What is a custom third-level domain?
A custom third-level domain is a unique branded name that identifies a website. For example, members.coworkingspace.com or residents.coworkingspace.com are custom domains for the coworking space app. For this, it's enough to create a subdomain using a domain you already own. Some common choices for the subdomain to use:
members
portal
community
residents
app
miembros
Set up a custom domain
Before setting up a custom third-level domain in your application, you must complete the setup on your domain registrar's side.
In your domain registrar account
Log in to your domain registrar account.
Open the DNS control panel.
Create a new record with the following data:
Type | CNAME |
Name | your subdomain, for example |
Value |
|
TTL | leave the default value |
Double-check the correctness of the data. Instructions for common registrars:
In your web app
After the setup is complete on the side of your domain registrar, please follow the steps below to configure it in your web app:
The owner needs to go to the (...) More > Network Settings page in the app.
You will be redirected to our marketing website > open the General page.
Enter your full custom third-level domain in the Web App section > Custom Domain field. For example,
members.coworkingspace.comorapp.coworkingspace.com.
Verify the setup
Once DNS records have been changed, they can take some to propagate, which means global DNS providers recognize they have been changed. Unlike nameserver changes, which can take up to 48 hours to propagate, the propagation of CNAME records is usually very quick.
A custom domain added to your web app will appear unverified until this process is complete and full propagation is achieved.
The owner of your app can check the propagation progress by clicking "Check the progress of propagation" under the "Custom Domain" field. The button redirects you to the DNS Checker website, where you can click "Search" and see if the propagation is complete.
Running your app on a custom domain is only available on specific plans.
Migrate the custom domain to a different hosting provider
If you are changing the hosting provider, you need to make the following changes to your currently configured custom domain to ensure having the same domain:
Go to the DNS panel of your new hosting provider and create a record for a custom domain on the new hosting site.
Delete the previously created DNS records on the old hosting site.
Change custom domain name
If you're changing your custom domain name, you need to follow the next steps:
Open the DNS panel of your hosting provider and create a new record for your new custom domain.
Delete an old record created for the old domain.
FAQ
Why my custom domain doesn't work?
Why my custom domain doesn't work?
Learn more about potential causes and according troubleshooting steps in our Troubleshoot issues with a custom domain configuration guide.