---
title: "Why does my subdomain stay in the Invalid state in Sarbacane Campaigns?"
description: "Check the timing and the TXT and NS records, then restart the validation of your sending subdomain."
url: https://help.sarbacane.com/en/articles/179-why-does-my-subdomain-stay-in-the-invalid-state-in-sarbacane-campaigns
collection: "Frequently Asked Questions"
updated: 2026-11-02
language: en
alternates: [fr, es]
---

# Why does my subdomain stay in the Invalid state in Sarbacane Campaigns?

Check the timing and the TXT and NS records, then restart the validation of your sending subdomain.

A subdomain stays in the **Invalid** state when Sarbacane cannot find the right records at your hosting provider, or when they were added too late. Run the checks below in order; they take about ten minutes.

## Prerequisites

-   You are the account owner or an administrator.
    
-   You have access to your domain's DNS zone at your hosting provider, or help from your IT department.
    

## Steps

1.  Check the timing. After the records are added, validation can take up to 48 hours. During this time, the subdomain is in the **Awaiting validation...** state.
    
2.  At your hosting provider, check the TXT record. It must be on the root domain (your-site.com), not on the subdomain, and its value must be exactly the one shown in Sarbacane.
    
3.  Check the two NS records. They must be on the subdomain (news.your-site.com), with the targets dns.customizedurl.com. and dns2.customizedurl.com., including the final dot.
    
4.  If the records were added more than 48 hours after the subdomain was created in Sarbacane, the subdomain will not be validated. Delete it and create it again by following steps 5 to 9. The records already added at your hosting provider remain valid.
    
5.  In Sarbacane Campaigns, in the left sidebar, click the gear icon (**Settings**), then in the left menu, click Domains.
    

**Caution**: deleting the subdomain is permanent. Create it again right away with exactly the same name.

6.  At the end of the subdomain's row, click the ••• menu, then **Delete**, and confirm.
    
7.  Click **Add a domain**, then under **Existing domain**, click **Select**.
    
8.  Enter the same subdomain, click **Check**, then **Next**, then **Save**.
    
9.  If this subdomain was your default domain: once it is active again, at the top right of the Domains page, select it again in the **Default domain** list.
    

## Expected result

The subdomain changes to **Activated**, shown with a check mark, usually within 48 hours.

## Troubleshooting

### The subdomain is still Invalid after all these checks

Write to technical support at aide@sarbacane.com, giving the name of the subdomain.

### My hosting provider does not accept NS records

See the list of hosting providers in the article [How do I set up my subdomain with my hosting provider for Sarbacane Campaigns?](https://help.sarbacane.com/en/articles/177.md).

## Related articles

-   [How do I set up a sending subdomain in Sarbacane Campaigns?](https://help.sarbacane.com/en/articles/176.md)
    
-   [How do I set up my subdomain with my hosting provider for Sarbacane Campaigns?](https://help.sarbacane.com/en/articles/177.md)