So, you’ve got your Shopify store up and running, but you bought your domain name from somewhere else, like Namecheap. No worries, connecting them is pretty straightforward. This guide will walk you through exactly how to link your Namecheap domain to your Shopify site, making your online store look professional and official.
Connecting Your Domain: The Big Picture
Getting your domain name from a place like Namecheap to work with your Shopify store involves a few simple steps. You’ll be making changes in both your Namecheap account and your Shopify admin. It’s mostly about telling each service where the other one is, so everything points to your online shop correctly.
Key Takeaways
- Access Settings: Start in your Shopify admin under Settings, then Domains.
- Third-Party Connection: Choose to connect an existing domain from a third-party provider.
- Namecheap Steps: Log into your Namecheap account and go to your domain’s DNS settings.
- Add Records: You’ll need to add or edit two specific DNS records: a CNAME record and an A record.
- CNAME Record: Host should be
www, and the target isshops.myshopify.com. - A Record: Host should be
@(for your root domain), and the IP address is23.227.38.65. - Save and Verify: Save your changes in Namecheap and then go back to Shopify to verify the connection.
- Set as Primary: Once verified, make your new domain the primary one for your store.
Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Your Domain
First things first, you need to get into your Shopify admin. Head over to Settings, and then click on Domains. From there, you’ll see an option to Connect existing domain. Click on that.
Shopify will then ask you to type in the domain name you want to connect. So, put in your Namecheap domain name and hit Next.
Because your domain isn’t bought directly through Shopify, you’ll see instructions for connecting a third-party domain. This is where we need to go over to Namecheap.
Making Changes in Namecheap
Now, log in to your Namecheap account. Find your domain list and select the domain you want to connect to Shopify. Click on Manage for that domain.
Next, you’ll want to find the Advanced DNS section. This is where you’ll be adding or changing some records. You might already have some records listed here, but we’re going to focus on two specific ones: a CNAME record and an A record.
Editing the CNAME Record
Look for a CNAME record. If you already have one for www, you can just edit it. If not, you’ll need to add a new one.
- Host: Set this to
www. - Target: Enter
shops.myshopify.com. - TTL: You can usually leave this on Automatic.
Save your changes. This tells the internet that when someone types www.yourdomain.com, they should be directed to Shopify’s servers.
Adding the A Record
Now, you need to add an A record. Again, if you have an existing A record for your root domain, you can edit that one. Otherwise, add a new one:
- Host: Use the
@symbol. This symbol represents your root domain (likeyourdomain.comwithout thewww). - Value/IP Address: Enter Shopify’s IP address, which is
23.227.38.65. - TTL: Keep this on Automatic.
Save this record as well. This step ensures that if someone types just your domain name without www, they also get sent to your Shopify store.
Once you’ve made these changes in Namecheap, you can usually see them reflected pretty quickly if you refresh the DNS page. That’s it for Namecheap!
Verifying the Connection in Shopify
Head back over to your Shopify admin page where you left off. Click on Verify connection. Sometimes, it can take a little while for these changes to update across the internet, but often it’s pretty fast.
If it verifies successfully, you’ll see a confirmation. Now, you just need to tell Shopify which domain you want people to see when they visit your store. Click on the domain you just connected, and then select Set as primary.
And that’s it! Your Namecheap domain is now connected to your Shopify store and set as the main domain. Your online shop should now be accessible through your custom domain name.