<token>"` |
        | TTL         | 300                                 |

        <Warning>
          Route 53 requires quotes around TXT values.
        </Warning>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create">
        Click **Create records**.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Google Domains">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Google Domains">
        Go to [domains.google.com](https://domains.google.com).
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select Domain">
        Click your domain → **DNS** in the sidebar.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add Custom Record">
        Scroll to **Custom records** and click **Manage custom records**.

        | Field     | Value                             |
        | --------- | --------------------------------- |
        | Host name | `_seocrawler-verify`              |
        | Type      | `TXT`                             |
        | TTL       | 3600                              |
        | Data      | `seocrawler-verification=<token>` |
      </Step>

      <Step title="Save">
        Click **Save**.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="DigitalOcean">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Networking">
        Go to **Networking** → **Domains** in your DO dashboard.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select Domain">
        Click your domain name.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add Record">
        Select **TXT** from the record type dropdown.

        | Field    | Value                             |
        | -------- | --------------------------------- |
        | Hostname | `_seocrawler-verify`              |
        | Value    | `seocrawler-verification=<token>` |
        | TTL      | 300                               |
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create">
        Click **Create Record**.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Verifying Your DNS Record

Before clicking Verify in SEO Crawler, confirm your DNS record is active:

### Using Command Line

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS/Linux">
    ```bash theme={null}
    dig TXT _seocrawler-verify.example.com +short
    ```

    Expected output:

    ```
    "seocrawler-verification=abc123xyz789"
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows">
    ```powershell theme={null}
    nslookup -type=TXT _seocrawler-verify.example.com
    ```

    Expected output:

    ```
    _seocrawler-verify.example.com    text = "seocrawler-verification=abc123xyz789"
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Using Online Tools

* [Google Admin Toolbox Dig](https://toolbox.googleapps.com/apps/dig/)
* [MXToolbox DNS Lookup](https://mxtoolbox.com/DNSLookup.aspx)
* [WhatsMyDNS](https://www.whatsmydns.net/)

Enter `_seocrawler-verify.example.com` (with your domain) and select TXT record type.

## DNS Propagation

DNS changes don't take effect instantly. When you create a TXT record:

1. Your DNS provider updates their servers
2. The change propagates to DNS resolvers worldwide
3. Cached records at intermediate servers expire

### Typical Propagation Times

| Provider       | Typical Time  |
| -------------- | ------------- |
| Cloudflare     | 1-5 minutes   |
| GoDaddy        | 15-30 minutes |
| Namecheap      | 15-30 minutes |
| Route 53       | 5-15 minutes  |
| Google Domains | 5-15 minutes  |

<Info>
  While full global propagation can take up to 48 hours, most verifications succeed within 30 minutes.
</Info>

### Speeding Up Propagation

* Use the lowest TTL available when creating the record
* Clear your local DNS cache before testing
* Use `8.8.8.8` or `1.1.1.1` as DNS resolver for testing

## Why Verification is Required

Domain verification serves important purposes:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Security" icon="shield">
    Prevents unauthorized parties from scanning websites they don't own.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Resource Protection" icon="server">
    Ensures crawl resources are used by legitimate owners.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Privacy" icon="lock">
    Results and reports are only accessible to verified owners.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Trust" icon="handshake">
    Website owners trust that only they can analyze their sites.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Subdomain Verification

For subdomains, add the TXT record at the subdomain level:

| Domain             | TXT Record Host           |
| ------------------ | ------------------------- |
| `example.com`      | `_seocrawler-verify`      |
| `blog.example.com` | `_seocrawler-verify.blog` |
| `app.example.com`  | `_seocrawler-verify.app`  |

<Tip>
  If you've verified the root domain, you can optionally enable **Auto-verify subdomains** to skip verification for subdomains.
</Tip>

## Keeping Verification Active

<Note>
  You can safely remove the TXT record after verification. We don't re-check DNS after the initial verification.
</Note>

However, keeping the record provides:

* Faster re-verification if you remove and re-add the domain
* Proof of ownership for auditing purposes

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Verification Troubleshooting" icon="wrench" href="/domains/verification-troubleshooting">
    Having issues? Check our troubleshooting guide.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Start Crawling" icon="spider-web" href="/crawling/starting-crawls">
    Your domain is verified—time to crawl!
  </Card>
</CardGroup>