Knowledge base

Connecting a domain you already own

Keep it where it is registered and point it here — the two ways, and which to choose.

You do not have to transfer a domain to use it here. Domains → Connect.

The two ways

Nameservers. Change the nameservers at your current registrar to the ones we show you. We then host the DNS, records are managed here, and certificates and mail records are set up for you. This is the one to pick unless you have a reason not to.

An A record. Leave DNS where it is and add a single record pointing at the address we show. Nothing else moves. Choose this when another team runs your DNS, or when the domain carries records for services you do not want to migrate.

How long it takes

Nameserver changes are usually live within an hour and can take up to a day, depending on the extension. An A record change is usually minutes. Neither is instant and neither needs watching — the domain shows as Pending until it resolves to us and then goes Active on its own.

The certificate

Issued automatically once the domain resolves here, and renewed automatically thereafter. If it is still pending an hour after the domain went Active, that is worth a ticket.

What to check first

If the domain currently serves a live site somewhere else, that site goes dark the moment DNS moves. Build the site here first, check it on its temporary address, and change DNS last.

Still stuck?

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Connecting a domain you already own