Connect your 123-Reg.co.uk 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 123-reg.co.uk

Sign in to 123-reg.co.uk

Under 'Domain Names' select your domain name.

Click 'Web forwarding'

Web Forwarding

Click 'Add +'
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1. Stay in the tab Permanent forwarding (301 redirect)

2. Forward to 'http://www.' followed by your domain name

3. Tap 'Confirm'

The Web Forwarding as been added.

Click 'Back'

Manage DNS

Under Advanced Domain Settings click 'Manage DNS'

Nameservers

Within the Change Nameservers (DNS) area, please ensure the Default Nameservers are used. Please see this 123-reg.co.uk help article if you are unsure.

Traditionally 123-reg.co.uk used the default Nameservers of ns.123-reg.co.uk, now they could be showing as nsXX.domaincontrol.com (where XX is a numeric value i.e. ns34.domaincontrol.com)

Advanced DNS

Select the 'Advanced DNS' tab

Under Website Settings (A Records) click 'Change'

Confirm the @ A Record

Confirm that the @ A record is pointing to IP address 94.136.40.82

If the nsXXdomaincontrol.com Nameservers are being used, there will be two A Records showing on the @ with IP address values of 15.197.142.173 and 3.33.152.147

Delete the www A Record

Delete the www A Record

Add a CNAME Record

Add a CNAME record using the blank fields near the bottom:

1. Hostname: www

2. Select: CNAME

3. Destination CNAME: mysite.format.com (replace mysite with your unique Format Address)

4. Click 'Add'

CNAME Record Added

The CNAME record has been added.

You can log out of your 123-Reg.co.uk account.

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!