Skip to main content

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: 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

Set DNS Records

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

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

Your domain name likely already has an A Record with the Name/Host @. Change the root A Record @ DNS Entry to the IPv4 address 199.181.197.21

Add a new AAAA Record with the Name/Host @ and the IPv6 address of 2620:78:200f::cf:f21

Add (or change) a CNAME Record with the Name/Host www, add mysite.format.com (replace mysite with your unique Format Address, an example would be jane-dovercourt.format.com)

Save Changes.

You can now log out of your domain registrar.

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.

Reach us at our live chat or via our email info@format.com if you have any more questions. We’re happy to help!

Related to

Related articles