Connect External Domains on Shopify, Comprehensive guide

Discover the ultimate guide to connecting external domains on Shopify effortlessly! Our comprehensive manual and automatic solution ensures a seamless process for establishing a powerful online presence. Elevate your Shopify game with this essential tool, unlocking endless possibilities for your business.

In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, setting up your online store involves a myriad of considerations. One crucial aspect is connecting your third-party domain to platforms like Shopify. Before you embark on this journey, let’s delve into essential considerations to ensure a seamless integration and avoid potential pitfalls.

1. Unsupported Configurations and Service Disruptions

When contemplating using third-party proxies, it’s vital to note that Shopify doesn’t support them. Such configurations can lead to unexpected behavior or, worse, service disruptions for your online store. Shopify, however, absolves itself of responsibility for any loss of data or store outages resulting from unsupported setups.

2. Limited Shopify Support for Third-Party Domains

Shopify Support has its limitations, especially when it comes to logging into your third-party domain account. Even with explicit permission, they can’t access it on your behalf. If you encounter issues with your third-party domain settings, your recourse is to reach out to your domain provider’s support team for assistance.

3. Transferring Your Third-Party Domain to Shopify

For those seeking comprehensive support and centralized management of domain settings, transferring your third-party domain to Shopify is a viable option. This ensures that Shopify can provide assistance with your domain settings directly through the admin interface.

Certainly, let’s break down the details of Certification Authority Authorization (CAA) Records:

4. Certification Authority Authorization (CAA) Records:

Certification Authority Authorization (CAA) records are not mandatory for everyone, but in certain situations, they might be necessary for ensuring secure and authorized communication. These records specify which certificate authorities (CAs) are allowed to issue certificates for a particular domain. Here’s how you can set up CAA records, particularly if they are required:

When to Use CAA Records:

Scenario Dependent: Evaluate whether your situation requires the use of CAA records. Some organizations or security policies may mandate their implementation for added control over certificate issuance.

Required Certificate Authorities:

– Ensure that your CAA records explicitly allow the following certificate authorities (CA) to issue certificates for your domain:

• letsencrypt.org
• digicert.com
• globalsign.com

Setting Up CAA Records:

1. Access Domain Provider’s Settings:

   – Log in to your domain provider’s website.

– Navigate to the section related to DNS settings or domain management.

2. Add CAA Records:

   – Look for an option to add DNS records.

   – Add a new CAA record for your domain.

3. Specify CA Authorization:

   – Include the relevant certificate authorities in your CAA record.

   – Example: `0 issue “letsencrypt.org”`

4. Save Changes:

   – Save the changes to update your DNS settings.

Additional Notes:

Not Always Necessary: Remember that CAA records are not always required but can enhance security in specific contexts.

Evaluation Period: Changes to DNS settings might take some time to propagate across the internet, so allow for this propagation period.

5. Connecting Your Domain Automatically

Connecting your domain to Shopify automatically is a straightforward process designed for convenience, particularly for domains acquired from Google Domains, GoDaddy, or 1&1 IONOS. This streamlined procedure aims to simplify the integration, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users. Follow the steps outlined below for a seamless connection:

Navigate to Settings > Domains in your Shopify admin:

• Begin by logging into your Shopify admin panel.
• On the left sidebar, locate and click on “Settings.”
• Within the Settings menu, select “Domains” to access the domain management section.

Click “Connect existing domain”:

• Once in the Domains section, identify and click on the option labeled “Connect existing domain.”
• Enter your domain and click “Next”:
• A prompt will appear where you need to input your domain name, such as johns-apparel.info.
• After entering the domain, click the “Next” button to proceed with the connection setup.
• Select “Connect automatically” and log in to your domain provider’s account if prompted:
• Opt for the “Connect automatically” option for a more seamless integration.
• If prompted, you may need to log in to your domain provider’s account to authorize and facilitate the connection.

This automated process leverages the compatibility of Shopify with specific domain providers, Google Domains, GoDaddy, or 1&1 IONOS, streamlining the verification and connection steps. Following these steps ensures that Shopify initiates the necessary procedures, and within a reasonable timeframe, typically up to 48 hours, your domain should be successfully connected and verified.

Automatic domain connection is ideal for users seeking a quick and efficient way to integrate their domains with Shopify. It minimizes the manual effort involved in the process, providing users with a hassle-free experience as they establish a solid online presence for their store.

6. Manual Domain Connection Process

In instances where the automatic domain connection process encounters challenges, opting for a manual connection to Shopify offers a viable alternative. This method involves hands-on adjustments to the DNS records within your third-party domain provider account. Ensure you have the necessary information readily available, including login credentials, specific requirements from your domain provider,

Manual Domain Connection Process:

Step 1: Change DNS Records

• Log in to your domain provider’s website like Hostinger, Namecheap etc
• Access your domain provider’s website through a web browser.
• Log in using your credentials to gain access to your account.
• Find the DNS settings or domain management area:

Locate the section within your domain provider’s interface related to DNS settings or domain management. This may be named differently depending on the provider.

Modify the A record to point to Shopify’s IP address:

• Identify the A record, which is responsible for pointing your domain to a specific IP address.
• Adjust the A record to point to Shopify’s designated IP address (23.227.38.65).
• If applicable, change the Host name to “@”:
• In some cases, you may need to modify the Host name associated with the A record.
• If necessary, change the Host name to “@” to ensure proper alignment with Shopify’s requirements.
• Delete any other A records:
• If there are existing A records associated with your domain, consider deleting them to avoid conflicts.
• This step ensures a clean and accurate redirection of your domain to Shopify.

Set up the CNAME record with the name www pointing to shops.myshopify.com:

• Add a new CNAME record, specifying the name as “www” and pointing it to shops.myshopify.com.
• This configuration is essential for linking the www subdomain to your Shopify store.
• Save your changes:
• Once all modifications are made, save the changes to update your DNS records.
• Keep in mind that changes to DNS records may take some time to propagate across the internet.

By following these manual steps, users gain a more hands-on approach to connecting their third-party domain to Shopify. This method ensures greater control over the connection process, allowing for precise adjustments to DNS records and a successful integration with Shopify’s platform.

7. Changing Your Primary Domain

Your primary domain is the face of your online store, and changing it involves a careful process:

After Adding a custom domain to Shopify.

• Ensure the domain has a “Connected” status on the Domains page.
• Go to Settings > Domains in your Shopify admin.
• Click the desired domain and select “Change domain type” to set it as the primary domain.
• 8. Verifying Domain Ownership
• Whether connecting automatically or manually, domain verification is crucial. For automatic verification:
• Navigate to Settings > Domains in your Shopify admin.
• Click “Connect existing domain.”
• Enter your domain and follow the prompts for automatic connection.

For manual verification:

• Copy the unique TXT record value provided by Shopify.
• Log in to your domain provider’s website.
• Add a TXT record with the name “shopify_verification” and paste the unique value.
• Return to Shopify and click “Verify connection.”

Conclusion:

In summary, connecting a third-party domain to Shopify involves considerations like unsupported configurations and limited Shopify support. Transferring domains for centralized management is recommended. Shopify provides automated and manual methods for domain connection, with the latter offering precise control over DNS records.

Changing your primary domain is crucial for shaping your store’s identity. Add a custom domain, verify its connection status, and set it as the primary domain through Shopify settings.

Domain ownership verification, either automatic or manual, ensures a secure connection. Following these steps diligently avoids pitfalls, establishing a strong online presence for your store, providing a positive experience for both you and your customers in the e-commerce landscape.