Third-party domain connecting error due to too many Google Workspace A records

[galaxy_k]

Hi, I have tried consulting Shopify's and Google's online resources to figure out this issue but have had no success. As a last resort, I hope someone here can help me with this. 

I bought the domain 'galaxyfoods.co.uk' from Google Workspace (technically, when it was still GSuite) for my business email. The domain registrar is with domaindiscount24, and I have followed Google's instructions for logging into their portal to access my domain's DNS settings. Just as Shopify's instructions say, I added an A record to the 'naked' domain and changed the CNAME of my 'www.galaxyfoods.co.uk' subdomain to '23.227.38.65' and 'shops.myshopify.com' respectively.

The CNAME for the 'www.galaxyfoods.co.uk' domain seems fine with Shopify and doesn't show any errors, but the domain 'galaxyfoods.co.uk' shows an error where Shopify says it has too many A records. My domain configurations look like this (see below) in domaindiscount24, with four extra A records.

However, from looking at Google Workspace documentation, the records seem crucial for my services with Google, and they strongly recommend not removing them. So, what should I do? I can't add the A record to my 'www.galaxyfoods.co.uk' domain because it only takes a value from a CNAME or an A record, not both.

Should I leave my A records like that to continue using my Google services, or will my Shopify store be compromised? Does anyone else have this problem with an email-activated domain from Google Workspace? I have only found resources about connecting a Google Domain to Shopify, not a Google Workspace-managed domain.

[Shay · Accepted solution]

Hi @galaxy_k 

Thank you for sharing that screenshot and the issues you are having with your A records. 

I can't speak to what DNS information Google Workspaces requires, but I can speak to what Shopify requires. Shopify does require an A @ record that points to a Shopify IP. Additional records of this nature could cause errors for your customers as the IP address will not always resolve to the Shopify IP and their browser may block them from visiting the website. 

When a client (such as a web browser) requests the IP address of the domain, the DNS resolver returns multiple IP addresses in a rotating order. The client typically uses the first IP address received and caches it for a certain period of time. Subsequent requests from the same client may receive different IP addresses from the rotation. And not all of those IP addresses point to Shopify, so some customers will get through while others don't. 

Upon reviewing the documentation you shared, it appears that the 4 additional A records are for when you need to map your Google Site to a third party domain address. If your website is hosted on Shopify, then those 4 additional A records should not be required as this is not a Google Site. When reviewing Google's help doc Use non-Google services with a domain registered through Google, they seem to refer to the third party services for the appropriate DNS settings. 

[galaxy_k]

Hi @Shay,

Thank you so much for explaining it to me! I think I got the jist of it and feel it shouldn't be too risky to remove these extra A records. I can always add them again manually with the information in Google's help document.

Also, in case someone else runs into a similar problem with a Google Workspace domain, I also asked domaindiscount24 - the domain host - and they said this:

Thank you again, Shay!