Google Apps for Admins - Uploading an HTML file

Edits to this knol may be incorporated into the official Help Center article. Visit the following link to view the official Help Center article associated with this knol:  
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=63026

The Quick Answer

Using your domain host, you can upload an HTML file to verify domain ownership and activate your account.

[actual video available at http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=63026]

This article covers how to verify domain ownership and activate your Google Apps account by uploading an HTML file. For specific details refer to the video above.

You may also verify ownership by adding a CNAME record to your domain settings. To learn more, click here.

Please note that you need to have administrator rights to the Google Apps account associated with your domain to verify domain ownership.

How to upload the HTML file:

To verify domain ownership by uploading an HTML file, follow these steps:

1. Log into your Google Apps control panel at https://www.google.com/a/your_domain.com. Be sure to replace 'your_domain.com' with your actual domain name.
2. Out of the two verification options, choose HTML upload. Google will generate a string of text that is unique to your account. Copy the string of text from your Google Apps control panel.
3. Open your HTML editor (the application or service you usually use for editing web pages).
4. Create a new blank HTML file and paste the string of text you just copied into your HTML file.
5. Save the file as googlehostedservice.html.
6. Upload googlehostedservice.html to the root directory of your website. Remember to add the file to the root directory and not the sub-folder.

How to make sure it worked:

1. Open a new browser window.
2. Go to your website address and include the new file name: http://your_domain_name.com/googlehostedservice.html. (Be sure to replace 'your_domain_name.com' with your actual domain name.)

You should be able to see the string of characters that you uploaded on your page displayed in your browser.

How to verify:

1. Return to your Google Apps account control panel.
2. Click Verify. This will prompt Google to check for this HTML file on your domain.

Don't know HTML or FTP?

Contact your web host for assistance.

Don't have an active website?

If you purchased a domain but never set up a website for your domain, you may not have a hosting service for your domain. In this case, it's probably better for you to use the CNAME record verification option.

Unable to upload files or have a content management system?

Content management systems may not have the feature to upload files or allow you to edit the file names of new pages. Some systems that do allow you to edit directly while you are online will not allow you to change the names of new pages. Contact the person who manages web content in your organization.

How long will this take?
Once you have uploaded the HTML file, verification will take place within approximately 48 hours.