Set the root domain as the default domain on SSL hosting

Note: Using the root domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) as the default domain requires CNAME flattening. This process is different from connecting your custom domain using the Quick connect domain option or using the subdomain as the default (e.g. www.yoursite.com, blog.yoursite.com). CNAME flattening does not use A records.

If your DNS provider offers CNAME flattening, ALIAS or ANAME records, you can choose to redirect all traffic to your site to your root domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) on SSL hosting. 

The following DNS providers allow you to point root domains to a CNAME/ANAME /ALIAS record:

• Cloudflare
• DNSimple
• DNS Made Easy
• ClouDNS

You can also contact your DNS host to find if they offer CNAME flattening. 

Note: If your DNS provider doesn’t offer CNAME flattening, you can point your domain nameservers (NS records) to a third-party DNS provider like Cloudflare so you can manage your DNS records there. Learn more about connecting Cloudflare domains to Webflow.

In this lesson, you’ll learn: 

1. How to update your DNS records
2. How to set the default domain
3. How to verify the domain is pointing to Webflow
4. How to publish your site to your custom domain

How to update your DNS records

To update your DNS records, you’ll need to access your domain’s DNS settings in your domain registrar or DNS host’s dashboard. 

Every DNS provider has their own process for updating DNS records. We recommend that you read the help documentation of your DNS provider, and contact their support for help with their interface and settings if needed. ‍Check out this list of DNS providers and links to their documentation on updating DNS settings.

To configure your DNS records to use the root domain as the default: 

1. Open the DNS settings for your custom domain (in your domain registrar or DNS host’s dashboard) 
2. Remove any A records set on your root domain (i.e., A records with the hostname @ or yourdomain.com) if applicable
3. Create a CNAME or ANAME record with the hostname @ and the value proxy-ssl.webflow.com 
4. Create a CNAME record with the hostname www and the value proxy-ssl.webflow.com

Note: Some DNS providers prefer that you set the root domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) as the hostname instead of @. Additionally, some DNS providers prefer that you set the www subdomain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) as the hostname instead of www. We recommend that you check your DNS provider’s documentation. Check out this list of DNS providers and links to their documentation on updating DNS settings.

Important: If you’re setting up your DNS records with Cloudflare, be sure to set the proxy status of your DNS records to DNS Only. Webflow hosting is not compatible with the Cloudflare proxy, as the proxy may cause issues with SSL provisioning and renewal on your custom domain. Learn more about connecting Cloudflare domains to Webflow.

Note: If you run into any issues setting a CNAME or ANAME record on your root domain, make sure you’ve removed any A records from your root domain (e.g., A records with the hostname @ or yourdomain.com). Many DNS providers will prevent you from adding CNAME or ANAME records on the root domain if A records have already been set. 

How to set the default domain

To set the root domain as the default domain: 

1. Open Site settings > Publishing tab > Production
2. Click Make default next to the root domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) 

How to verify the domain is pointing to Webflow

To verify that your DNS settings are correct, and that your domain is correctly pointing to your Webflow site, click Check status under your domain name in Site settings > Publishing tab > Production.

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate in all geolocations as the DNS cache expires, although this typically occurs within a few hours. If your site verification doesn’t work right away, you can come back later to check the status again. 

If your DNS records are live and pointing to Webflow and you’re still experiencing issues with domain verification after 2 days, please contact Webflow’s customer support team.

How to publish your site to your custom domain

The final step to getting your site live on your custom domain is publishing the site. 

To publish your site from the Designer or Site settings: 

1. Click Publish to open the publish menu
2. Check the domain(s) to which you want to publish your site
3. Click Publish to selected domains

Important: If you add a new domain or subdomain to your site after you’ve already set a default domain, the new domain or subdomain won’t appear within the publish menu. To resolve this, go to Site settings > Publishing tab > Production and click Make default next to the default domain. Then, publish your site to the new domain or subdomain, and set the default domain again. 

‍Learn more about publishing your site.