## **🔍 Overview**

Setting up DNS for your White Label can feel complex, and propagation delays or small configuration mistakes can make it hard to tell whether the setup worked. This guide walks you through the correct configuration steps, common mistakes to avoid, and how to verify your setup is working.

## **⚙️ Required DNS Records**

To connect your custom domain to Search Atlas White Label, you must add the following records in your domain registrar or DNS provider's control panel:

- **Type:** CNAME
- **Host / Name:** The subdomain you want to use (e.g., **reports** or **app**)
- **Value / Points to:** The target hostname provided in your Search Atlas White Label settings
- **TTL:** 3600 (1 hour) or the lowest value your provider allows

Do **not** add an A record or MX record in place of the CNAME — these will not work for White Label setup.

## **🚨 Common Configuration Mistakes**

The following errors are the most frequent causes of a failed DNS setup:

- **Using the root domain instead of a subdomain:** Most DNS providers do not allow a CNAME on a root domain (e.g., **yourdomain.com**). Always use a subdomain such as **reports.yourdomain.com**.
- **Trailing dot or extra characters:** Copy the target value from Search Atlas exactly. Even a single extra character or space will break the record.
- **Conflicting records:** If a previous A record or CNAME already exists for the same subdomain, delete it before adding the new CNAME.
- **Proxy enabled in Cloudflare:** If you use Cloudflare, ensure the proxy toggle (orange cloud) is set to **DNS only** (grey cloud) for the CNAME record.
- **Incorrect subdomain in Search Atlas settings:** The subdomain you enter inside Search Atlas must exactly match what you configured at your DNS provider.

## **⏱️ Understanding DNS Propagation**

After saving a DNS record, changes do not take effect immediately. Propagation can take anywhere from **15 minutes to 48 hours** depending on your DNS provider and the previous TTL value. During this window, the domain may appear broken even when the configuration is correct.

To check propagation status, use a free tool such as **whatsmydns.net** and search for your subdomain as a CNAME record. Once you see your target hostname returned consistently across multiple global locations, propagation is complete.

## **✅ Step-by-Step Verification Checklist**

Work through the following steps in order before concluding there is a technical issue:

1. Log in to your DNS provider and confirm the CNAME record is saved with the exact target value from Search Atlas.
2. Check that no conflicting A record or old CNAME exists for the same subdomain and delete any conflicts.
3. If using Cloudflare, confirm the proxy is set to **DNS only**.
4. Wait at least **1 hour** after saving and then check propagation on whatsmydns.net.
5. Log in to Search Atlas and re-open your White Label settings to confirm the custom domain field is saved correctly and matches your subdomain exactly.
6. Open the subdomain URL in an **incognito or private browser window** to avoid cached results.

## **🔄 When to Re-Save Your White Label Settings**

If you recently corrected a DNS record, you may also need to re-save your White Label configuration inside Search Atlas to trigger a fresh connection check. Navigate to your White Label settings, confirm all fields are correct, and click **Save** again. Then allow up to 30 minutes for the platform to re-validate the domain.

## **💡 Still Not Working After 48 Hours?**

If more than 48 hours have passed, your DNS records appear correct on whatsmydns.net, and your White Label domain is still not loading, there may be an issue on the platform side that requires investigation.

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. Please have the following ready to share: your custom subdomain, a screenshot of your DNS record, and your whatsmydns.net results — this will help our team resolve your issue as quickly as possible.