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Use DNS CNAME to validate a domain on a pending OV or EV TLS certificate

Demonstrate domain control with the Domain Name System (DNS) Canonical Name (CNAME) record domain control validation (DCV) method

Use these instructions to validate a domain using the DNS CNAME DCV method. In the domains DNS as a CNAME record, add _dnsauth in the hostname field. Then, add [random_value].dcv.digicert.com to the target host field, to point the random value and domain to DigiCert at dcv.digicert.com.

For information about this DCV method and other DCV methods, see Demonstrate control over domains on a pending OV or EV TLS certificate order.

Before you begin

For faster certificate issuance, validate domains before adding them to your organization valudation (OV) and extended validation (EV) TLS certificate orders. To learn more about domain prevalidation, see Supported DCV methods for validating domains in your CertCentral account.

Use DNS CNAME record to demonstrate control over a domain on an OV/EV TLS certificate

  1. In CertCentral, go to the order's Order # details page.

    1. In the left main menu, go to Certificates > Orders.

    2. On the Orders page, in the Order # column, select the certificate's order number link.

    3. For CertCentral Subscription accounts, the steps to access the Order # detail page are different.

      1. In the left menu, go to My Digital Trust Products > Certificates.

      2. On the Certificates page, in the Order # column, select the certificate's order number link.

  2. On the Order # details page, in the Certificate status section, check the order's issuance status. See if the order is waiting on domain or organization validation to be finished.

    Once validation is finished, the Certificate status section no longer appears on the Order # details page.

  3. Under What do you need to do, select the domain's link you want to validate.

  4. In the Prove control over domain window, in the Domain control validation (DCV) method menu, select DNS CNAME Record and then select Save.

  5. Under 2. Add the DigiCert provided token to your CNAME record, in the Order token box, copy the DigiCert-provided random value.

    The random value expires in 30 days.

  6. Use one of these options to create your DNS CNAME records:

    1. Option 1 (preferred): Create the DNS CNAME record with the static prefix _dnsauth

      1. Go to your DNS provider’s site and create a new CNAME record.

      2. In the hostname field (or equivalent), enter _dnsauth.

      3. In the record type field (or equivalent), select CNAME.

      4. In the target host field (or equivalent), enter [random_value].dcv.digicert.com to point the CNAME record to dcv.digicert.com.

      5. Select a Time-to-Live (TTL) value or use your DNS provider's default value.

      6. Save the record.

    2. Option 2: Create the DNS CNAME record with the [random_value] prefix

      Important

      On October 28, 2025, DigiCert is ending support for the [random_value] prefix DNS CNAME record configuration. To learn more about this change, see the October 28 change log entry.

      1. Go to your DNS provider’s site and create a new CNAME record.

      2. In the hostname field (or equivalent), enter the random value copied from your CertCentral account.

      3. In the record type field (or equivalent), select CNAME.

      4. In the target host field (or equivalent), enter dcv.digicert.com to point the CNAME record to dcv.digicert.com.

      5. Select a Time-to-Live (TTL) value or use your DNS provider's default value.

      6. Save the record.

  7. Complete domain validation.

    1. In CertCentral, go to the certificate's Order # details page.

      1. In the left menu, go to Certificate > Orders.

      2. On the Orders page, in the Order # column, select the certificate's order number link.

      For CertCentral Subscription accounts:

      1. In the left menu, go to My Digital Trust Products > Certificates.

      2. On the Certificates page, in the Order # column, select the certificate's order number link.

    2. On the Order # details page, in the Certificate status section, under What do you need to do, select the domain link.

    3. In the Prove control over domain window, under 5. Complete domain validation, select Check record.

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