Point a domain name to a website (A and CNAME records)

Pointing a domain means telling the internet which server hosts the website that matches that name. It is set in the domain's DNS zone, with two record types: A and CNAME. This guide is for you if you have just built a website, changed hosting provider, or want to connect your domain to a service such as an online store or a website builder.

Before you start

• Your domain must use Upkyo's name servers for the zone managed at Upkyo to take effect. Otherwise, make the same changes at the provider that manages its DNS.
• Get the target to enter: either an IP address (for example 192.0.2.10) or a host name (for example sites.example-service.com). For Upkyo hosting, it is shown in your service's page or given by support. For an external service, it is in their documentation.
• If your website is built with the Upkyo editor, follow Publish your website on your domain instead.

What is the difference between an A record and a CNAME?

• A: links a name directly to an IPv4 address. This is the type to use for the root domain (yourdomain.com, written @).
• AAAA: the same for an IPv6 address, if your host provides one.
• CNAME: makes one name an alias of another. The browser follows the alias to the target name, then to its IP address. It is mostly used for www or for a subdomain.

Important rule: a name that has a CNAME cannot have any other record. That is why you do not put a CNAME on the root domain, which already carries the MX and TXT records. The root gets an A record, www gets a CNAME.

Point your domain step by step

1. Open Domains and click your domain.
2. Open the DNS tab.
3. Look for existing A and CNAME records for @ and www. If they point to an old website, edit them rather than adding new ones.
4. Click Add a record and choose the A type.
5. In Name, enter @ (or leave it empty) for the root domain.
6. In Value, enter your server's IP address, then click Add.
7. Add a new CNAME record, with www in Name and your domain (for example yourdomain.com) in Value.
8. Check the result with Propagation, then open your website in a private window.

Point a subdomain

For shop.yourdomain.com or blog.yourdomain.com, enter only shop or blog in the Name field. Then choose:

• an A record if the service gives you an IP address;
• a CNAME if it gives you a host name.

Do not repeat the domain in the Name field: blog is enough, the zone adds the rest.

Turn on HTTPS once the domain is connected

When the domain points to your hosting, turn on the SSL certificate: it is free at Upkyo and shows the padlock in the browser, see Activate the free SSL certificate. The certificate can only be issued once DNS is in place, because the authority checks that the domain really leads to your server.

Common errors and how to fix them

• "Invalid value for an A record": you entered a domain name in an A record. Use a CNAME, or ask for the IP address.
• The site works without www but not with it (or the other way round): one of the two records is missing. Add the A for the root and the CNAME for www.
• Two A records for the same name: visitors land on the old site one time and the new one the next. Delete the old one.
• A CNAME on a name that already has another record: remove the duplicate, a CNAME must be alone on its name.
• The change is not visible yet: wait for the TTL to expire, see Why is my DNS change not visible yet?.
• Record marked Upkyo CDN: it goes through our network. Edit it with care, a mistake can take your website offline.

Frequently asked questions

How do I point my domain name to my hosting?

Add an A record for @ with your hosting's IP address, and a CNAME for www pointing to your domain. The standard website template does both in one click.

Should www be an A record or a CNAME?

Both work, but a CNAME to the main domain is simpler: if the IP address changes, you only update it in one place, on the root A record.

How long before my domain shows the new website?

Usually a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the old record's TTL. Set the TTL to 5 min before a move for a faster switch.

Does pointing my domain change my email?

No, as long as you only touch the website's A and CNAME records. Email depends on MX records, see MX record: what it does and how to change it.

Can I point my domain to a website hosted elsewhere?

Yes. Just enter the IP address or host name given by the other service. Upkyo also offers templates for common services such as Vercel, Netlify or GitHub Pages.