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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: 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

Cloudflare: Create Page Rule

  1. Sign in to your Cloudflare account.

  2. Click 'Rules' from the top navigation strip

  3. Click 'Create Page Rule'

  1. Add your root domain name as shown

  2. Select: Forwarding URL

  3. Select: 301 - Permanent Redirect

  4. Add your own full URL like http://www.janedovercourt.com  (not our example!)

  5. Click 'Save and Deploy'

Add DNS Settings

  1. Click 'DNS' from the top navigation strip if records already exist edit or add so they appear as follows

  2. Type A Record on the root domain**

  3. Content default Cloudinary IP Address

  4. Proxy status Proxied (orange Cloud icon with arrow going through)

  5. Type CNAME on www Subdomain

  6. Add your Format Site Address (do not include http:// )

  7. Click 'Proxy status' icon and change to 'DNS only' (grey Cloud icon with arrow bypassing over the top)

Click Add Record.

** If there is no default A Record IP address, please add the IP address 174.129.25.170 this uses a wwwizer service to redirect from the root to the www subdomain

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.

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.

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

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