Is it ok to remove Google TXT verification records after I've authorized my domain with Google?

dns google-analytics bing google-webmaster-tools
John picture John · Apr 5, 2013 · Viewed 22k times · Source

For Google Analytics, I had to prove that I owned my domain. I added a TXT record to do this. I also had to prove to Microsoft that I owned my domain by uploading a file (BingSiteAuth.xml) to my site.

Now that I'm up and running with Analytics and Webmaster tools for Google and Bing, can I remove these verification records, or will that break analytics? Does leaving the record and file there pose any kind of security risk?

Answer

nwellnhof picture nwellnhof · Apr 5, 2013

No, you shouldn't remove any of the verification files or DNS records. Google will periodically recheck your site and if it doesn't succeed you will lose access to WMT, for example. See this WMT support page:

Removing the record from your server can cause your site to become unverified, and you will need to go through the verification process again.

I'm not 100% sure but I think Bing will do the same. It makes sense because a domain owner or the roles of administrators might change and you don't want anyone who ever had access to your site's data to keep that access right forever.

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