Your domain is more than just a web address—it's the foundation of your brand's online identity. When customers type your URL, see it on a business card, or spot it in an ad, that domain name shapes their first impression of your business.
Getting your Shopify domain setup right from the start saves headaches later and positions your store for long-term success. This guide walks through everything you need to know about domains on Shopify, from choosing the right approach to advanced DNS configuration.
Understanding Your Domain Options on Shopify
Before diving into technical setup, you need to decide how you'll handle your domain. Shopify offers two primary paths, each with distinct advantages.
Option 1: Buy Your Domain Through Shopify
Purchasing your domain directly through Shopify offers the smoothest experience for new store owners.
Advantages of Shopify domains:
- Automatic DNS configuration—no technical setup required
- Free WHOIS privacy protection (hides your personal information from public domain lookups)
- Automatic SSL certificate provisioning and renewal
- Simplified renewal management through your Shopify admin
- Integrated support if something goes wrong
- Domain automatically connects to your store
Pricing considerations: Shopify domain prices vary by extension. A .com domain typically costs around $14-15/year, while specialty extensions like .store or .shop may cost more. Prices are competitive with major registrars, though not always the cheapest option available.
How to buy a domain through Shopify:
- Log into your Shopify admin
- Navigate to Settings → Domains
- Click "Buy new domain"
- Search for your desired domain name
- Review available options and pricing
- Complete purchase with your Shopify payment method
Your new domain connects automatically, usually within minutes.
Option 2: Connect an Existing Domain
If you already own a domain through a registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, Cloudflare, or others, you can connect it to your Shopify store.
Advantages of external domains:
- Often lower renewal rates (especially with promotional pricing)
- Centralized domain management if you own multiple properties
- More DNS control for complex configurations
- Keep your existing email setup intact
- No need to transfer if you're already established
Disadvantages to consider:
- Requires manual DNS configuration
- Must manage renewals separately
- Support involves two companies instead of one
- More steps in the initial setup process
Connecting an External Domain: Step-by-Step Guide
Connecting your own domain to Shopify involves configuring DNS records at your registrar. While this sounds technical, the process is straightforward once you understand the basics.
Understanding DNS Records
DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers use. For Shopify, you need to configure two types of records:
A Record: Points your root domain (yourdomain.com) to Shopify's servers
- Host: @ or blank
- Points to: 23.227.38.65 (Shopify's IP)
- TTL: 3600 or default
CNAME Record: Points your www subdomain to Shopify
- Host: www
- Points to: shops.myshopify.com
- TTL: 3600 or default
Step-by-Step Connection Process
Step 1: Add the domain in Shopify
- Go to Settings → Domains
- Click "Connect existing domain"
- Enter your domain name
- Click "Next"
Shopify will show you the DNS records you need to configure.
Step 2: Log into your domain registrar Access your domain management panel at your registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.).
Step 3: Find DNS settings Look for "DNS Management," "Name Servers," "DNS Records," or similar. The exact location varies by registrar.
Step 4: Update or add the A record
- Find existing A records for @ or root domain
- Update the IP address to 23.227.38.65
- Or add a new A record if none exists
Step 5: Add the CNAME record
- Create a new CNAME record
- Host/Name: www
- Value/Target: shops.myshopify.com
Step 6: Remove conflicting records Delete any other A records pointing to different IP addresses, and remove any AAAA records (IPv6) that might conflict.
Step 7: Wait for propagation DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate, though most complete within a few hours.
Step 8: Verify in Shopify Return to Settings → Domains and click "Verify connection." Shopify will confirm when your domain is properly connected.
Registrar-Specific Instructions
Different registrars have different interfaces. Here's guidance for popular options:
GoDaddy:
- Go to My Products → Domains
- Click DNS next to your domain
- Edit A record, change value to 23.227.38.65
- Add CNAME record for www pointing to shops.myshopify.com
Namecheap:
- Go to Domain List
- Click Manage next to your domain
- Select Advanced DNS tab
- Add/edit A Record: Host @, Value 23.227.38.65
- Add CNAME: Host www, Value shops.myshopify.com
Cloudflare:
- Select your domain
- Go to DNS section
- Add A record: Name @, IPv4 address 23.227.38.65
- Add CNAME: Name www, Target shops.myshopify.com
- Set both to DNS only (gray cloud) initially
Google Domains (now Squarespace):
- Go to DNS settings
- In Custom records section, add records
- Add A record with host @ pointing to 23.227.38.65
- Add CNAME with host www pointing to shops.myshopify.com
SSL Certificates and Security
Every Shopify store includes free SSL certificates, ensuring encrypted connections and the trusted padlock icon in browsers.
How SSL Works on Shopify
When you connect a domain (whether purchased through Shopify or externally), Shopify automatically:
- Provisions an SSL certificate for your domain
- Configures HTTPS for all pages
- Redirects HTTP traffic to HTTPS
- Renews certificates before expiration
This process usually completes within 24 hours of domain connection, though it can take up to 48 hours in some cases.
Troubleshooting SSL Issues
"Secure connection not available" errors:
- Wait 48 hours for full SSL provisioning
- Verify DNS records are correctly configured
- Check that no conflicting records exist
- Contact Shopify support if issues persist
Mixed content warnings:
- Occurs when some page elements load over HTTP
- Common with custom themes or third-party apps
- Update image URLs and scripts to use HTTPS
- Check theme code for hardcoded HTTP links
Setting Up Email with Your Domain
Shopify doesn't provide email hosting, but you have several options for professional domain email.
Option 1: Shopify Email Forwarding (Free)
Shopify offers free email forwarding, which redirects emails sent to your domain to another email address.
Setting up forwarding:
- Go to Settings → Domains
- Click on your domain
- Select "Manage email settings"
- Add forwarding addresses (e.g., info@yourdomain.com → you@gmail.com)
Limitations:
- You can't send emails from your domain address
- Recipients see replies coming from your personal email
- Less professional appearance
Option 2: Third-Party Email Hosting
For professional email that lets you send and receive from your domain, use a dedicated email provider:
Google Workspace ($6-18/user/month):
- Professional Gmail interface
- Includes Drive, Docs, Meet
- Easy setup with guided DNS configuration
- Best for teams using Google ecosystem
Microsoft 365 ($6-22/user/month):
- Outlook, Word, Excel included
- Strong enterprise features
- Familiar interface for Windows users
- Good for Microsoft-centric businesses
Zoho Mail (Free tier available):
- Affordable paid plans
- Clean interface
- Good for budget-conscious stores
- Adequate for small teams
Setting up third-party email:
-
Sign up for your chosen provider
-
Verify domain ownership
-
Add MX records to your DNS:
- Provider gives you specific MX record values
- Add these to your domain's DNS settings
- MX records route email to the correct servers
-
Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for deliverability
-
Create user accounts
-
Update email forwarding in Shopify if needed
Email DNS Records Explained
MX Records (Mail Exchange): Direct email to your mail provider's servers. You'll typically add 2-5 MX records with priority values.
SPF Record (Sender Policy Framework): A TXT record that tells receiving servers which IPs can send email for your domain. Improves deliverability and prevents spoofing.
DKIM Record (DomainKeys Identified Mail): A TXT record containing cryptographic keys that verify emails actually came from your domain.
DMARC Record (Domain-based Message Authentication): A TXT record that tells receiving servers what to do with emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks.
Building Brand Consistency Across Your Domain
Your domain is the anchor of your brand's digital presence. Consistency across touchpoints builds recognition and trust.
Choosing the Right Domain Name
Keep it simple:
- Short and memorable
- Easy to spell and pronounce
- Avoid hyphens and numbers
- Consider how it sounds when spoken aloud
Match your brand:
- Use your exact brand name if available
- Secure common misspellings as redirects
- Consider .com first, then alternatives
- Check social media handle availability simultaneously
Domain extensions to consider:
- .com: Universal recognition, highest trust
- .co: Modern alternative, good availability
- .store: Signals e-commerce purpose
- .shop: Another e-commerce option
- Country extensions (.ca, .co.uk): Good for local businesses
Protecting Your Brand with Multiple Domains
Consider purchasing variations of your primary domain to protect your brand:
Common variations to secure:
- Different extensions (.com, .net, .co)
- Common misspellings
- Plural/singular versions
- Hyphenated versions (to prevent others from buying them)
Setting up redirects: Point all secondary domains to your primary domain in Shopify:
- Connect additional domains through Settings → Domains
- Set them to redirect to your primary domain
- Choose your primary domain for SEO purposes
Subdomain Strategy
Subdomains can organize different aspects of your business:
Common subdomain uses:
- blog.yourdomain.com (though root domain is often better for SEO)
- wholesale.yourdomain.com for B2B portal
- help.yourdomain.com for customer support
- staging.yourdomain.com for development
Creating subdomains for Shopify:
- Add a CNAME record at your registrar
- Host: your subdomain (e.g., "wholesale")
- Value: shops.myshopify.com
- Connect subdomain in Shopify admin
International Domains and Multi-Region Stores
If you sell internationally, domain strategy becomes more complex.
Options for International Presence
Single global domain:
- yourdomain.com serves all markets
- Use Shopify Markets for currency/language switching
- Simplest approach, easiest to maintain
- Good for stores just starting international sales
Country-code domains:
- yourdomain.ca for Canada
- yourdomain.co.uk for United Kingdom
- Stronger local trust signals
- More complex to manage
- Requires additional domain purchases
Subdomain approach:
- ca.yourdomain.com for Canada
- uk.yourdomain.com for UK
- Middle ground between simplicity and localization
- All subdomains managed under one domain
Subfolder approach:
- yourdomain.com/en-ca/ for Canada
- yourdomain.com/en-gb/ for UK
- Best for SEO consolidation
- Shopify Markets supports this natively
Hreflang Tags
When operating in multiple regions or languages, hreflang tags tell search engines which version to show users:
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-us" href="https://yourdomain.com/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-ca" href="https://yourdomain.com/en-ca/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr-ca" href="https://yourdomain.com/fr-ca/" />
Shopify Markets handles this automatically for most configurations.
Common Domain Issues and Troubleshooting
"Domain Not Connected" Errors
Check these common causes:
- DNS records not yet propagated (wait 48 hours)
- Incorrect IP address in A record
- CNAME pointing to wrong target
- Conflicting records (multiple A records)
- Using proxy/CDN that interferes (Cloudflare proxy enabled)
Resolution steps:
- Verify exact record values in Shopify admin
- Remove any conflicting or duplicate records
- If using Cloudflare, disable proxy (orange cloud → gray)
- Clear DNS cache and check again
- Contact registrar support if uncertain
SSL Certificate Not Provisioning
Common causes:
- DNS not fully propagated
- CAA records blocking Shopify's certificate authority
- Recent domain transfer still processing
Fix:
- Wait 48 hours after DNS changes
- Check for CAA records and remove them or add Shopify's CA
- Verify domain status in Shopify admin
- Contact Shopify support with domain details
Email Delivery Problems
Symptoms:
- Emails going to spam
- Emails not arriving at all
- Replies bouncing
Solutions:
- Verify MX records are correctly configured
- Add/fix SPF record
- Configure DKIM signing
- Set up DMARC policy
- Check sending reputation with mail-tester.com
Best Practices for Long-Term Domain Management
Domain Renewal Strategy
Never let your domain expire:
- Enable auto-renewal at your registrar
- Keep payment information current
- Set calendar reminders 30 and 7 days before expiration
- Register for multiple years for important domains
Why this matters: Expired domains can be purchased by others within days, potentially hijacking your entire brand presence.
Security Best Practices
Enable domain lock: Prevents unauthorized transfers. Available in most registrar dashboards.
Use registrar two-factor authentication: Adds security to prevent unauthorized access.
Consider domain privacy: Hide your personal information from WHOIS lookups. Free with Shopify domains, usually a few dollars per year elsewhere.
Monitor domain status: Set up alerts for DNS changes or expiration warnings.
Documentation
Keep records of:
- Domain registrar login credentials
- DNS record configurations
- Email provider settings
- SSL certificate details
- Renewal dates for all domains
Store this information securely but accessibly for business continuity.
Setting Up Your Store for Success
Getting your domain right is the first step in building a professional Shopify store. A properly configured domain creates trust, enables professional email, and establishes the foundation for your brand's online presence.
Quick-Start Checklist
Domain setup:
- Choose domain approach (buy through Shopify or connect external)
- Purchase or configure DNS for primary domain
- Wait for SSL certificate provisioning
- Test that all pages load correctly
Email configuration:
- Set up email forwarding or third-party email
- Configure MX records if using external email
- Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
- Test email sending and receiving
Brand protection:
- Consider purchasing additional domain variations
- Set up redirects from secondary domains
- Verify primary domain is set correctly in Shopify
Security:
- Enable domain auto-renewal
- Activate domain lock
- Enable two-factor authentication at registrar
- Document all settings securely
Next Steps After Domain Setup
Once your domain is configured:
- Complete store setup: Add products, configure payments, set up shipping
- Install essential apps: Email marketing, reviews, analytics
- Create content: About page, policies, product descriptions
- Test thoroughly: Place test orders, check email delivery, verify SSL
- Launch marketing: Announce your store, start driving traffic
Your domain is now ready to serve as the professional foundation for your e-commerce business. Take the time to get it right, and you'll avoid complications that could affect your brand's credibility and your store's functionality for years to come.
Building your first Shopify store? Start with a solid foundation—your domain and branding setup matters more than you might think.