---
title: Cannot verify a domain with CNAME · Cloudflare DNS docs
description: When configuring services from external providers - such as email services, for example - it is possible that they require you to verify your domain by placing a CNAME record at your zone.
lastUpdated: 2025-02-11T10:50:09.000Z
source_url:
  html: https://patricia-pcx17119-l7-overrides.preview.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/troubleshooting/cname-domain-verification/index.md
  md: https://patricia-pcx17119-l7-overrides.preview.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/troubleshooting/cname-domain-verification/
---

When configuring services from external providers - such as email services, for example - it is possible that they require you to verify your domain by placing a `CNAME` record at your zone.

Consider the following sections if this is not working correctly for you.

## Causes

You may find issues if you have one of the following:

* The `CNAME` record you created for domain verification is set to [**Proxied**](https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/proxy-status/).
* The `CNAME` record is correctly set to DNS only (not proxied), but your zone has [**Flatten all CNAMEs**](https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/cname-flattening/set-up-cname-flattening/#for-all-cname-records) option enabled.

## Solution

Make sure that:

* You have filled in the `CNAME` record fields correctly.
* The proxy status is set to **DNS only**.
* Under **DNS** > **Settings**, [CNAME Flattening](https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/cname-flattening/) is set to **Flatten CNAME at apex**.
