SiteGround: Activate Gmail

Why do I need to do this?

For your company to use Gmail with Google Workspace, you need to direct people's incoming messages to Google's mail servers. You do this by changing your domain's MX records at your domain registrar.

Change MX records at your domain registrar to direct your company's emails to Gmail. Explain this more

Before you begin

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

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

Tab 1: Get ready to sign in to SiteGround

Before you get started, make sure you have the account ID and password you need to sign in to SiteGround. If you have trouble signing in to this account, find out how to reset your password.

Tab 2: Open the Google Workspace setup tool

You get instructions and complete this task using the setup tool. You also use the tool to add any remaining email accounts—every existing address in your company must be associated with a Google Workspace account. 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

I'm stuck and need help

I get an error when I click the blue button

The setup tool is for Google Workspace and Cloud Identity administrators only. It doesn't work with any other Google product.

Make sure you're signing in with an admin 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 is having trouble receiving email:

Check these troubleshooting steps.
Review some additional problems that 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.

Follow these instructions to activate Gmail

Work across the 2 tabs you opened earlier, as follows:

Find your DNS records

(a)	Sign in to the SiteGround account that you used to buy your domain. Note: If you have trouble signing in, you can reset your SiteGround password.
(b)	Click Websites.
(c)	Next to the domain you're setting up today, click Site tools.
(d)	On the left side, click Domain DNS zone editor.

Set up the MX records for Google Workspace

(a)

Under Create new record, click MX.

(b)

Click Switch to Google MX records.

(c)

Click Create to save the MX records.

Note: The setup tool instructs you to add smtp.google.com, but this is unnecessary for Siteground domains. You should use the MX records shown above.

Tell Google Workspace to activate Gmail

(a)

Return to the browser tab where you have the Google Workspace setup 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 the Google Workspace setup tool can't find your new records, 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 back in a couple of hours and click the Activate button again.
After you activate Gmail, updates can take up to 48 hours. Until the rest of the internet notices your new MX records, you'll still get email messages in your old email client.

Remember, Google Workspace has no control over your company's MX records. If you need help with MX records, contact SiteGround support.

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