You can connect your Website Studio site to a custom domain without installing any plugin. By updating your domain's DNS records, you point your domain straight to your Website Studio site. This guide walks you through the full process step by step.
📋 What You Need Before You Start
Make sure you have the following ready before connecting your domain:
- A custom domain you already own (for example, yourbusiness.com).
- Access to your domain registrar or DNS provider account (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, or Google Domains).
- Your published Website Studio site.
🌐 Step 1: Add Your Domain in Website Studio
Start inside the platform so the system knows which domain to expect:
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Open Website Studio and select the site you want to connect.
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Go to the site's Settings area.
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Find the Domains or Custom Domain section.
Enter your custom domain exactly as you own it and save.
After saving, the platform displays the DNS records you need to add at your registrar. Keep this screen open so you can copy the values in the next step.
🛠️ Step 2: Update Your DNS Records
Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider and open the DNS management area. You will add the records shown in Website Studio. There are two common setups:
- Root domain (yourbusiness.com): Add an A record pointing to the IP address shown in Website Studio.
- Subdomain (www.yourbusiness.com): Add a CNAME record pointing to the target value shown in Website Studio.
To add a record, follow these steps:
- Select Add Record in your DNS dashboard.
- Choose the record type (A or CNAME) as instructed in Website Studio.
- Paste the exact value provided by the platform into the value or destination field.
- Leave the TTL at the default setting if you are unsure.
- Save the record.
If you want both the root domain and the www version to work, add both records as shown in the platform.
⏳ Step 3: Wait for DNS to Update
DNS changes are not always instant. They can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully apply across the internet. This waiting period is called propagation. During this time, your domain may load intermittently, which is normal.
✅ Step 4: Verify and Secure the Connection
Once the records are saved, return to Website Studio:
- Open the Domains section again.
- Select Verify or Check Connection if the option is available.
- Wait for the status to show as connected.
After verification, an SSL certificate is issued automatically so your site loads securely with https. This may take a short time to activate after the domain connects.
🔍 Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your domain is not connecting, review these common causes:
- Typos in records: Confirm the values match exactly what Website Studio shows, with no extra spaces.
- Duplicate records: Remove any old A or CNAME records that point your domain elsewhere.
- Not enough time: Allow up to 48 hours for propagation before assuming something is wrong.
- Wrong record type: Use an A record for the root domain and a CNAME for subdomains.
- Provider proxy enabled: If you use Cloudflare, try setting the record to DNS only while you confirm the connection.
- Stray AAAA record blocking SSL: If your domain connects but https does not activate, check for an incorrect or leftover AAAA (IPv6) record on your domain and remove it. A wrong AAAA record can prevent the SSL certificate from being issued.
💡 Helpful Tips
- Make a note of your existing DNS records before changing anything, so you can restore them if needed.
- Use a single, consistent version of your domain (with or without www) as your primary address.
- Clear your browser cache or test in a private window if the old site still appears.
💬 Need More Help?
If you need further assistance, click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type "Human Teammate" to start a live chat with a member of our team.