How to Connect a Custom Domain Name to Google Sites

Google Sites is an excellent, free tool for building simple websites, portfolios, and internal company intranets. However, by default, your website is assigned a long, unprofessional URL that looks something like sites.google.com/view/your-site-name. If you want to present a professional image or build a recognizable brand, you need to connect a custom domain name (like www.yourcompany.com) to your Google Site.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you must have two things:

1. A published Google Site.
2. A custom domain name that you have already purchased from a domain registrar (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).

Step 1: Verify Domain Ownership in Google Search Console

Google requires you to prove that you actually own the domain you are trying to connect.

1. Open your web browser and go to the Google Search Console.
2. Click Add Property and select the Domain option (not the URL prefix option).
3. Enter your custom domain name (e.g., yourwebsite.com) and click Continue.
4. Google will provide you with a TXT record. Copy this string of text.
5. Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel and find the DNS Settings or DNS Management page.
6. Create a new TXT record. Leave the “Name” or “Host” field blank (or use an @ symbol) and paste the code from Google into the “Value” or “Target” field.
7. Save the DNS record, return to Google Search Console, and click Verify. (Note: DNS changes can take a few minutes to propagate).

Step 2: Connect the Domain in Google Sites

Once Google knows you own the domain, you can link it to the site builder.

1. Open your Google Site in the editor.
2. Click the Settings icon (the gear) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Custom domains from the left-hand menu.
4. Click Start setup.
5. Select Use a domain from a third party and click Next.
6. Enter your domain name including the “www” (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). Because you verified ownership in Step 1, a green checkmark will appear. Click Next.

Step 3: Point Your DNS to Google’s Servers

The final step is telling your domain registrar to send visitors to Google’s servers.

1. Return to your domain registrar’s DNS Settings page.
2. Create a new CNAME record.
3. In the “Name” or “Host” field, type www.
4. In the “Value” or “Target” field, type ghs.googlehosted.com.
5. Save the DNS record.

It can take up to 48 hours for DNS changes to spread across the global internet. After that period, typing your custom domain into a browser will instantly load your Google Site.