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Connecting your own domain

Add two DNS records at your domain provider, verify them, and your site is live on your domain with HTTPS.

Before you start

  • You need a domain you already own, bought from a registrar such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare or your local provider.
  • Your website works without one: it's already online at its free address, yourname.prohostiva.com.
  • HTTPS is included for your own domain, at no extra cost.

Add the domain

  1. Open Domains

    In your dashboard, go to Domains and use Connect an existing domain.

  2. Enter the domain and pick the website

    Type the domain (for example yourshop.com or www.yourshop.com) and choose which website it should show. You can also connect it to a website later.

Add the DNS records

ProHostiva now shows the exact records for your domain, each with a copy button. Sign in where you manage your domain's DNS (usually where you bought it), open its DNS settings, and add them:

RecordWhat it does
TXT at _prohostivaProves the domain is yours. It doesn't change where the domain points. Keep it after verifying.
A recordPoints the domain at ProHostiva. Use this for a root domain such as yourshop.com.
CNAME recordAn alternative for a subdomain such as www.yourshop.com, instead of the A record.

The Name field

Many providers add your domain to the name automatically. For the ownership record, enter _prohostiva rather than _prohostiva.yourshop.com. If you aren't sure, look at how your other records are written.

Verify and go live

  1. Click Verify DNS

    Back in ProHostiva, click Verify DNS. New records usually work within minutes, but can take up to 48 hours. Verifying too early does no harm: just try again later.

  2. HTTPS is set up for you

    Once verified, your site answers on the domain and a certificate is issued automatically. The very first visit can take a minute or two while that happens. Certificates are renewed for you.

Tips and common problems

  • Remove old records for the same name first: any other A or AAAA record (a parking page, a previous host), or some visitors may still land there.
  • Using Cloudflare? Set the A or CNAME record to DNS only (grey cloud), not Proxied. Otherwise the domain can't be verified and HTTPS can't be set up.
  • A root domain needs the A record: most providers don't allow a CNAME on yourshop.com itself.
  • Want both yourshop.com and www.yourshop.com? Add each one as its own domain and connect both to the same website.
  • Still stuck? See Troubleshooting, or email us the domain and we'll look.