A TXT record is a type of DNS record that holds plain text information attached to your domain or a subdomain. Unlike an A record (which points to an IP address) or an MX record (which points to a mail server), a TXT record doesn't direct any traffic on its own. It simply stores a short piece of text that another system, such as an email provider or a verification service, reads to confirm something about your domain.
What a TXT Record Looks Like
A TXT record has three main parts: a host (sometimes called a name, usually your domain itself or a subdomain like _dmarc), a value (the actual text string), and a TTL (how long the record is cached before it's checked again). The value is wrapped in quotation marks and can contain letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, a TXT record used for domain verification might look something like this:
v=spf1 include:examplemail.com ~all
You can have multiple TXT records on the same domain or subdomain, each serving a different purpose.
Common Uses for TXT Records
- Domain or site ownership verification: Services like Google Search Console, Microsoft 365, or other third-party tools ask you to add a specific TXT record to prove you control the domain before they'll activate a feature.
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Lists which mail servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain, helping prevent spoofing.
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Stores a public cryptographic key that receiving mail servers use to check that an email wasn't altered in transit.
- DMARC: Tells receiving mail servers what to do with messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks.
- General verification for third-party tools: Many apps, CDNs, or marketing platforms use a one-time TXT record just to confirm you own the domain before connecting a service.
A common mistake is adding more than one SPF record on the same domain. Mail servers only expect a single SPF TXT record, split into multiple include entries inside it rather than several separate records. If you need to allow more than one sending service, combine them into one SPF value instead of creating a second record.
How Many TXT Records Can You Have?
There's no strict limit on the number of TXT records a domain can have, since each one is tied to its own host name (your root domain, _dmarc, _dkim, and so on) and serves a distinct purpose. Over time it's normal for a domain to accumulate several TXT records as you add email authentication, connect new tools, or verify ownership with different services.
Adding or Updating a TXT Record
TXT records are added through the same DNS Zone Editor you'd use for any other DNS record type. If you're not sure how to get there or what fields to fill in, see the full walkthrough on how to add or edit a DNS record (A, CNAME, MX, TXT). If you're setting one up specifically for email authentication, the guide on setting up SPF and DKIM records walks through that use case step by step.
Keep in mind that DNS changes, including new or updated TXT records, aren't instant everywhere. Give it some time to take effect before assuming a verification or email authentication setup has failed.