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Use Cloudflare to connect your custom domain name

Updated

Connect your custom domain name via Cloudflare to your Format portfolio site.

When your Cloudflare custom domain name is set up correctly, yourdomain.com will load your Format site with https://www.yourdomain.com showing in the address bar.

Throughout this guide, we are using the example custom domain name janedovercourt.com with the Format Address of jane-dovercourt.format.com

These 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: you can access the site through the Format subdomain but it will redirect to the custom domain if set (in this example https://jane-dovercourt.format.com )
  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

Navigate to your domain name's DNS records area (sometimes referred to as Zone File) in Cloudflare.

You will need to add or edit three (3) unique custom DNS records—an A record, AAAA record, and CNAME record.

  1. A record: Set the Name field to @ or leave blank, set the Content field to 199.181.197.21, and the TTL to Auto
  2. Proxy status: The Proxy status for all three records should be set to DNS only
  3. AAAA record: Set the Name field to @ or leave blank, set the Content field to 2620:78:200f::cf:f21, and the TTL to Auto
  4. CNAME record: Set the Name field to www, set the Content field to your site's Format Address, and the TTL to Auto

Ensure these changes are saved, then log out of Cloudflare.

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 example.com and your Format site loads with https://www.example.comin the address bar.

Be sure to check that www comes up 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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