--- title: "Domain name: connect a custom domain" description: "Attach a custom domain to your Vivlab site, essential to be indexed by Google and to strengthen the credibility of your store." url: https://docs.vivlab.com/en/sections/domains --- # Domain name A **domain name** is the address people type to reach your site, such as `your-shop.com`. This page lists all the addresses connected to your Vivlab site: your temporary vivlabsite.com address and any custom domains you added. A custom domain is needed for your Vivlab site to be [indexed by Google](https://docs.vivlab.com/en/sections/seo.md) and helps customers recognize and trust your store. **Connecting** a domain keeps it with its current provider. **Transferring** it moves its management and renewal to Vivlab. In the DNS steps below, the **name** identifies the address concerned and the **value** says where it should point. Copy both exactly as shown. Come here when you want to buy a domain name directly from the platform, transfer a domain you already own, connect a domain hosted at an external provider (IONOS, OVH, GoDaddy…), change the prefix of your temporary vivlabsite.com address, or view the DNS configuration of a domain already added. ## Your domain names This section lists all domains associated with your site in a table. Each row represents a domain and shows its address, type, default status, and validation state. The **Type** column indicates whether the address is your temporary domain (Temporary), a custom domain you added manually (Custom) or a domain managed by the platform (Managed). The **Main** column flags with the **Main** badge the domain all others redirect to and that is used for indexing. The **Status** column shows **Valid** when the DNS configuration is correct, along with the **Secured** badge once HTTPS is operational, or **Invalid** when a DNS record still needs fixing. For a domain bought or transferred from the platform, it follows the progress: **Payment pending** until the payment clears, **Registration in progress** while the name is reserved with the registry, **Transfer in progress** then **Transfer failed** if the transfer didn't go through, and **Expired** once the domain is past its expiry date. Click a row to open the management page for that domain. ## Add a domain name Click **Add a domain name** to get started. The **How would you like to add a domain?** window offers three options: - **Connect an existing domain**: you already own a domain at an external provider and want to point it to your site. - **Buy a new domain**: you buy a domain directly from the platform, with nothing to configure. - **Transfer an existing domain**: you move the full management of a domain you already own, renewal included. Pick the option that matches your situation, then click **Continue**. Whichever method you choose, the rest happens in three steps shown at the top of the window, which you move through with **Next** and **Back**. ## Connect an existing domain This path attaches to your site a domain you keep managing at your provider. The domain is created on the platform from the first step; the next two walk you through the DNS configuration to do at that provider. 1. **Domain**: enter your domain in the **Domain name** field, without `www` or `https://`. Availability is checked as you type: a message confirms that **The domain name is available**, or flags that it is already attached to another site or misspelled. If you already own a custom domain, the **Default domain name** checkbox makes this one the main domain; for your very first domain it doesn't appear, the domain becomes the main one automatically. Click **Add a domain name**. 2. **DNS**: the **DNS configuration of the domain name** table lists the records to create and the ones to remove at your provider, with a **To add**, **Added** or **To delete** status refreshed every 5 seconds. Copy these values into your provider's DNS zone with the help of the [detailed guide](#guide-to-connect-your-domain-name), then click **Next**. 3. **Verification**: the platform watches the propagation and shows how many records have already been verified. The message **Your domain name is connected.** appears once everything is in place. You can close the window at any time without losing anything: the domain is already attached to your site, and the progress of its verification stays visible from its row in the table. ## Buy a domain name Choose **Buy a new domain** to register a domain without leaving the platform. Registration, DNS and the SSL certificate are handled end to end. 1. **Search**: enter the name you want in the **Search for a domain to buy** field, with or without an extension, then click **Search**. If you specified an extension, the exact domain appears first with the **Available** badge and its yearly price, or **Unavailable** if it is already taken. The **Other available domains** list then suggests close names, each with its price. Click the one you want to reserve, then click **Next**. 2. **Contact**: fill in the **Owner** contact details, the official holder of the domain as it will be recorded with the registry. Registries require this information for any domain registration. The owner acts by default as the administrative, technical and billing contact; tick **Use different details per contact** if you want to name different people. 3. **Confirmation**: pick the **Registration length**, from 1 to 10 years; paying for several years upfront pushes back the renewal date, and the displayed amount is recalculated for the chosen length. The **Payment methods** card shows the card saved on your account, the one charged today and then every year for the renewal; the **Update** button lets you change or add one without leaving the purchase, and the order cannot be confirmed without a saved payment method. Tick **I confirm my order and accept the non-refund conditions.**, then click **Buy the domain**: the charge is immediate. If your bank requires a confirmation, a **Pay** button appears to complete the payment, and **Pay with another card** lets you use a different card. The payment covers the chosen registration length, at the displayed yearly price multiplied by the number of years. Don't close the window during that step. Once the payment clears, the domain is registered within the next few minutes, its DNS configuration is applied automatically and the SSL certificate is generated right after: there is nothing to configure. An invoice is added to your [invoices](https://docs.vivlab.com/en/sections/account-billing.md) and a confirmation email is sent as soon as the domain is active. The domain is then **renewed automatically**: an email warns you about 90 days before expiry, with the renewal date and amount, then the renewal is charged about 60 days before, at the price in force at that time, to the payment method used for the purchase. If the charge fails, it is retried every 3 days and you are notified by email, then reminded before the domain is permanently lost: update your payment method from [**My account**](https://docs.vivlab.com/en/sections/account.md) to fix it. ::: info Promotional prices until 31 August 2026 The promotional period for buying, transferring and renewing domain names ran until 31 August 2026. This date has passed. The prices displayed at the time of the operation are the ones you are charged. ::: ## Transfer a domain name Choose **Transfer an existing domain** to hand the full management of a domain bought elsewhere over to the platform: renewal, DNS and SSL certificate are then handled just like a domain bought directly. Before starting the transfer, prepare two things with your current provider: **unlock the domain** (the transfer lock option must be disabled) and get the **authorization code (auth code)**, sometimes called EPP code. 1. **Search**: enter the full domain in the **Domain name to transfer** field, then click **Search**. The **Transferable** badge confirms the operation is possible and shows the amount to pay, with one year of renewal included: the transfer adds one year to your domain's expiry date and you keep the remaining time already paid with your current provider, the current expiry and next renewal dates are displayed. **Not transferable** means the domain can't be moved, for example because it was registered or transferred less than 60 days ago. If the domain appears locked, a warning asks you to unlock it with your provider then search again. 2. **Contact**: enter the **Authorization code (auth code)** obtained from your current provider. The **Check the code** button validates it before any payment and saves you from a refused transfer. Some extensions don't use an authorization code, the platform tells you so and lets you carry on; for a `.uk` domain, ask your provider to change the domain's IPS tag to "GANDI". Then fill in the **Owner** contact details, and tick **Use different details per contact** if the administrative, technical and billing contacts aren't the same person. 3. **Confirmation**: the amount, which includes one year of renewal, is recapped along with the domain and the **Payment methods** card, the card charged today and then every year for the renewal; the **Update** button lets you change or add one, and the order cannot be confirmed without a saved payment method. Tick **I confirm my order and accept the non-refund conditions.**, then click **Transfer the domain**: the charge is immediate. If your bank requires a confirmation, a **Pay** button appears to complete the payment, and **Pay with another card** lets you use a different card. The transfer usually takes up to 5 days, the time for the registries to approve it. During that window the domain appears in the table with the **Transfer in progress** state and your site stays reachable at its current address. Its management page details the progress step by step (Payment, Initialization, Whois, Authorization code, Confirmation email, Transfer approval, Completion), with the deadline for your current provider to reply. You receive an email as soon as the transfer completes, or if it fails. You can also transfer a domain already connected to your site: open its management page then click **Transfer this domain**, also available in the actions menu of its row. Your site stays online for the whole operation, your current settings (including the default domain) are kept, and your existing DNS records (MX email, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, subdomains) are captured when the transfer starts then restored automatically once it completes. ::: info Promotional prices until 31 August 2026 The promotional period for buying, transferring and renewing domain names ran until 31 August 2026. This date has passed. The prices displayed at the time of the operation are the ones you are charged. ::: ::: warning Transfer refused A domain registered or transferred less than 60 days ago cannot be transferred: it's a registry rule. An expired authorization code or a domain left locked also make the transfer fail. The domain then switches to the **Transfer failed** state: fix the blocking point with your provider, then restart the transfer from the domain's page with **Restart the transfer**, at no extra charge. ::: ::: tip Do you sell online? Once your custom domain is connected and set as the main one, register it with Stripe from [**Payment**](https://docs.vivlab.com/en/sections/payments-settings.md) to display Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Link and PayPal on your checkout page. ::: ## Manage a domain name Click a custom domain's row to open its management page. For a domain connected at an external provider, it has two tabs: - **Overview**: the connection status (**Valid** or **Invalid**) and the HTTPS security state, the **Set as default** button to designate this domain as the main domain — all other domains will redirect their traffic to it — and the **Delete** action to permanently detach this domain from your site. It stays unavailable on the main domain as long as another domain is attached: set that other one as default first. - **DNS records**: the **DNS configuration of your domain name host** table, which lists in real time the records to add or remove at your DNS provider. Each row shows the action to take (**To add** or **To delete**), the record type, the name, and the value. The table refreshes every 5 seconds. For a domain bought or transferred via the platform, the management page is complete, with five tabs: - **Overview**: the domain's dates as recorded by the registry (**Created on**, **Updated on**, **Expires on**) and its configuration — default domain, nameservers, DNS records, transfer lock, contacts — each with a **Configure** button to the matching tab. - **DNS records**: the list of the domain's DNS records, which you can create, edit or delete, for example to connect a mailbox to your domain. - **Contacts**: the details sent to the registry (owner, administrative, technical and billing contacts), editable at any time. A valid email address is required to keep the domain. - **Nameservers**: the domain's nameservers. They point to the platform's DNS service by default; if you replace them, the DNS records managed here no longer apply. - **Transfer**: the **Lock the transfer** switch, which prevents your domain from moving to another provider without your consent. Only disable it while transferring your domain elsewhere. Some extensions don't offer this lock. If the owner's email address has not been validated yet, a warning shows at the top of the page: open the email sent to the owner and follow the validation link, or click **Resend the email**. Without validation, the registry can suspend the domain. If a transfer failed, the page shows the **Restart the transfer** section: enter a new authorization code, then click **Restart the transfer**. The transfer starts again at no extra charge. ::: warning Irreversible deletion Deleting a domain removes it from your Vivlab account. Your site will no longer be reachable at that address. You can add it back later if it is still available. For a domain bought via the platform, deleting it also stops the renewal billing; the domain stays registered in your name until its expiry date. ::: ## Edit your temporary domain name Your temporary vivlabsite.com address appears in the table with the type **Temporary**. It is always valid and secured. Click its row to change the prefix: enter a prefix of at least 4 alphanumeric characters (hyphens allowed) to get an address in the form `your-choice.vivlabsite.com`, then save. This address remains useful even after your permanent domain goes live, to test changes before publishing or share a private preview. ## Guide to connect your domain name Even though the configuration may seem technical, connecting an external domain to your site boils down to four steps. 1. **Buy a domain name** from the provider of your choice (IONOS, OVH, GoDaddy…). You can also [buy your domain directly from the platform](#buy-a-domain-name): in that case every following step is automatic and this guide doesn't apply. ::: info What to take in the provider's offer Most providers offer **bundled deals** combining the domain name with a mailbox and web hosting. Only the **domain name** is required to use it with Vivlab. If you want an email address at your domain (e.g. `contact@your-domain.com`), you can add the email option offered by your provider. **Web hosting, however, isn't needed**: Vivlab already hosts your site, pages, media and payments, subscribing to third-party hosting is useless and may even conflict with the DNS configuration described below. ::: 2. **Add your domain on the platform** by clicking **Add a domain name**, choosing **Connect an existing domain**, then following the [three steps of that path](#connect-an-existing-domain). 3. **Configure DNS settings** in your provider's management area by pointing your domain to Vivlab's IP address. As long as the DNS records aren't correct, your site stays unreachable at your address. 4. **Verification and security**: Vivlab automatically generates an SSL certificate (HTTPS) once the configuration is complete. Allow 10 to 15 minutes typically, up to 48 hours in some cases for the DNS propagation to take effect across the internet. You'll receive an email as soon as the domain is secured. ### DNS records to configure Once your domain is added, click its row in the table to see the exact list of records to create, edit or remove in your provider's DNS zone. Each entry shows a **To add**, **Added** or **To delete** status updated every 5 seconds. Three operations are required to link your domain to your site: - Add a type `A` record, with name `@` and value `15.188.109.135`. It points `your-domain.com` (without `www`) to Vivlab's servers. - Add a type `CNAME` record, with name `www` and value `your-domain.com`. It forwards `www.your-domain.com` to the main domain, which itself points to Vivlab's servers. - Remove any existing type `AAAA` record on `@` and `www`. These pre-existing IPv6 entries conflict with Vivlab's setup and prevent your site from loading correctly. Recap to compare against your provider's current configuration: | Action | Type | Name | Value | | ------ | ------- | ----- | ----------------- | | Add | `A` | `@` | `15.188.109.135` | | Add | `CNAME` | `www` | `your-domain.com` | | Remove | `AAAA` | `@` | Any value | | Remove | `AAAA` | `www` | Any value | ::: warning Propagation delay Once the records are updated at your provider, allow **10 to 15 minutes typically, and up to 48 hours** before the changes take effect across the internet. During that window your site may stay unreachable or show the old configuration: this is normal, don't redo the records. ::: The IP address `15.188.109.135` is the same for every Vivlab site: it's the value to enter in your provider's DNS zone, whichever one it is. If the procedure feels unclear, your provider's support team can walk you through writing the records from these values. ::: info Automatic SSL certificate As soon as your DNS is operational, Vivlab **automatically generates an SSL certificate** to serve your site over HTTPS, essential to secure browsing and enable online payments. **Renewal** is also handled automatically before each expiry: you never have to touch the certificate. ::: ### If your site doesn't load after 48 hours DNS propagation can take time, but beyond 48 hours your domain should be operational. Check in your provider's DNS zone that the `A` record on `@` points to `15.188.109.135`, that the `CNAME` record on `www` points to your domain, and that no leftover `AAAA` record remains. If everything looks correct, contact Vivlab support so the configuration can be audited.