How to Connect a Custom Domain to Shopify: Complete Domain Setup Guide

Understanding Shopify Domains

Default vs. Custom Domains

Every Shopify store starts with a free myshopify.com domain (e.g., yourstore.myshopify.com). While functional, custom domains offer significant advantages:

• Professionalism: yourbrand.com looks more legitimate than yourstore.myshopify.com
• Brand recognition: Easier to remember and builds brand equity
• Trust signals: Customers trust custom domains more for payments
• SEO benefits: Better for search rankings and click-through rates
• Email addresses: Use professional email like hello@yourbrand.com
• Marketing: Easier to promote across channels and materials

Where to Buy Your Domain

You have two main options for purchasing domains:

Recommendation: Buy through Shopify if you want simplicity and don't need email hosting. Buy from a third-party registrar if you want email hosting, advanced features, or plan to use the domain beyond just your store.

Buying a Domain Through Shopify

Step 1: Check Domain Availability

1. In Shopify admin, go to Settings → Domains
2. Click Buy new domain
3. Enter your desired domain name
4. Review available options (Shopify shows .com, .net, .org, .shop, .store)
5. If your first choice is taken, try:
   • Adding descriptive words (shopbluemoon vs bluemoon)
   • Different extensions (.shop, .store instead of .com)
   • Hyphens if absolutely necessary (blue-moon.com)

Step 2: Complete Purchase

1. Select your domain (typically $14-17/year for .com)
2. Review the annual cost
3. Click Buy domain
4. Domain is automatically configured and connected
5. Auto-renewal is enabled by default (recommended)

Step 3: Set as Primary Domain

1. After purchase, go to Settings → Domains
2. Your new domain appears in the list
3. Click Change primary domain
4. Select your custom domain
5. All traffic now redirects to yourbrand.com

Connecting an Existing Third-Party Domain

Overview of the Process

Connecting a domain you own elsewhere requires configuring DNS records to point to Shopify's servers. This involves two platforms: your domain registrar (where you bought the domain) and Shopify.

Step 1: Add Domain to Shopify

1. In Shopify admin, go to Settings → Domains
2. Click Connect existing domain
3. Enter your domain exactly (e.g., yourbrand.com)
4. Click Next
5. Shopify provides DNS settings you'll need to configure

Step 2: Configure DNS at Your Registrar

DNS (Domain Name System) tells browsers where to find your store. You'll configure A records and CNAME records.

Configure A Record (Apex Domain)

The A record points your root domain (yourbrand.com) to Shopify:

1. Log into your domain registrar
2. Find DNS settings (often called DNS Management, DNS Records, or Advanced DNS)
3. Look for existing A records pointing to @ or yourbrand.com
4. Delete old A records if they exist
5. Create a new A record:
   • Host/Name: @ (or leave blank, or enter your domain)
   • Points to/Value: 23.227.38.65 (Shopify's IP)
   • TTL: Automatic or 3600

Configure CNAME Record (WWW Subdomain)

The CNAME record points www.yourbrand.com to Shopify:

1. In DNS settings, look for existing CNAME records for www
2. Delete old CNAME record if it exists
3. Create a new CNAME record:
   • Host/Name: www
   • Points to/Value: shops.myshopify.com
   • TTL: Automatic or 3600

Step 3: Verify Connection

1. After configuring DNS, return to Shopify admin
2. Go to Settings → Domains
3. Click Verify connection next to your domain
4. Shopify checks if DNS is configured correctly
5. Status shows:
   • Pending: DNS hasn't propagated yet (wait and check again)
   • Connected: Domain is working correctly
   • Error: DNS configuration needs adjustment

Step 4: Set as Primary Domain

1. Once verified, click Change primary domain
2. Select your custom domain
3. Click Save
4. All store traffic now goes to yourbrand.com

Registrar-Specific Instructions

GoDaddy DNS Setup

1. Log into GoDaddy account
2. Go to My Products → Domains
3. Click DNS next to your domain
4. Scroll to Records section
5. Find A record with @ as Name, click edit, change Value to 23.227.38.65
6. Find CNAME record with www as Name, click edit, change Value to shops.myshopify.com
7. Click Save

Namecheap DNS Setup

1. Log into Namecheap account
2. Go to Domain List → Manage
3. Click Advanced DNS tab
4. Under Host Records:
   • Change A Record with @ to point to 23.227.38.65
   • Change CNAME Record with www to point to shops.myshopify.com
5. Click checkmark to save changes

Google Domains (Squarespace) DNS Setup

1. Log into domains.google.com (now managed by Squarespace)
2. Click My domains
3. Select your domain → DNS
4. Scroll to Custom resource records
5. Create/edit A record: @ → 23.227.38.65
6. Create/edit CNAME record: www → shops.myshopify.com
7. Click Add

Cloudflare DNS Setup

1. Log into Cloudflare dashboard
2. Select your domain
3. Go to DNS tab
4. Add/edit A record: @ → 23.227.38.65 → Proxy status OFF (gray cloud)
5. Add/edit CNAME record: www → shops.myshopify.com → Proxy status OFF
6. Click Save

Setting Up Email with Your Custom Domain

Why Email Setup Matters

Using email@yourbrand.com instead of yourname@gmail.com dramatically improves professionalism and trust. Customers are more likely to open and trust emails from your brand domain.

Email Hosting Options

Setting Up Google Workspace Email

1. Go to workspace.google.com and click Get started
2. Enter your business name and employee count
3. Provide your name and current email
4. Enter your custom domain (yourbrand.com)
5. Create your first email account (e.g., hello@yourbrand.com)
6. Choose your plan (Business Starter at $6/month recommended)
7. Enter payment information
8. Verify domain ownership:
   • Google provides a TXT record
   • Add to your domain's DNS settings
   • Return to Google and click Verify
9. Configure MX records:
   • Google provides 5 MX records
   • Add each to your DNS settings at your registrar
   • Remove any existing MX records
10. Wait 24-48 hours for email to activate
11. Access email at gmail.com using your custom email address

Email Forwarding Setup (Free Alternative)

Most registrars offer free email forwarding:

1. Log into your domain registrar
2. Find Email or Email Forwarding settings
3. Create forwarding rule: hello@yourbrand.com → yourpersonal@gmail.com
4. Verify the forward by sending a test email
5. To reply from your custom domain:
   • In Gmail: Settings → Accounts → Send mail as → Add another email
   • Enter your custom email (hello@yourbrand.com)
   • Use your registrar's SMTP settings (varies by provider)

SSL Certificates and HTTPS

Understanding SSL for Shopify Stores

SSL certificates encrypt data between customers and your store, enabling HTTPS. This is critical for:

• Payment security: Required for processing credit cards safely
• Customer trust: Browsers show "Not Secure" warnings without SSL
• SEO rankings: Google favors HTTPS sites
• Compliance: PCI DSS requires SSL for ecommerce

Automatic SSL with Shopify

Shopify automatically provides free SSL certificates for all stores and custom domains:

• Issued by Let's Encrypt (industry-standard free SSL)
• Automatically renews every 90 days
• Covers both yourbrand.com and www.yourbrand.com
• Activates automatically after domain verification
• No configuration needed

SSL Activation Timeline

1. Connect domain: Add domain to Shopify and configure DNS
2. DNS propagation: Wait for DNS to fully propagate (up to 48 hours)
3. Automatic SSL issuance: Shopify requests certificate from Let's Encrypt
4. Certificate activation: Usually within a few hours of DNS verification
5. HTTPS live: Your site is secure at https://yourbrand.com

Checking SSL Status

1. Go to Settings → Domains
2. Look at your domain's status:
   • "SSL pending": Certificate is being issued (wait)
   • "SSL unavailable": DNS isn't configured correctly
   • Green checkmark: SSL is active
3. Visit https://yourbrand.com to confirm
4. Look for padlock icon in browser address bar

Troubleshooting Common Domain Issues

Domain Shows "Not Connected" or "Pending"

Cause: DNS hasn't fully propagated or is misconfigured.

Solutions:

• Wait 24-48 hours - DNS propagation takes time
• Verify A record points to 23.227.38.65 exactly
• Verify CNAME record points to shops.myshopify.com exactly
• Check for typos in DNS records (no http://, no trailing dots unless required)
• Ensure old records are deleted (multiple A or CNAME records cause conflicts)
• Use DNS checker tool: whatsmydns.net to see if changes propagated globally

"This domain is already connected" Error

Cause: Domain is connected to another Shopify store or was previously connected.

Solutions:

• Check if you have multiple Shopify stores - remove domain from the old one
• If you just migrated stores, remove from old store first
• Wait 24 hours after removing from old store before adding to new one
• Contact Shopify Support if domain is stuck from a closed store

Website Works but Email Doesn't

Cause: Missing or incorrect MX records for email hosting.

Solutions:

• Verify MX records are added at your domain registrar, not Shopify
• Confirm MX records match your email provider's requirements exactly
• Check MX record priority (Google Workspace: priorities 1, 5, 5, 10, 10)
• Wait 24-48 hours for MX record propagation
• Use MX lookup tool to verify: mxtoolbox.com
• Remove any old MX records from previous email providers

SSL Certificate Shows "Pending" for Days

Cause: DNS records aren't properly configured or propagated.

Solutions:

• Verify both A record and CNAME record are correct
• If using Cloudflare, disable proxy (gray cloud, not orange)
• Check DNS propagation globally: whatsmydns.net
• Remove any CAA records at your registrar (they can block Let's Encrypt)
• Contact Shopify Support if DNS is correct but SSL won't issue after 48 hours

Domain Shows "Domain Not Pointing to Shopify IP"

Cause: A record points to wrong IP or DNS changes haven't propagated.

Solutions:

• Verify A record points to exactly 23.227.38.65 (not 23.227.38.32 or other IPs)
• Ensure you're editing DNS at your domain registrar, not Shopify
• Remove any conflicting A records
• Clear your browser cache and try incognito mode
• Check if domain registrar has parked page enabled - disable it

Checkout or Admin Pages Not Loading

Cause: Custom domain configured incorrectly or .myshopify.com domain was removed.

Solutions:

• Never delete your .myshopify.com domain - it's required for checkout
• Verify your custom domain is set as primary domain
• Check if Cloudflare proxy is enabled (must be disabled)
• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Try accessing via yourstore.myshopify.com/admin directly

Domain Management Best Practices

Enable Auto-Renewal

Expired domains are catastrophic for ecommerce businesses. Always enable auto-renewal:

• Log into your domain registrar or Shopify admin
• Find domain management or renewal settings
• Enable automatic renewal
• Keep payment method current
• Set calendar reminder 1 month before renewal
• Keep registrar email address current to receive renewal notices

Protect Your Domain with WHOIS Privacy

WHOIS privacy hides your personal contact information from public domain lookup databases:

• Without it, your name, address, email, phone are publicly visible
• Prevents spam, scams, and identity theft
• Usually $10-15/year at registrars
• Free with Shopify-purchased domains
• Enable in your registrar's domain management settings

Secure Your Domain Registrar Account

Your domain is a critical business asset. Protect it:

• Strong password: Use password manager with unique 20+ character password
• Two-factor authentication: Enable 2FA on your registrar account
• Domain lock: Enable transfer lock to prevent unauthorized transfers
• Registrar lock: Some registrars offer additional security layers
• Contact info: Keep email and phone current for security alerts
• Regular login: Log in quarterly to verify settings haven't changed

Plan for Domain Renewal Costs

Domain renewal is a recurring annual cost:

• .com domains: $10-20/year typically
• Premium or country-specific domains: $50-500/year
• Shopify domains: $14-17/year for .com
• Email hosting (Google Workspace): $72/year per user
• Total annual cost: $80-100+ for domain + email
• Budget this as fixed operational expense

Use Subdomains Strategically

Subdomains can extend your brand:

• blog.yourbrand.com: External blog (WordPress, Medium)
• help.yourbrand.com: Help center or knowledge base
• shop.yourbrand.com: If main site is content and you want separate store
• wholesale.yourbrand.com: B2B or wholesale portal

Configure subdomains via CNAME records in DNS settings. Point to external services as needed.

Advanced Domain Setup

Setting Up International Domains

If you sell in multiple countries, consider country-specific domains:

• yourbrand.co.uk for UK customers
• yourbrand.ca for Canadian customers
• yourbrand.com.au for Australian customers

Benefits:

• Better local SEO in each country
• Increased trust from local customers
• Clearer market segmentation

Setup:

• Shopify Plus required for multiple international domains on one store
• Or create separate Shopify stores per country (more complex)
• Configure DNS same as primary domain
• Use Shopify Markets to manage international selling

Redirecting Old Domains

If you're migrating from an old domain to a new brand:

1. Add your new primary domain to Shopify
2. Add your old domain as additional domain
3. Shopify automatically redirects old domain to new one
4. Keep old domain connected for 1-2 years minimum
5. Preserves SEO equity and doesn't lose old customers

Using Domain Forwarding vs. Connecting to Shopify

Domain forwarding (at registrar level) redirects visitors but:

• URL changes in browser (yourbrand.com becomes yourstore.myshopify.com)
• Looks unprofessional
• Loses SEO benefits
• Not recommended for primary store domain

Connecting domain to Shopify (via DNS):

• URL stays as yourbrand.com throughout browsing
• Professional appearance
• Full SEO benefits
• Required for custom domain email
• Always choose this option for your main store

Domain Setup Checklist

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my domain to start working?

DNS propagation typically takes 24-48 hours, though it can be as fast as a few hours. SSL certificates activate automatically within a few hours after DNS propagates. Most domains are fully functional within 24 hours.

Can I transfer my domain to Shopify after buying it elsewhere?

Yes, you can transfer domain ownership to Shopify. Go to Settings → Domains → Transfer domain. However, domains must be at least 60 days old and unlocked at your current registrar. Transfer costs around $14 and extends registration by 1 year.

Do I need to buy www.yourbrand.com and yourbrand.com separately?

No, they're the same domain purchase. The CNAME record for "www" ensures both www.yourbrand.com and yourbrand.com point to your store. Shopify automatically redirects between them based on your primary domain setting.

What happens to my .myshopify.com domain after I connect a custom domain?

It stays active permanently. Your .myshopify.com domain is required for checkout, admin access, and some app integrations. When you set a custom domain as primary, Shopify automatically redirects .myshopify.com URLs to your custom domain.

Can I use one domain for multiple Shopify stores?

No, each domain can only be connected to one Shopify store at a time. However, you can use subdomains (shop.yourbrand.com, wholesale.yourbrand.com) for different stores.

Does changing my domain hurt SEO?

Changing from .myshopify.com to a custom domain improves SEO. Changing from one custom domain to another can temporarily impact rankings, but Shopify automatically creates 301 redirects if you keep the old domain connected, preserving most SEO value.

Can I use a domain I already own for email and Shopify?

Yes, absolutely. Configure A and CNAME records for Shopify, and MX records for email. They work together independently. One domain can power your Shopify store, email, and other services simultaneously.

What if my domain is already taken?

Try different variations: add descriptive words (shopbluemoon.com instead of bluemoon.com), use different extensions (.shop, .store, .co instead of .com), or consider buying from domain marketplace (typically $100-10,000+ for premium domains).

Should I buy .com or is another extension okay?

.com is ideal for credibility and recognition. If .com is unavailable, .co, .shop, and .store are respectable alternatives for ecommerce. Avoid obscure extensions (.xyz, .biz) that may look less trustworthy to customers.

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