# Connecting your own domain

Every website comes with a cubesites.site address that always works. If you have your own domain, such as www.your-company.co.uk, you can connect it so visitors see that instead.

## Before you start

- Your own domain comes with a licence for the website. During the trial, the cubesites.site address is the one to use.
- You need to be able to change the DNS records for your domain. That is usually in the account where you bought the domain, or with whoever looks after it for you.
- In CubeSites, connecting domains needs a role that can manage domains, such as a workspace owner or admin.

## Add the domain

1. Open the website and go to Settings.
2. Under Addresses, type your domain, for example www.your-company.co.uk.
3. Press "Connect a domain". The domain appears in the list marked "Waiting for DNS", with the records to add.

## Add two DNS records

CubeSites shows two records for each domain. Copy the exact values from the app: they are specific to your website, and the "DNS records" button shows them again at any time.

- A CNAME record on the domain you typed, which points it at CubeSites.
- A TXT record on _cubesites. followed by your domain, which holds a code that proves the domain is yours.

> Tip: Many domain providers do not allow a CNAME record on a bare domain (your-company.co.uk without the www). Connect the www address, and ask your provider to forward the bare domain to it.

## Check the records

Back in CubeSites, press "Check now". DNS changes can take a few hours to appear, so if the records are not found yet, wait and press it again. When they are found, the app says "Domain verified. It now shows your site."

## Make it the main address

Press "Make main" beside your domain. Once the site is published, visits to its other addresses, including the cubesites.site one, are forwarded to the main address, so search engines see one site rather than two.

> Tip: Remove a domain with the bin button beside it. If it was the main address, the cubesites.site address becomes the main address again.

## Related guides

- [Publishing and version history](https://cubesites.co.uk/guides/publishing-and-history)
- [Choosing a plan](https://cubesites.co.uk/guides/choosing-a-plan)
- [Writing page titles and descriptions for search](https://cubesites.co.uk/guides/seo-titles-and-descriptions)

Start a 14-day free trial for one website, on Standard or Pro, no card needed: https://app.cubesites.co.uk/signup

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CubeSites is a trading name of Cube Systems Limited, part of Crushed Ice Group. Registered in England and Wales, company number 17220899. Registered office: Unit 11, Olney Business Park, Osier Way, Olney, Buckinghamshire, MK46 5FP. ICO registration number ZC216972.

Contact: hello@cubesites.co.uk | 01234 672 617 | https://cubesites.co.uk/contact