Google-Apps
Image by: Valentyna Sagan

Google Apps Legacy Account or G Suite Standard Edition is a very interesting FREE service previously offered by Google. It allows domain owners to host their emails in Google’s servers using their own primary domain (e.g. [email protected]). I managed to register an account before they stopped accepting new registrations on December 2012.

Fast forward 4 years, I needed to change the primary domain I used to register in my Google Apps Legacy account. I learned that they had limited the possibility to update it unless you upgrade your account to a paid subscription. But here’s the catch – you won’t be able to downgrade back to the free legacy account once you started paying.

I searched for ways to legitimately edit my primary domain but ended up seeing lots of paid services that offer to change it for you. Well, I told my self – “if they can do it, I can do it”. I refused to avail any of these paid services but I managed to get necessary hints from all the blogs, forums, and freelance offerings.

After spending several hours trying to figure out the way, I was successful not only in changing my primary domain but also adding one or two secondary domains! It took a lot of careful experimentation and guts. A single click could cause you to lose your account permanently. With tons of data consolidation from different forums along with detailed documentation of what works and what doesn’t, I was able to create my own systematic procedure.

Google offered G Suite Standard Edition for free so IMHO, it is justifiable to give back and help others with the domain swap for free.

PREREQUISITES:

  1. Verify Account Creation Date
  2. Enable API Access and Rapid Release
  3. Add and Verify Domain Aliases (max of three)
  4. Create a Temporary Super Admin User

 

STEP 1 – Verify Account Creation Date

Login to your Admin Dashboard using your Super Admin account. Open Google API Explorer and nagivate to All versions > Admin directory API > directory.customer.get. Put the following information

directory.customer.get

Then click Authorize and execute. Select https://www.googleapis.com/auth/admin.directory.customer in the OAuth scope window.

directory_customers_get_oauth

The output would determine if your Google Apps account is eligible for this procedure. If the customerCreationTime is earlier than December 6, 2012, you can proceed with the rest of the steps.

 

STEP 2 – Enable API Access and Rapid Release

Go back to your Admin Dashboard then go to Security > API Reference and check Enable API access.

enable_api_access

Next, go to Company Profile > Profile Be sure the following are selected

rapid_release

509 COMMENTS

  3. I sent an email with the needed information to perform the Primary domain name swap for my account. I SINCERELY appreciate your time and work and this service that you are offering!
    Thank you again

  4. Did an absolutely awesome job making the switch for me. Having my secondary domain become my primary meant there was no way for me to setup a catchall email address even with an offsite registrar/manual DNS Settings.

    Shortly after we started this process I had to make an unexpected trip to the emergency room. To simplify things I went ahead and provided the login information for my registrar so he could take care of a DNS issue that was holding the process up while I was in the Emergency Room waiting room. He could have easily ran off with my domain name/Gapps account and totally screwed me out of my entire online presence but I can promise you that you will NOT find any sort of that nonsense here.

    VERY Professional yet also very understanding and easy to work with. I just cannot say enough about this. If you question any part of what I said then leave a message and you can contact me directly for proof that I am not associated in any kind of way. I have never heard of this person or website until just a few days ago.

    Two things I would suggest from just going through this process on 2017.07.27.
    1) It is interactive so be on standby ready to assist with a few steps after he takes over. (Or maybe I was under unique circumstances?)
    2) It would also be a really good idea to have Skype installed and ready to go as it makes for much faster communication.
    Thank you again!

    • Thank you, Randy! First of all, I hope your eyes are better now. It was nice having a small chat with you during the process. I really appreciate your input and suggestion.

      Most of the time, we do not need to re-verify the domain from the registrar. However, there are few instances where Google is asking to “Activate domain” after adding a secondary domain. In those cases, I ask the user to verify the domain by adding a TXT record in their DNS. In your case, I had to do it myself because you are in the ER. In addition to that, I was not so busy that time.

      To all others who might contact me in the future, it would be a good idea to have your Skype ready. Sometimes, Google would ask security questions for the safety of your account. I would need you to answer that. Having hiccups like these during the process would delay the turnaround unless we can communicate in an efficient manner.

  5. I sent an email with the needed information to perform the Primary domain name swap for my account. I SINCERELY appreciate your time and work and this service that you are offering!
    Thank you again
    Randy

  12. Just wanted to check, if you help me to change my primary domain today, is it possible to change it again later?

    (P.S. My trail period have already been used, hope that’s ok.)

    • Hi!

      I’m sorry but I cannot work on your account at the moment. With that said, I have deleted the email you sent me just to be safe. I do not want anyone’s Super Admin password sitting in my inbox. Check my latest update in the post for details.

      I hope you understand.

      Thanks!

      • Thank you so much, Root. I was hesitant to let someone else log into my account. So I did a Whois lookup of your site and saw that your domain has been registered since January 2016. Then I did a Google search and didn’t find any negative reports on your service. I figured since it’s been 1.5 years and no negative reports, you must be the real deal. Love the new setup in my account! Thanks again.

        • Hi Jake. I hope you got the answer in the question you sent me. If you are still having issues, let’s try to figure it out once I’m back. Thanks!

  21. This guy is very generous, kind and helpful. I sent him an email and he got back to me very quickly after changing my primary domain successfully. He did not ask anything in return. I’m so amazed and thankful to him.

    Thank you once again.

  22. This guy is the real deal – it’s rare to find someone so friendly, generous, helpful & trustworthy on the internet, and he’s one of those rough diamonds.

    I’m so happy that I can keep using google to host my mail, without having to cough up €5 a month to them, or having to resort to one of the knock-offs!

    Thanks again, RootCommand!

  25. Hi there!
    Like Mayra I’m also trying to change the domain of an older, almost unused google apps account.
    I’ve sent you an email.

    Best wishes,

    Andreas

  26. Hi there! I’m trying to change the domain of an older, almost unused google apps account. I’ve sent you an email.

    Is it possible to fix? Thanks!

  29. In principio ero molto scettico su questo metodo, come naturale quando qualcuno ti chiede accesso illimitato ai tuoi dati personali, ma posso confermare con soddisfazione che questa persona è affidabile. Ha sbrigato la pratica di cambio del dominio velocemente, attraverso una comunicazione molto cordiale, senza chiedere nulla in cambio, se non un commento e un passaparola tra amici. Grazie mille!

    At the beginning I was really skeptical about this method, as is natural to be skeptical when a stranger asks you unlimited access to your personal data, but I can confirm with satisfaction that this guy is really trustable.
    He did the whole procedure quickly, with a very kind communication, without asking me anything back as reward, except for share my experience on a comment and to my friends. Thanks a lot!

  30. As described in the procedure I’m leaving a comment prior to sending you a Change Primary Domain request via email. Thanks in advance for your time. 🙂

  31. Root, thank you very much for your help. Less than 5 hours of turnaround time–that is a time frame that even paid service cannot provide! Thank you very very much again.

  32. Thank you so much RootCommand for your support. My old G Suite is now useful again.
    I would definitely recommend him, you can trust Rootcommand.

  34. Root, you just made my day, I can’t thank you enough for what you did. You are faster than superman and the flash.

  37. Many thanks to permit me to reuse my old google app account which was block on an old useless domain.
    You can trust Rootcommand.

  41. Just contacted him to get my primary domain changed. He was very helpful, got all my questions answered quickly, and was very friendly throughout the entire process. I would definitely recommend him!

  43. After following the comprehensive and easy to follow guide, I emailed Root and got a response within a few minutes. 10 minutes later I had access to my changed account. Thanks a bunch!

  45. Hello Root,

    I want to change the primary domain. Is it necessary to add 2 or 3 domain *aliases*? I just added a *secondary* domain and removed everything else. I would prefer to do it myself. Are you available for a chat ? what is your Skype id ?

  46. Thanks a million RootCommand . Wow i’m super excited. He took just few seconds Booom that happened changed my primary domain. Thank you very much Mr Super computer. And he very friendly behavior. simple man.

  47. No Joke, this is real, people – NOT a scam. I’m really glad I trusted this guy and gave him access – once I did, the whole process only took an hour or so and his communication was excellent throughout. Thank you so much RootCommand, you ARE that man!!

    • Thanks Chris.

      Sorry if it took me hours to work on your account. I needed to run some errands. But anyway, I appreciate your patience during the process.

      Cheers!

  48. I have to say that this guy is superb and trustful. He offed me a great and very quick support with free of charge. After a while, everything is done perfectly. Now I am running business with new domain linked G suite. It saved me a lot of money. Once again, thank you so much.

    Best wishes,

    Johnny from Vietnam

  50. This person is legit. I was hesitant at first to give him access to my Admin panel but everything worked as promised. Root Command is very friendly and accommodating to my inquiries.

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