Free addresses and custom domains

Before you start

Open a site and choose Domain. You need edit access to change addresses. To connect your own domain, you also need access to its provider's DNS settings. If Sites is missing from the menu, it isn't enabled for your workspace yet.

Connecting a domain does not replace publishing. A private site is not public just because an address is configured.

Use or change the free address

1. In Domain, find Free address. The displayed address is the site's label plus its platform domain.
2. Use Copy to copy it or Open site to open it.
3. To change the label, choose Change, enter 3–40 lowercase letters, numbers or hyphens and Save.
4. If This address is taken appears, choose another label. Privacy-policy site addresses are protected from this change.

Check any links you already shared after changing an address; do not assume an old address will redirect.

Connect your own domain

1. Under Your own domain, choose Connect your own domain.
2. Enter Domain name, such as www.example.com, and confirm. Use www or another subdomain; redirect the root domain at your domain provider rather than entering it here.
3. The studio displays the provider and a CNAME name and target. Copy those exact values; do not substitute a generic DNS target from an example.
4. Open DNS settings at your provider and add the displayed CNAME record.
5. Save the record at the provider, return to the studio and choose Check.
6. Follow the status: Waiting for DNS record, then possibly Waiting for security certificate (SSL), and Active when ready. No fixed connection time is guaranteed.
7. Once active, enable Primary address if this should be the main visitor address.
8. Open the published site at that address and check the pages you intend to share.

Remove a domain

Choose Remove next to the custom domain and confirm Remove this domain?. Review links and ads using that hostname before removal. Removing a connection in the studio is not a domain-registration cancellation at your provider.

If something goes wrong

Symptom	Recovery
Invalid hostname	Enter only the valid hostname requested by Domain name, not a page path.
Waiting for DNS	Compare the provider's record name and target with the exact CNAME values shown, then Check again.
Waiting for SSL	DNS connection is not the same as a ready certificate. Wait and check the displayed status again.
Connection error	Read any detailed domain error, correct the provider's configuration and retry Check.
No primary-address switch	It is available for active custom domains, not pending ones.
Address opens no public page	Check publication and Access, not just DNS.

Related pages

• Review and publish
• Edit pages
• Sites overview