Connect a custom domain

With a custom domain, visitors can reach your app at an address you own, like example.com, where search engines can list it. Add your domain in WebDIY, follow the setup instructions, and we'll handle the secure connection. Your original website.diy address will continue to work, too, sending visitors on to your domain.

What you'll need

Custom domains come with the Pro and Max plans. Free doesn't include custom domains.

To connect one, you need to be an Admin of the project. You're the Admin of any project you create, and your organization's Owner and Admins can manage every project. Builders and Viewers can open the Domains screen but can't change anything on it.

You'll also need access to the domain's DNS settings. Those are usually with the company you bought the domain from.

If the project isn't published yet, that's fine. You can still connect the domain, and it starts serving your app when you publish.

Root domain or subdomain?

Either way, it counts as 1 of your organization's custom domains.

Connecting your domain

1. In your project, open Tools, then select Domains under Site.

2. Select Add domain to open the Connect a domain dialog.

3. Enter the domain, like example.com, and select Continue.

   Under the field, the dialog spells out what it'll connect: "We'll connect example.com and www.example.com".

4. In a new tab, sign in to your DNS provider and add each record the dialog lists. Use the copy button next to each name and value, so nothing gets mistyped. You'll also find the records in The DNS records below.

5. Come back to WebDIY and select I've added them to check the records.

   Each record shows Found or Not found yet, and the screen checks again every 30 seconds while it's open. You can close it and come back later.

6. Once every record is found, we verify that you own the domain and set up the HTTPS certificate. This usually takes a few minutes.

   The domain's card shows it as connected, and visitors reach your app at https://example.com.

The DNS records

For a root domain

For a subdomain

• The A record points your root domain at WebDIY, and a CNAME record points a hostname at WebDIY. The TXT record is how you prove you own the domain.
• Enter the TXT name exactly as shown, underscore included. Most DNS editors add your domain to the name for you, so _webdiy becomes _webdiy.example.com.
• The TXT value is different for every domain, so copy yours from WebDIY rather than from this page.

Which address do visitors land on?

For a root domain, the root serves your app and www redirects to it. If you'd rather serve at www, open the menu on the domain's card and select Serve at www.example.com instead.

When a project has more than one domain, select Make primary on the one you want visitors to land on, and your other addresses redirect to it. If you want an address to serve your app directly, turn off Redirect to primary on its card. Search engines may then treat it as a duplicate of your primary domain.

Showing up in search

Once your domain is connected, search engines can list your app there. Your website.diy address sends visitors and search engines on to your primary domain, so your domain is the one in results. Getting listed takes time, and adding your domain to Google Search Console shows you when Google has found it. If you disconnect the domain, or it moves to another project, your site goes back to its website.diy address and drops out of search results over time.

What if the domain is already in use?

If the domain is already connected to another project, WebDIY tells you as soon as you enter it. Add the records and check them as usual. Once they're verified, the domain moves to this project and the other project stops serving at it.

Disconnecting a domain

Open the menu on the domain's card and select Disconnect. Your app stops serving at that domain right away, and its slot goes back to your organization. The DNS records stay where they are at your provider, so remove them there if you don't need them anymore.

How many domains you can connect

• All the projects in your organization share these slots, and a root domain with its www counts once.
• A deleted project holds on to its slots for 7 days, until it's deleted for good.
• When every slot is taken, Add domain is unavailable. Disconnect a domain you're not using, or upgrade.
• If your organization moves to Free, the domains you've connected keep serving, but you'll need Pro to connect another one.

To compare plans, see Plans.

Troubleshooting

NOT YET SEEN BY A PERSON ON PRODUCTION: the first real root-domain connect (§5). Ask the operator before publishing this page. -->