Connect a custom domain
Point your own web address, like yourbrand.com, at your store – either by adding DNS records yourself or by letting YNS manage DNS for you.
A custom domain is your own web address – something like yourbrand.com – instead of the free .yns.store one. Connecting it makes your store look more professional and helps customers remember and trust you.
Why use a custom domain
- It's more memorable and on-brand than a free address.
- It builds trust with customers.
- It's yours to keep, even as your store grows.
- It looks consistent across your store, emails, and social profiles.
Two ways to connect a domain you own
You can keep using the free .yns.store address, buy a new domain through YNS, or connect a domain you already own. This guide is about the last one. A domain you bought elsewhere can be connected in two ways:
| You manage DNS | YNS manages DNS | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Add a few DNS records at your domain provider | Change your nameservers once at your registrar |
| Who looks after the records | You, at your provider | YNS, on Cloudflare |
| Your other records (email, subdomains) | Stay at your provider, untouched | Copied to YNS during the move |
| Who can fix DNS problems | You and your domain provider | YNS support |
| Best for | Domains that also run email or other sites you manage yourself | Domains used mostly for your store, or if you'd rather not touch DNS |
Note: A couple of helpful terms. A registrar (or domain provider) is the company you bought your domain from. DNS records are small settings stored with your domain that tell the internet where your website lives – think of them as the address book of the internet. Nameservers decide which company's address book the internet reads for your domain.
Path 1: You manage DNS at your provider
You keep DNS at the company where you manage your domain – for example OVH, cyber_Folks, GoDaddy or Namecheap – and add the records YNS gives you there.
Important: YNS support can't sign in to your domain provider or change settings there. If adding the records doesn't work, your domain provider's support is the one who can help. We're happy to tell you exactly which records to ask them for and what values they should have, but the change itself has to be made on their side – by you or by them.
You'll need:
- A domain you've bought – for example
yourbrand.com. - Your login for the domain provider – the account where you manage that domain.
- A few minutes now, plus a little patience – the final connection can take some time to take effect.
Caution: Before you edit anything, make sure you know what A, AAAA and CNAME records do – Cloudflare's guide to DNS records is a good short read. Deleting or changing the wrong record can disconnect your domain from your store, or break other things on it like email. If you're not sure, ask your domain provider before you change anything.
How to connect your domain
- Enter your domain – in your dashboard, open Settings → Domains and add the domain you own.
- Note the records you're given – YNS shows you a few DNS records that point your domain at your store.
- Add them at your domain provider – log in to the company where you manage your domain and copy the records into its DNS settings. Their help pages usually have step-by-step instructions for adding DNS records.
- Wait for verification – once the records are in place, YNS checks them and connects your domain automatically.
Caution: Copy the records exactly as shown – a single wrong or missing character means the connection won't verify. Copy and paste rather than typing them by hand, and don't add extra spaces.
Where DNS records live
In this path the records always go in at your domain provider, not in YNS. YNS shows you what to add and then checks for it, but only you can sign in to your registrar to enter the records.
Most providers have a section called something like "DNS", "DNS settings", or "Manage DNS". If you can't find it, search your provider's name plus "add DNS record", or check their support pages.
If your domain isn't connecting
Most connection problems come down to the records, so it's worth a careful check:
- Double-check the records. Compare what's at your provider against what YNS shows, character by character. Mismatches are the most common cause.
- Give it time. DNS changes can take up to a day to spread. If everything looks right, wait and check back later.
- Make sure you saved at your provider. Some providers need you to confirm or publish changes before they take effect.
- Watch for duplicate records. An old, conflicting record left over from a previous setup can block the new one.
Still stuck? Contact your domain provider's support. If you'd like, reach us first through Get help and support – we'll tell you what to pass on to them.
Path 2: YNS manages DNS for you
YNS hosts your domain's DNS on Cloudflare, sets up every record your store needs and keeps them up to date. Look for Move your domain to YNS in Settings → Domains.
Two things to know before you choose this path:
- Your only job is to change nameservers. You do that once, at the registrar where you bought the domain. We can't do it for you, because only you can sign in there.
- Records left at your old provider stop working. Once the nameservers point to YNS, nobody reads your old provider's DNS any more. YNS copies your existing records during the move – anything you don't bring across, like email records, stops working.
The full walkthrough is in Let YNS manage your DNS.
Note: Managed DNS is being rolled out gradually, so not every store sees it yet.
Secure https is automatic
Whichever path you choose, secure https is set up for you automatically once your domain is verified – no extra steps needed. Customers will see the padlock in their browser and can shop with confidence.
Certificate setup is also monitored on an ongoing basis, so if it doesn't complete right away – for example because your domain was still finishing verification at that exact moment – it's detected and repaired automatically, no need to reconnect anything yourself.
Note: Changes at your domain provider or registrar can take some time to spread across the internet – sometimes up to a day. If your domain isn't connected right away, give it a little time and check back.
Tip: Do it with AI – the AI Assistant in your dashboard can walk you through the steps and answer questions like "what do I do at my domain provider?". It can't sign in to your registrar for you, though.
FAQ
Do I buy my domain through YNS?
You can do either: buy a new domain through YNS, or connect one you already bought elsewhere. This guide covers connecting a domain you already own.
Does YNS change settings at my domain provider?
No. In path 1 you add the records yourself at your provider. In path 2 you change the nameservers yourself at your registrar, and from then on YNS manages the records on its own DNS – it still never signs in to your provider.
Can YNS support fix my DNS records?
In path 1, no – the records live at your provider, and only you or their support can change them. We can tell you exactly what to ask for. In path 2, yes – the records live with us, so contact us and we'll add or change them.
How long does it take to connect?
Often quickly, but DNS changes can take up to a day to spread across the internet, and a nameserver change up to 48 hours. If it's not live straight away, give it time before assuming something's wrong.
Will my free .yns.store address still work?
Yes. Once your domain is verified and your store is published, visitors to your free address are sent to the same page on your custom domain, so any links you've already shared stay valid. Search engines then list your store under your custom domain only. See Your free store address.
Do I need to set up security myself?
No. Once your domain is verified, secure https is added for you automatically.
What's next
- Let YNS handle DNS: Let YNS manage your DNS.
- New to addresses? See Your free store address.
- Make sure your store is ready – see Publish and go live.
- Keep your store details consistent – see Edit your store details.