# Free addresses and custom domains

Copy your site address, change its free label or connect a subdomain through the DNS instructions shown in the studio.

Canonical: https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/sites/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](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/sites/review-and-publish/). 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](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/sites/review-and-publish/)
- [Edit pages](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/sites/edit-pages/)
- [Sites overview](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/sites/overview/)