Domain verification is a critical step for anyone looking to gain full control over how their website content is used on Facebook and Instagram. Whether you are a digital marketer, affiliate promoter, eCommerce business owner, or blogger, verifying your domain ensures that your brand has authority, your content remains protected, and your campaigns are compliant with Meta’s evolving platform rules.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore why domain verification is important, who should do it, and how to verify your website domain on Facebook using three accepted methods: meta tag, HTML file upload, and DNS record. You will also find troubleshooting tips and best practices to make the process smooth and effective.
What is Domain Verification?
Domain verification is a process offered by Meta (formerly Facebook) that allows business owners, marketers, and content creators to prove ownership of a domain (website) within Facebook’s Business Manager platform. Once verified, you gain certain rights and control over how your domain is used in Facebook products.
Verifying your domain gives you access to the following capabilities:
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Control and edit link previews for your domain
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Ensure that no unauthorized pages or users claim content from your website
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Set up Facebook Pixel conversion events for optimized ad tracking
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Comply with privacy-related advertising changes, such as those introduced by Apple’s iOS 14
If your website domain is not verified, you may experience limitations when attempting to run conversion-based ads, track web events, or edit how your links appear when shared on Facebook and Instagram.
Who Should Verify Their Domain?
Not every Facebook user needs to verify a domain, but the following types of users and businesses are strongly encouraged to do so:
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Businesses running Facebook or Instagram ads
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Affiliate marketers using their own websites or landing pages
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Content creators and bloggers who regularly share articles or sales pages
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eCommerce store owners using Meta Pixel for remarketing and conversions
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Agencies managing multiple domains and assets across clients
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Brands that want to secure their content from unauthorized use
If you fall into any of these categories, domain verification should be one of your first steps in setting up a serious digital presence on Meta platforms.
How to Verify Your Domain on Facebook: Step-by-Step Guide
The verification process is conducted through Meta Business Manager. You will first need a business account on Meta and then follow one of the three verification methods: Meta tag, HTML file, or DNS verification.
Step 1: Set Up a Meta Business Manager Account
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Log in with your Facebook account.
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Create a new Business Manager account if you haven’t already.
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Complete the business details required, such as business name, email address, and primary Page.
Step 2: Access the Domain Verification Tool
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Inside Business Manager, click on “Business Settings.”
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In the left-hand menu, scroll down to “Brand Safety.”
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Under “Brand Safety,” click on “Domains.”
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Click the “Add” button to add a new domain.
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Enter your domain name, such as “yourwebsite.com”, and click “Add Domain.”
Your domain will now appear as “Unverified.” Facebook will provide you with three options to verify ownership.
Method 1: Meta Tag Verification
Meta tag verification is the simplest and most commonly used method, especially for bloggers and WordPress users.
Steps:
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Copy the meta tag code provided by Facebook.
Example:<meta name="facebook-domain-verification" content="xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" /> -
Paste this code into the
<head>section of your website’s homepage HTML.-
If you’re using WordPress, you can install a plugin like “Insert Headers and Footers” or manually edit the header.php file of your theme.
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Save your changes and ensure the code is live on your website.
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Return to the Business Manager domain settings page and click “Verify.”
Notes:
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Make sure the tag is inserted before the closing
</head>tag. -
Avoid placing it in the body or footer; it must be in the head section.
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Verification may be instant or take a few minutes.
Method 2: HTML File Upload
This method is ideal if you have direct access to your website’s hosting account or file manager.
Steps:
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Download the HTML verification file provided by Facebook.
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Upload the file to the root directory of your domain. This is typically the public_html folder on your server.
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The file should be accessible via a URL such as
https://yourwebsite.com/facebook-verification.html -
Return to the domain verification page and click “Verify.”
Notes:
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Do not rename the file.
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Ensure that the file is accessible from a public browser without any redirects.
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This method is reliable but requires some technical knowledge.
Method 3: DNS TXT Record Verification
DNS verification is recommended for users who manage their domain through a domain registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare.
Steps:
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Copy the DNS TXT record value provided by Facebook.
Example:facebook-domain-verification=xxxxxxxxxxxx -
Log into your domain registrar’s DNS management dashboard.
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Add a new DNS record with the following parameters:
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Type: TXT
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Host: @ or leave blank (varies by registrar)
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Value: Paste the code Facebook provided
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Save the DNS settings.
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Return to Facebook Business Manager and click “Verify.”
Notes:
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DNS changes may take time to propagate—up to 72 hours in some cases.
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Use tools like DNS Checker to confirm if the record has updated globally.
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This method is particularly useful if you want to verify subdomains or manage multiple domains under a corporate account.
What Happens After Verification?
Once your domain is verified, it will appear as “Verified” in Business Manager. After that, you can take advantage of additional tools and controls.
1. Assign Pages and People
You can assign verified domains to specific Facebook Pages or Business Assets. This ensures that only your team or brand representatives can manage the domain settings.
2. Configure Web Events
Under the Events Manager, you can assign Pixel events to your verified domain. This is required for event prioritization and conversion tracking under Meta’s Aggregated Event Measurement protocol.
3. Edit Link Previews
For any links you share from your verified domain, you can control how the preview image, headline, and description appear. This is essential for brand consistency and ad performance.
4. Ensure Ad Eligibility
Many advertisers receive disapproval or restriction messages because their domain isn’t verified. With verification complete, you remove one of the biggest roadblocks to successful ad campaigns.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
Meta Tag Not Found
If Facebook cannot detect your meta tag:
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Make sure the tag is placed in the
<head>section of your homepage. -
Check that your website has been updated and published.
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Clear caching plugins that might be serving an outdated version of the page.
HTML File Not Accessible
If Facebook cannot read your uploaded HTML file:
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Ensure the file name matches exactly what Facebook provided.
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Confirm that the file is uploaded to the root folder, not a subfolder.
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Use a browser to check that the file loads publicly without redirection.
DNS Record Not Verified
If Facebook cannot detect your DNS record:
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Wait for DNS propagation, which can take up to 72 hours.
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Double-check that the TXT record was added to the correct domain.
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Ensure that there are no typos or extra spaces in the code.
Can You Verify a Domain You Do Not Own?
If you are an affiliate marketer or a promoter using a third-party offer or website, you cannot directly verify someone else's domain. However, you can still build your own website or landing page and promote your affiliate links through your own verified domain. This method is cleaner, more professional, and avoids most Facebook restrictions associated with affiliate links.
For example:
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Create a blog or landing page on your domain
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Include product reviews or recommendations with embedded affiliate links
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Share your domain content on Facebook, not the raw affiliate URL
This not only improves your compliance with Facebook policies but also builds trust with your audience.
Why Facebook Requires Verification
Facebook introduced domain verification in response to several issues:
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Misinformation and fake news campaigns that misused real websites
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Brand safety concerns where advertisers’ links were edited or hijacked
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Data privacy rules (such as GDPR and Apple’s iOS 14) requiring advertisers to prove ownership of web properties
By requiring verification, Facebook ensures that the person or business controlling a domain is accountable for the content and ads associated with it.
Final Thoughts
Domain verification is not just a technical formality—it’s a foundational step for any serious business, blogger, or advertiser on Facebook. It helps protect your digital presence, ensures compliance with advertising policies, and unlocks tools for optimization and branding.
Whether you choose to verify via meta tag, HTML file upload, or DNS record, the process is straightforward and worthwhile. Once completed, you’ll be able to operate with greater authority and fewer limitations across Facebook and Instagram.
Invest the time to verify your domain early in your marketing journey. It will serve as a cornerstone for growth, security, and trust in all your Facebook activities.
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