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Domain Verification Guide

Before you can monitor any URL, WebhookBeam requires you to verify that you own the domain. This prevents unauthorized monitoring of domains you don't control. You only need to verify each domain once - after that, you can add as many URLs under that domain as your plan allows.

How to Start Domain Verification

  1. Go to "Domains" in the sidebar under Status Monitor.
  2. Click "Add Domain".
  3. Enter the domain you want to verify (e.g. example.com or api.example.com).
  4. Choose one of the three verification methods below.
  5. Follow the instructions for your chosen method, then click "Verify".

Verification Methods

WebhookBeam supports three ways to prove domain ownership. Choose the one that works best for your setup:

Method Best For Speed
DNS TXT Record Most reliable; works with any domain 5 min – 48 hours (DNS propagation)
HTML Meta Tag Websites where you can edit the HTML source Instant
File Upload Servers where you can upload files to specific paths Instant

Method 1: DNS TXT Record

This is the most reliable method and works even if you don't have a running web server yet.

  1. Log in to your DNS provider (e.g. Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Route 53).
  2. Navigate to DNS management for your domain.
  3. Add a new TXT record with the following values:
    • Name / Host: @ (or your full domain)
    • Value: uptimebeam-verify=YOUR_VERIFICATION_TOKEN
  4. Save the DNS record.
  5. Wait for DNS propagation. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, depending on your DNS provider and TTL settings.
  6. Return to WebhookBeam and click "Verify".

Tip: You can check if your DNS record has propagated using tools like dnschecker.org.

Method 2: HTML Meta Tag

The fastest method if you have access to your website's HTML source code.

  1. Open the HTML source of your homepage (the page at the root URL you're verifying).
  2. Add the following meta tag inside the <head> section:

    <meta name="uptimebeam-verify" content="YOUR_VERIFICATION_TOKEN">

  3. Save and deploy your changes so the meta tag is live on your public site.
  4. Return to WebhookBeam and click "Verify".

Important: The meta tag must be in the <head> section of the page, not in the <body>. WebhookBeam fetches the page and parses the HTML to find the tag.

Method 3: File Upload

A good option if you can upload files to your web server but don't have easy access to edit HTML templates.

  1. Create a plain text file named uptimebeam-verify.txt.
  2. Set the file contents to your verification token (only the token, nothing else).
  3. Upload the file to: https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/uptimebeam-verify.txt
  4. Ensure the file is publicly accessible - you should be able to open the URL in a browser and see the token.
  5. Return to WebhookBeam and click "Verify".

Note: Make sure your web server serves files from the .well-known directory. Some servers or hosting providers may block dotfiles by default.

After Verification

Once your domain is verified:

  • A green verified badge appears next to your domain in the Domains page.
  • You can now add monitored links for any URL under that domain.
  • The verification token and DNS/meta/file entry can be safely removed after verification is complete (though we recommend keeping it in place).
  • If you have subdomains (e.g. api.example.com), you may need to verify each subdomain separately depending on your setup.

Troubleshooting

DNS TXT record not found

  • DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. Wait and try again later.
  • Make sure the TXT record value is exactly uptimebeam-verify=YOUR_TOKEN with no extra spaces or quotes.
  • If your domain uses www., ensure the TXT record is on the apex domain (without www.).

Meta tag not detected

  • Ensure the meta tag is inside the <head> section, not the <body>.
  • Clear your CDN cache if you use one (Cloudflare, CloudFront, etc.).
  • Make sure the page is publicly accessible (no login required).

Verification file not accessible

  • Confirm the file is at exactly /.well-known/uptimebeam-verify.txt.
  • Check that your web server allows serving files from the .well-known directory.
  • The file must contain only the token - no HTML, no extra whitespace.

📚 Next Steps

Once your domain is verified, add your first monitored link:

Getting Started with Uptime Monitoring →