5

Google Adsense now requires a file "ads.txt" in the root of the domain:

Upload the file to the root level domain of your site (for example, https://example.com/ads.txt).

I use enom with Google App Engine (python runtime). My main site is with www as a CNAME www.example.com and a redirect from naked domain to www but now I want the naked domain example.com/ads.txt to redirect to www.example.com/ads.txt.

The problem is that example.com/ads.txt redirects without the path to the home page of www.example.com/.

I don't understand how to fix it. I don't know if it should be done in the enom console, in the Google G Suite console (where I have enabled the redirect from the naked domain to www) or in my web framework (using webapp2 but changing it to flask).

Related problem is that HTTPS for the naked domain does not work (https://example.com) and does not redirect, but HTTPS works for the www and other subdomains.

How can I proceed? The site is this one and it is a Google App Engine project.

I enabled the redirect in the google GSuite web console under "domains" where it says:

Redirect the naked domain http://example.com to http://www.example.com Change redirect To enable this redirect, you must change the A record with your domain host.

Apparently the above setting once set cannot be undone. I also set the DNS records exactly as stated by Google. The site does respond at www subdomain and does the redirect but the URL path and query are not preserved.

Improve this question
10
  • 1
    "in the Google G Suite console (where I have enabled the redirect from the naked domain to www)" - How exactly have you done this? The redirect to /ads.txt should be the same redirect not an additional redirect?
    – MrWhite
    Jan 6, 2020 at 9:13
  • 1
    I edited your question to say "URL path" everywhere you had said "query string". You are confusing the two terms. /ads.txt is the path of the URL. It could also have a query string with a question mark like /ads.txt?query=string, but it sounds like that isn't actually the problem.
    – Stephen Ostermiller ♦
    Jan 6, 2020 at 15:55
  • 1
    It looks like this Stack Overflow question has a solution: Google App Engine Python Webapp2 301 redirect from www to non-www domain however it will only work if you manage to undo the redirection setting and let your web app handle the requests.
    – Stephen Ostermiller ♦
    Jan 6, 2020 at 16:02
  • 1
    Having an ads.txt file isn't actually required for Google AdSense. They are strongly recommending that you create one. However they are not requiring it. See Purpose of ads.txt
    – Stephen Ostermiller ♦
    Jan 6, 2020 at 16:04
  • 1
    You appear to have 2 separate redirects occurring on your site, one that preserves the URL-path, the other doesn't. 1. Non-www to www redirect (Server: ghs) that loses the URl-path and 2. HTTP to HTTPS redirect (Server: Google Frontend) that preserves the URL-path. (?)
    – MrWhite
    Jan 6, 2020 at 16:05

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

If you set your G Suite using the same domain and have turned on the naked domain redirect, you are stuck. I have asked the support, and they don't have a practical answer.

The cause is: G Suites and App Engine uses the same A record and G Suites will rob the routing before App Engine. Then the naked domain redirect by G Suites will replace everything by like http://www.yourdomain.com/, dropping any path or query information. There is nothing you can do other than asking Google to fix this. I don't know how to, though.

As a workaround, use another machine or cloud computing service other than Google Cloud like Amazon EC2 (I failed with S3 since it does not work well without Route 53), point your naked domain to it, then redirect with a tiny server there.

Or you can stop using G Suites for the site's domain, but I'm not sure if App Engine can handle the naked domain well.

Improve this answer
1
  • Thanks for the answer. Maybe I can try and remove the domain completely from G Suite and then add it back again with no naked domain redirect. Or the workaround routing which you describe.
    – Niklas Rosencrantz
    Feb 10, 2020 at 9:02

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.