Connect a custom domain to Shopify
A custom domain replaces the myshopify.com address customers see with your own name. The connection has two halves: the DNS records at your domain provider, and the connect step in your Shopify admin. This tutorial connects example.com and checks the wait.
Written · Shopify admin, desktop steps · 6 minutes read
The worked example
| Domain | example.com |
| A record | 23.227.38.65 |
| AAAA record | 2620:0127:f00f:5:: |
| CNAME for www | shops.myshopify.com. |
| Full propagation | Up to 48 hours |
| Example verified after | 23.5 hours |
Download the record: domain-dns-record.csv (103 bytes).
A DNS record for the worked example domain. The domain was verified 23.5 hours after the records were set, inside the 48-hour propagation limit.
1Gather the records
Gather the records before you start. You need your login for your third-party domain provider account, the Shopify IPv4 address 23.227.38.65, the Shopify IPv6 address 2620:0127:f00f:5::, and the www CNAME record shops.myshopify.com.
2Point the A record
On your domain provider website, log in to your account and find the DNS settings. Point the A record to the Shopify IPv4 address 23.227.38.65. You can have only one A record and one www CNAME record associated with your domain, so change any existing ones to point to Shopify.
3Point the AAAA record
Point the AAAA record to the Shopify IPv6 address 2620:0127:f00f:5::. If your host will not accept the condensed IPv6 address, use the expanded version, 2620:0127:f00f:0005:0000:0000:0000:0000.
4Point the www CNAME record
Point the CNAME record with the name www to shops.myshopify.com.. Be sure to include the period at the end of the domain. You do not need to change the TTL number in your DNS settings; use the default value.
5Connect the domain in Shopify
From your Shopify admin, go to Settings then Domains. Click Connect existing domain. In the dialog, enter your domain name, such as example.com, and then click Next. Do not include a subdomain, such as www.. Click Connect domain.
6Wait and set the primary domain
Wait for the connection. It might take up to 48 hours for your domain to be fully live. In the worked example the domain was verified 23.5 hours after the records were set. When it shows as connected, set it as your primary domain so customers see it.
The arithmetic
| Milestone | Hours after records set | Share of 48-hour window |
|---|---|---|
| DNS records seen | 6.0 | 12.50% |
| Domain verified | 23.5 | 48.96% |
| SSL certificate live | 24.0 | 50.00% |
The domain was verified 23.5 hours after the records were set, which is 48.96% of the 48-hour window. The SSL certificate followed 30 minutes later, at 24.0 hours.
Held at the counter
Only one A record and one www CNAME can point at Shopify. If your domain already has an A record or a www CNAME record, you need to change these records to point to Shopify. Leaving an old record in place sends visitors to the old host.
The CNAME needs the period at the end. Point the www CNAME to shops.myshopify.com. with the period at the end. Without it, some providers read the target as a name inside your own domain instead of Shopify.
It can take up to 48 hours. It might take up to 48 hours for your domain to be fully live. Do not re-point the records while you wait: changing them starts the wait again.
Sources
- Connect your third-party domain to Shopify manually — Shopify's help pages: the DNS record values, the one-record rule, the Connect existing domain steps, and the 48-hour wait.