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Connect a custom domain to your AI-built website

Add an address, verify ownership through DNS and enable HTTPS.

7 min · Beginner

Updated

In this guide

Before you start

You need a working website and permission to edit the domain's active DNS records. Test the website at its default address first. Find out which nameservers the domain uses: add records at that active DNS provider.

Connect the address

  1. Open the website and Domains.
  2. Under Add your own domain, enter the desired name, such as www.example.com. Enter only the hostname, without https:// or a page path, then select Add.
  3. If the domain uses NordicHost's Cloudflare DNS management linked to your customer account, the required settings may be added automatically. Follow the dashboard confirmation.
  4. Otherwise, copy the displayed ownership TXT record and pointing A or CNAME record into the current DNS provider. Use the exact values shown for your website.
  5. Check the Name field format: some DNS providers append the domain automatically. The dashboard also shows the short names to use in that case.
  6. Return to the dashboard and select Check and verify. An SSL certificate is requested automatically after verification.

Check HTTPS and the primary address

Wait for Live · SSL valid and open the HTTPS address. Once the domain is active, you can select Make primary.

The www address

You don't need to add the www address separately. When you add example.com, www.example.com also leads to it, and the other way round. If the www address doesn't work yet, the dashboard shows the DNS record to add for it under the domain.

Redirect other addresses to the primary domain

If the website has several addresses, such as an old domain, you can send visitors to one primary address:

  1. First select Make primary for the address you want.
  2. For the other addresses, turn on Redirect to the primary domain.

Visitors land on the same page at the primary domain: example.net/contact goes to example.com/contact. You will see the change in about a minute. Every address also always opens over a secure HTTPS connection.

If verification is pending

Check the TXT value, nameservers and pointing record. TXT verification alone does not direct website traffic. Conflicting old A, AAAA or CNAME records can send some visitors to the wrong destination. Leave email MX records intact when connecting the website. Allow DNS caches to update and try again.