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Connect your Bluehost.com custom domain name

Updated

Connect an existing Bluehost.com custom domain name to your website.

Bluehost.com makes it difficult to connect your domain name if you no longer have their 'web hosting' plan (which is not required when you have a Format portfolio site).

You may want to consider transferring your domain name, but contact us first to check.

Throughout this document mysite, mysite.format.com, and yourdomain.com are EXAMPLES ONLY you will replace these with your own unique Format address and custom domain name.

Format Domain settings

  1. Navigate to Settings
  2. Navigate to the Domain and Email panel
  3. Scroll down to the Format Address area
  4. Replace the auto-generated Format Address with your own unique Format Address. It is best to match this as closely as possible to your actual custom domain name; in this example jane-dovercourt without the .com or other .tld (top-level-domain extension)
  5. Website Domain: your website can always be accessed through your Format address (in this example https://jane-dovercourt.format.com ), even if your custom domain is not connected
  6. Click Connect Your Domain to access and enter your existing custom domain name (see screenshot below)

Add your existing Custom Domain Name

  1. Add your own domain: Add the domain name you want to use in this field. If you have previously used this domain name with another Format site, you may see an error message. If you need help with this, you can reach out to our Success Team.
  2. Follow the instructions to update your domain registrar/provider's DNS settings to connect to your Format site. You will need to log in to your domain registrar for this.
  3. Click Save Changes

Failed Connection

  1. Failed Connections happen when the correct connection settings have not been set, or propagated (updated) from your domain registrar
  2. BEFORE you click the File a help request link, ensure you have completed the remaining steps in this guide

Sign in to BlueHost.com

Sign in to your Bluehost.com account.

Redirect Domain

  1. Select Permanent (301)

  2. Select You domain name

  3. Redirects to http://www followed by your domain name

  4. Select 'Do Not Redirect www

  5. Click Add this redirect

DNS Zone Editor

Click 'DNS Zone Editor' from the top menu.

CNAME (Alias)

Under CNAME (Alias) edit:

  1. Host Record: www

  2. Points to: mysite.format.com (replace mysite with your unique Format Address)

  3. Click Save

You can now log out of Bluehost.

Check Your Domain Connection

Changes to your registrar's site are not instant! They can take up to 48 hours to take full effect (however, it usually takes a few hours).

It's best to check your connection after one day.

You will know that your domain connection is working when you enter yourdomain.com and your Format site loads with https://www.yourdomain.com  in the address bar.

Be sure to check that www comes up in the address bar.

Please note: Format does not provide an SSL on your root domain (your domain name minus the www.). As such, your site will not load at https://yourdomain.com. Your site will still be accessible from the following URLs:

yourdomain.com
www.yourdomain.com
http://yourdomain.com
http://www.yourdomain.com
https://www.yourdomain.com

As well, your site will always be accessible via its Format address.

Still have questions? Reach us on our live chat or email us at info@format.com We’re here to help!!

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