Connecting a domain

Connecting your third-party domain to Shopify points your domain name at your Shopify store. This means that when someone enters your custom URL into their web browser, it takes them to your online store. You still use the third-party domain provider to manage your domain settings, pay for your domain, and renew it.

Third-party domain providers

If you own a domain from one of the following providers, then click the link to get specific instructions for connecting your domain:

• 1&1 IONOS
• 123 Reg
• Bluehost
• Domain.com
• Enom
• GoDaddy
• Google Domains
• OVH
• Namecheap
• Network Solutions
• Register
• Hostgator - HostGator doesn't let you to directly control your DNS settings. To make the necessary changes to your HostGator domain, you must contact their support team and give them the following instructions:
  • set your nameservers to HostGator's defaults
  • disabled all forwarding on your domain
  • point your root domain's A record to the Shopify IP address: 23.227.38.32
  • point your subdomain's www CNAME record to the Shopify-hosted domain: shops.myshopify.com

What to tell your third-party provider

Your third-party domain provider is familiar with the terms related to domains. When you call your provider for support, you can tell them that:

• you want your root domain (your A record) to point to Shopify's IP address, which is 23.227.38.32
• you want your subdomains (your CNAME records) to point to shops.myshopify.com.

If you want to set up email forwarding, then you can also tell your third-party provider that you want to use their email client (if they have one) and need to configure your MX records.

What are root domains and subdomains?

Root domains are what you purchase when buying a domain. An example of a root domain is shopify.com. You need to buy a root domain before you can add subdomains. Most people point their root domain to their online store.

Subdomains are additions to the root domain. WWW is a commonly used subdomain. This pairs with the root domain creating www.shopify.com.

Where to go for help

If you have problems or need help pointing your custom domain to your Shopify store, then you should contact your third-party provider’s support team. Shopify Support will be more limited in assisting you because every provider is different.

Note

Shopify Support can't log in to your third-party domain account for you, even if you give us explicit permission.

Generic third-party domain setup guide

If you don’t see instructions for your provider, then you can follow this generic setup guide to connect your existing domain to Shopify.

1. Add the domain to Shopify

2. Connect it to Shopify

3. Verify your connection in Shopify

Grow your business

You can hire a Shopify Expert to connect your existing domain and let you focus on other important parts of your business.

Set up your domain automatically with GoDaddy or 1&1 IONOS

You can automatically connect your GoDaddy or 1&1 IONOS domain to your Shopify store.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Domains.

iPhone

1. From the Shopify app, tap Store.
2. In the Sales channels section, tap Online Store.
3. Tap Domains.

Android

1. From the Shopify app, tap Store.
2. In the Sales channels section, tap Online Store.
3. Tap Domains.

1. Click Connect existing domain.

2. Enter the domain that you want to connect, such as johns-apparel.info.

3. Click Next.

4. Click Connect automatically:

5. In the Sign In window, log in to your GoDaddy or 1&1 IONOS account.

6. Click Connect.

Note

If you experience problems setting up your domain automatically, then try setting it up manually from within your third party providers admin. If you contact third party support, then you need to know what to tell your third-party provider.

Add an existing domain to your Shopify store

Caution

Unexpected behavior can occur if you use third-party proxies. Shopify is not responsible for any loss of information.

First, you need to add your custom domain to your Shopify store. This step identifies you to Shopify as the owner of your custom domain.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Domains.

iPhone

1. From the Shopify app, tap Store.
2. In the Sales channels section, tap Online Store.
3. Tap Domains.

Android

1. From the Shopify app, tap Store.
2. In the Sales channels section, tap Online Store.
3. Tap Domains.

1. Click Connect existing domain.

2. Enter the domain that you want to connect, such as johns-apparel.info.

3. Click Next.

Now you need to set up your existing domain to point to Shopify.

Set up your existing domain to connect to Shopify

If you've purchased your domain through a third party, then you need to edit the following DNS settings:

• Your A record should point to Shopify's IP address, which is 23.227.38.32 Copy

• Your CNAME record should point to shops.myshopify.com Copy .

Editing these domain settings might have an effect on other things, such as email forwarding. You can contact your domain provider to find out how any changes might affect your DNS settings.

Note

You can only have one A record associated with your primary domain. If your domain is already associated with an A record when you edit your DNS settings to point your A record to Shopify's IP address, then remove the old A record.

Steps:

1. Log in to the account you have with your domain provider.

2. Find your DNS settings. Look for your domain management area, DNS configuration, or similar.

3. Edit your A record to point to Shopify's IP address 23.227.38.32 Copy

   The domain settings panel might feature drop-downs or editable fields, or you might have to check boxes or edit a table. You need to:

   • enter or choose the @ symbol, or A record
   • enter Shopify's IP address 23.227.38.32 Copy as the destination for the A record.

4. Save the A Record (click Save, Save Zone File, Add Record, or similar).

5. Find the CNAME record in your DNS settings.

6. Change your www CNAME record to point to shops.myshopify.com Copy . Often, you need to provide just the prefix without the dot, but for some domain providers you need the whole subdomain. Use the existing entries as a guide, or follow your provider's instructions. CNAME records must always point to a domain name, never to an IP address.

7. Save the CNAME Record (usually by clicking Save or Add record or similar).

Now you need to verify your connection in Shopify.

Verify your connection in Shopify

Click Verify connection in your Shopify admin to confirm that your custom domain has been connected to your store.

Note

It might take up to 48 hours for your custom domain to point to your Shopify store. If you have problems or need help setting your third-party domain, you can reach out to your provider.

Connect a subdomain

A subdomain is a subset for your root domain that you use as a prefix. For example, in the URL shop.johnsapparel.com, shop is the subdomain. The most popular subdomain is www. You can use subdomains to organize your website and make it easier for visitors to find the information that they're looking for.

Steps:

1. Log in to the account you have with your domain provider.

2. Find your DNS settings. Look for your domain management area, DNS configuration, or similar.

3. Find the CNAME record in your DNS settings.

4. Change your subdomain CNAME record to point to shops.myshopify.com Copy . For example, if you want your subdomain shop.johns-apparel.com to point to your Shopify store, then change your shop CNAME record to point to shops.myshopify.com Copy :

   

5. Save the CNAME Record (usually by clicking Save or Add record or similar).

6. From your Shopify admin, click Online Store, and then click Domains.

7. Click Connect existing domain:

   

8. Enter your subdomain in the text field (for example, shop.johns-apparel.com).

9. Click Next.

10. Click Verify connection in your Shopify admin to confirm that your custom domain has been connected to your store.

Note

Your root domain will also be added automatically. If you want to connect only a subdomain and not the root domain, then you can delete the root domain by clicking the delete icon next to it in the Manage domains section.

Next steps after adding your custom domain to Shopify

After you've added your domain in Shopify, you need to choose your primary domain (the domain name that customers will see in the address bar while they browse your online store).

You can also set up email forwarding from the domain after you've added it to Shopify.