How to Connect a Custom Domain to Shopify

Connecting a custom domain to Shopify takes three steps: add the domain in your Shopify admin, update its DNS records (or transfer it in) at your domain registrar or directly through Shopify, and set it as your store's primary domain. Most stores are live on their own domain within an hour, though DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate everywhere. Below is the full walkthrough, including the most common places this trips people up.

Before You Start: What You Need

You do not need to be a developer to connect a domain to Shopify, but it helps to have a few things ready before you start: admin access to your Shopify store, access to the domain's registrar account (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.) if you already own the domain elsewhere, and about 15 minutes of uninterrupted time. If you have not bought a domain yet, you can also purchase one directly through Shopify, which skips the DNS-configuration steps entirely since Shopify manages the whole thing for you.

Option 1: Buy a Domain Directly Through Shopify

If you do not already own a domain, buying it through Shopify is the simplest path, because Shopify configures the DNS records automatically and there is nothing for you to copy or paste.

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Domains.
2. Click Buy new domain.
3. Search for the domain name you want and check availability.
4. Select the domain, choose the registration length, and complete checkout.
5. Shopify automatically connects and verifies the domain — no DNS work is required.

This route costs a bit more over time than buying from a discount registrar, but it removes almost every point of failure in this guide, since Shopify owns and manages the DNS zone directly.

Option 2: Connect a Domain You Already Own

Most merchants already own a domain, often bought years before they set up Shopify. In that case, you connect it by pointing its DNS records at Shopify rather than moving ownership anywhere.

Step 1: Add the domain in Shopify

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Domains.
2. Click Connect existing domain.
3. Type the domain exactly as you own it (e.g. yourstore.com, without www).
4. Click Next, then Verify connection once Shopify shows you the DNS values it needs.

Step 2: Update DNS records at your registrar

Log in to wherever you bought the domain and find its DNS management page — this is usually called DNS Settings, Zone Editor, or Advanced DNS. You will add two records: an A record pointing your root domain to Shopify's IP address, and a CNAME record pointing the www subdomain to shops.myshopify.com. Shopify displays the exact values to use on the same Domains screen, so copy them precisely rather than typing from memory — a mistyped IP address is the single most common reason a domain fails to connect.

• A record: Host/Name = @ (or blank, meaning the root domain), Value = the IP address Shopify shows you.
• CNAME record: Host/Name = www, Value = shops.myshopify.com.
• Delete or disable any existing A or CNAME records pointing to a different host, since conflicting records are a frequent cause of domains failing to verify.

Step 3: Wait for DNS propagation

DNS changes are not instant. Most registrars update within a couple of hours, but propagation across every DNS resolver worldwide can take up to 48 hours. Shopify will show the domain as pending until it detects the correct records, then automatically mark it as connected. Avoid deleting and re-adding the domain repeatedly during this window — it resets the verification clock without speeding anything up.

Setting Your Primary Domain

Once a domain shows as connected, it does not automatically become the address customers see in their browser. You need to explicitly set it as primary.

1. Go to Settings > Domains.
2. Find the domain you just connected and click the ⋯ menu next to it.
3. Select Set as primary domain.
4. Confirm — Shopify will now redirect your myshopify.com URL and any other connected domains to this one.

Setting a primary domain also affects SEO: Shopify automatically applies 301 redirects from your old myshopify.com address (and any secondary domains) to the primary one, so search engines consolidate ranking signals onto a single canonical URL instead of splitting them across duplicates.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

The domain will not verify

Double-check the A and CNAME values against what Shopify currently shows on the Domains page — these values can occasionally change, so do not reuse values you copied days earlier. Also confirm you removed old, conflicting DNS records; some registrars leave a placeholder A record pointing at a parking page by default, and Shopify cannot verify while that record is still active.

The site shows a security or SSL warning

Shopify automatically provisions and renews an SSL certificate for every connected domain, but this only happens after DNS has fully propagated and the domain shows as connected in the admin. If you see a certificate warning right after connecting a domain, it usually resolves itself within a few hours once propagation finishes — there is nothing extra to configure on your end.

Email stops working after connecting the domain

This is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes. If your domain is also used for business email (through Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or another provider), that email depends on its own MX records. When updating DNS for Shopify, only touch the A and CNAME records Shopify asks for — never delete or overwrite existing MX records, or your email will stop routing. If you are unsure which records are which, screenshot the full DNS record list before making any changes so you have something to revert to.

Choosing a Theme Before You Go Live

Connecting your domain is only one part of launching on your own address — it is worth finalizing your storefront design at the same time, since a domain switch is a natural moment to also go live with a new look. Browsing our Shopify themes catalog is a good way to compare purpose-built options rather than settling for a generic default theme once your custom domain goes live. Category-specific themes — for example, our Optics theme for eyewear retailers or our Groxery theme for grocery stores — are built around the product and layout needs of a specific niche, so switching to one alongside your domain change means your store looks fully custom from the very first visitor who sees it on the new address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a custom domain to work on Shopify?

Configuration in Shopify and at your registrar takes about 15 minutes. DNS propagation on top of that can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, depending on your registrar and the DNS resolvers your visitors' devices use.

Can I use a domain bought outside of Shopify?

Yes. Any domain bought through an external registrar can be connected by updating its DNS records to point at Shopify, as described above. You do not need to transfer ownership of the domain to Shopify to use it.

Do I need a separate SSL certificate?

No. Shopify automatically issues and renews a free SSL certificate for every domain connected to your store, so your site will show the padlock and load over https without any extra setup.

Will connecting a custom domain break my existing myshopify.com links?

No — Shopify automatically redirects your old myshopify.com URL to your new primary domain, so old links, bookmarks, and search-engine listings still resolve correctly.