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How to connect a subdomain

Updated

Use a different subdomain like portfolio, blog or clients. Your site URL would then be similar to: https://portfolio.mysite.com

Format sites are connected to your custom domain name on the root and www subdomain. This means your site URL would appear in the web browser as: https://www.mysite.com

You may want your Format portfolio site to be reached using a different subdomain like portfolio, blog or clients as an example. Your site URL would then be similar to: https://clients.mysite.com

Please Note: If your domain is registered through Format, you won’t be able to add or change DNS records yourself. Start a live chat or email our team at info@format.com, and we’ll set it up for you.

Format domain settings

Before adding a subdomain, set your Format Address so Format knows where to send incoming requests.

  1. From your lower-left sidebar click Settings
  2. Click Domain and Email
  3. Scroll down to Format Address
  4. Under Add your own domain enter your existing registered subdomain name (replace yoursubdomain.yourdomain.com with your actual custom subdomain name). In our example we have clients.janedovercourt.com
  5. Under Format Address enter your unique site domain name
  6. Click Save Changes

Add a CNAME Record

This will require you accessing your own domain host’s (registrar’s) control panel.

The CNAME record from your registrar sends a request for your yoursubdomain.yourdomain.com to Format. Format searches for the account that has mysite.format.com (example) and loads your site for the visitor.

  1. Access the DNS Records area and locate CNAME (if it already exists) or add a new CNAME record
  2. Edit the record
  3. Set Host to the subdomain you want to point to jane-dovercourt.format.com. In our example we’re using clients 
  4. Set Value to the Format Address you set in the previous step

Please Note: The Value field must contain a hostname, such as yoursite.format.com, not an IP address. Entering an IP address will prevent the subdomain from connecting.

This CNAME record connects your domain to Format. It takes requests for subdomain.yourdomain.com and sends them to format.com.

Pointing a subdomain to a different destination

You can also use a subdomain to connect to a service other than your Format site, like a scheduling tool, a blog platform, or a separate app, while your root domain and www keep pointing to Format.

To do this, follow the same steps above under Add a CNAME Record, with two differences:

  1. Under Host, enter the subdomain you want to use, for example styling
  2. Under Value, enter the hostname provided by the other service, not a Format Address, this could be an A Record with an IPv4 address, or a CNAME (it will not be both).

Check the setup instructions from that service for the exact hostname to use. We can’t provide this value, since it’s specific to that service.

Check domain connection

Changes made at your registrar’s control panel are not instant. These changes can take up to 48 hours to take full effect. It’s best to check your connection after one day.

You’ll know that your domain connection is working when you enter subdomain.yourdomain.com and your site loads with subdomain.yourdomain.com in the address bar.

Still have questions? Format provides human support seven days a week. Start a live chat or reach us by email at info@format.com. We're here to help!

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