GoDaddy DNS
GoDaddy uses a Production API key + secret pair. The API is eligibility-gated — accounts below certain tiers are refused, so verify access in a browser before wiring it up here.
As of 2024, GoDaddy restricts API access to customers holding 10+ domains or on a Discount Domain Club membership. The API may return 401/403 despite a valid key on accounts that don't meet the tier. If in doubt, check developer.godaddy.com or call GoDaddy support before debugging CertAutoPilot.
Create the key
- Sign in at developer.godaddy.com.
- Navigate to API Keys → Create New API Key.
- Environment: Production. (Not OTE — the Over-The-Edge sandbox is for testing and does not affect real DNS.)
- Copy the Key and Secret. The secret is shown once.
Add the credential
- Settings → DNS Credentials → New → GoDaddy.
- Name:
godaddy-example-prod. - API key + API secret: paste.
- Test connectivity → Save.
Config fields
| Field | Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
api_key | yes | Production API key. |
api_secret | yes | Production API secret. |
Propagation
GoDaddy can be slow — typically 30–90 seconds for the TXT record to propagate to external resolvers. If you see frequent timeouts, raise the propagation timeout on the credential form from the 120-second default to 180 or 240.
Troubleshooting
Frequent 401 Unauthorized
Either the key is wrong, or your account tier doesn't grant API access. Log into developer.godaddy.com and hit any endpoint — if that 401s too, your account is not eligible.
422 Unprocessable Entity on Present
The domain is registered at GoDaddy but its nameservers point elsewhere (common after a migration). The API accepts the record write but it has no effect. Either repoint NS back to GoDaddy, or use the actual DNS host as the provider.
DNS-01 timing out even with longer timeout
GoDaddy occasionally has propagation outliers well above the norm. For production-critical issuance consider a faster DNS provider for the validation zone (CNAME _acme-challenge.example.com to a fast-propagating zone you control elsewhere).