Before customers can visit your new online store, you need to connect your domain name to it. This guide will help you update your DNS settings so your website address points to the right place.
Step 1: Find where your domain is managed
Your domain (like yourstore.com) might be registered with one company but actually controlled somewhere else. Here's how to find out where to make changes:
- Go to https://lookup.icann.org and type in your domain name
- Look for the section called "Name Servers" - these tell you where your domain is currently being managed
- The company listed there is where you'll need to log in to make changes
Common scenarios:
- If you see your domain registrar's name servers (like GoDaddy or Namecheap), log into that account
- If you see a different company's name servers (like Cloudflare or your web host), you'll need to log into that service instead
- If someone else set up your current website, they may have moved control to another service - you might need to ask them where
Step 2: Log into your domain management dashboard
Once you know where your domain is managed, log into that account. Look for sections called "DNS," "DNS Management," "DNS Records," or "Advanced DNS." The exact name varies by company, but it's usually in your domain settings.
Step 3: Add the A record for your main domain
We've given you an A record - this is a setting that connects your main domain (yourstore.com) to your store.
- Find the button to add a new DNS record
- Select "A" or "A Record" as the type
- In the "Host" or "Name" field, enter
@or leave it blank (this represents your main domain)
- In the "Points to" or "Value" field, paste the IP address we provided
- Set the TTL (time to live) to 3600 if asked, or leave it as default
- Save the record
Step 4: Add the CNAME record for www
We've also given you a CNAME record - this connects the www version of your domain (www.yourstore.com) to your store.
- Add another new DNS record
- Select "CNAME" or "CNAME Record" as the type
- In the "Host" or "Name" field, enter
www
- In the "Points to" or "Value" field, paste the address we provided
- Set the TTL to 3600 if asked, or leave it as default
- Save the record
Step 5: Wait for changes to take effect
After saving both records, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours for the changes to spread across the internet. Most changes happen within a few hours. You can check if it's working by visiting your domain in a web browser.
Tips
Already have DNS records? If you see existing A or CNAME records for your domain, you may need to delete or update them instead of creating new ones. Only one A record should exist for your main domain.
Not sure what we gave you? Look for an email from us or check your account dashboard for your DNS settings. They should be labeled clearly as "A Record" and "CNAME Record."
Changes not working after 48 hours? Double-check that you entered the records exactly as we provided them, with no extra spaces or characters.
Need more help?
Here are links to DNS instructions from common domain providers:
- Google Domains: https://support.google.com/domains/answer/3290350