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Set up a custom domain

Let's host your website on a custom domain.

By adding a custom domain, you can make your public pages accessible at your own, non-Motif domain name, say yourdomain.com.

galliform-cyan.motif.motif.land/posts/my-first-post
yourdomain.com/posts/my-first-post

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to set it up.

Step 1: Buy a domain name

If you don't own a domain, you can buy one via a domain registrar. Here are a few options:

Step 2: Register your domain on Motif

Once you own the domain, head over to the project settings (for instance using the shortcut), and open the Pages tab. Select Add custom domain and enter your domain name.

Step 3: Update your registrar settings

Head over to your registrar, select your domain, and navigate to the associated DNS settings. The following instructions will vary depending on whether you are settings up a domain, such as yourdomain.com, or a subdomain, such as blog.yourdomain.com.

Option 1: Domain configuration

For a bare domain without a subdomain, such as yourdomain.com, you will need to configure an A record.

  • In your domain's DNS settings, add an A record. Depending on your registrar, leave the host field empty or enter @. Note that if you already have an A record with an empty or @ host, you will first need to remove it.
  • Point the record to the following IP address: 76.76.21.21.
  • Save the settings. It may take a few hours for the setting to propagate across the Internet.

If you assign a bare domain to your site, Motif will automatically add a www subdomain for the domain as well, so that your site will be available at both yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com.

Option 2: Subomain configuration

If you are configuring a subdomain, such as blog.yourdomain.com, you will need to configure a CNAME record.

  • In your domain's DNS settings, add a CNAME record, and set your subdomain, e.g. blog, as the host.
  • Point the record to cname.vercel-dns.com.
  • Save the settings. It may take a few hours for the setting to propagate across the Internet.

Step 4: Ensure you have a public page with an empty path

For your pages to be accessible at your custom domain, make sure they are public, which is done via the Share button.

Furthermore, if you want a page to be accessible at the root of your domain (i.e. without a path, e.g. yourdomain.com or blog.yourdomain.com), make sure that there is a page named Index at the root of your pages.

Step 5: Wait for the settings to propagate

Updates to the DNS records can take several hours to propagate, depending on your registrar. They can also partially be propagated to some geographical regions of the Internet before being propagated globally. If after 24 hours the settings have not yet propagated, please reach out to us at support@motif.land.

Congratulations! You've completed the steps from a blank page to a live website! Make sure to read the additional guides in this documentation to leverage the full potential of Motif.