Connect a custom domain

Before you start

• A paid plan. Custom domains are available on Pro and Premium.
• A domain you own, and access to its DNS settings at the company you bought it from.
• A website that is ready to publish.

Connecting takes three DNS records, verified in order. The dashboard shows the exact host and value for your domain beside each step. Use those, not values copied from anywhere else.

1. Decide between the root and www

   yourbusiness.com is the root; www.yourbusiness.com is a subdomain. Some DNS providers cannot put a CNAME on the root and offer an ALIAS or ANAME instead. If yours offers neither, connect the www subdomain and redirect the root to it.

2. Add the domain in your dashboard

   Open Domains, choose to connect a domain you already own, and enter it. The three setup steps appear with the records for your domain.

3. Step one: prove the domain is yours

   Add the verification CNAME exactly as shown, then press Verify.

   • Many DNS providers append your domain to the host automatically. Entering the full name then produces a doubled host that never verifies.
   • If it does not pass immediately, wait (DNS changes take time to spread) and verify again.

4. Step two: let us issue an HTTPS certificate

   Add the CNAME record shown for the certificate step and verify it. This is what lets the certificate authority confirm you control the domain. You do not buy, install or renew anything.

5. Step three: send traffic to us

   Add the routing record and verify it. On a subdomain that is a CNAME; on the root it is an ALIAS or ANAME, or a CNAME if your provider supports one at the root.

   • Remove any older record of the same type on the same host first; a conflict keeps the check failing.

6. Assign the domain to a website and publish

   A verified domain serves nothing until it is attached to a website and that website is published. Attach it on the Domains screen, then publish.

7. Check it, then set your renewal preference

   Open the domain in a private window. If the browser warns about the connection, the certificate is still being issued; the dashboard step shows where it is.

   • For a domain bought through Instantsite, check the auto-renew setting. An expired domain stops resolving whatever else is configured.

Final checklist

If a step will not pass, Publishing and domain problems lists the specific failures in the order worth checking them.