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🌐 Connect a Custom Domain in Website Studio

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Camilo Aponte

Camilo Aponte

Last updated on Sep 30, 2026

🗺️ Overview

Connecting a custom domain to your Website Studio site requires updating DNS records at your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare). Once the correct records are in place, Search Atlas validates them automatically. This article walks you through the full setup process and covers the most common reasons a connection fails.

🔍 Before You Begin

  • You must have admin or editor access to your domain registrar account.
  • DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally — some registrars are faster, but delays are normal.
  • Only one custom domain can be connected per Website Studio site.

⚙️ Step 1 — Open the Domain Settings in Website Studio

  1. Log in to Search Atlas and navigate to Website Studio using the left sidebar (or go to /website-studio).
  2. Open the site you want to connect a domain to.
  3. Click Settings, then select Custom Domain.
  4. Enter your domain name (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) and click Connect Domain.
  5. Search Atlas will display the DNS records you need to add. Keep this screen open — you will need these values in the next step.

📋 Step 2 — Add the DNS Records at Your Registrar

Log in to your domain registrar and locate the DNS Management or DNS Zone Editor section. Add the records shown in Website Studio exactly as displayed:

  • CNAME record — Points your domain (e.g., www) to the Search Atlas hosting address provided on screen.
  • A record (if required) — Points the root domain (@) to the IP address shown. Not all setups require this; follow what is shown in your dashboard.

Tips for common registrars:

  • GoDaddy: DNS Management → Add Record → choose type CNAME or A.
  • Namecheap: Advanced DNS tab → Add New Record.
  • Cloudflare: DNS → Records → Add Record. Set the proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud) — do not enable the Cloudflare proxy (orange cloud) as this can break validation.
  • Google Domains / Squarespace DNS: DNS → Manage custom records → Add record.

✅ Step 3 — Verify the Connection in Website Studio

  1. Return to the Custom Domain settings in Website Studio.
  2. Click Verify DNS (or Check Status).
  3. If your records have propagated, the status will update to Connected and your site will go live on the custom domain.
  4. If the status still shows Pending or Error, wait a few hours and try again — propagation time varies by registrar.

🛠️ Troubleshooting Common DNS Errors

If you have waited more than 48 hours and the domain still fails to connect, work through the checks below:

  • Typo in the CNAME or A record value — Copy and paste the values directly from the Website Studio dashboard; do not retype them manually.
  • Cloudflare proxy enabled (orange cloud) — Switch to DNS only (grey cloud) and save. Re-run verification.
  • Old or conflicting records — Delete any existing A or CNAME records pointing to another host for the same subdomain before adding the new ones.
  • TTL set too high — If you recently changed records, a high TTL (e.g., 86400 seconds) means the old value is still cached. Lower the TTL to 300, save, and allow time for the cache to clear.
  • Root domain vs. www mismatch — Make sure you are connecting the exact format you entered in Website Studio (e.g., if you entered www.yourdomain.com, the CNAME must be on the www subdomain, not the root @).
  • Domain privacy / WHOIS guard conflicts — Some registrars' privacy features can interfere. Check your registrar's documentation to confirm privacy settings do not block DNS updates.

⏱️ How Long Does Propagation Take?

DNS propagation is controlled by the global internet infrastructure, not by Search Atlas. Most domains connect within 15 minutes to 4 hours. In rare cases it can take the full 48 hours. You can check real-time propagation status using a free tool like dnschecker.org — search for your domain and confirm the CNAME value matches what Website Studio provided.

💬 Still Need Help?

If you have followed all the steps above and your domain still will not connect after 48 hours, our team can check the DNS configuration on your behalf. If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.

Additional Notes

TTL: Set to Auto or 3600 (1 hour) to allow changes to propagate quickly. SSL certificate issuance is part of the domain connection process — once DNS propagates, return to Website Studio to enter your custom domain and enable SSL.