Troubleshooting
My domain is not working
From Waiting for DNS to a working address: the few things that genuinely go wrong.
- 3 minute read
- 3 interactive walkthroughs
- For everyone connecting a domain
Waiting is normal, for a while#
A freshly connected domain shows Waiting for DNS until the world can see the records, which can take a few hours and occasionally a day. During that window everything is fine and nothing needs doing; Check now simply confirms it, so pressing it repeatedly is a hobby rather than a fix.
A useful test is the domain in a different network or on a phone with wifi off: if it resolves there but not on the office network, DNS everywhere is not the problem.
Addresses
The cubesites.site address is included and always works. Your own domain is optional.
DNS changes can take a few hours.
Step 1 of 2
Check now
Confirms rather than speeds: DNS spreads on its own schedule, a few hours and occasionally a day.
Reduced motion is on, so the walkthrough waits for you. Use the arrows or pick a step.
Good to know: If the badge still says waiting after a full day, it is worth reading the records again before assuming a fault.
Where DNS usually goes wrong#
Compare each row in the DNS table with the registrar, character for character: the Type, the Name and the Value. The usual suspects are a missing subdomain prefix, an extra domain name pasted into the value, or records entered at the wrong domain for a site registered with a country suffix.
Only the records shown are needed. If the registrar will not accept a row, its panel is asking for the same thing in a different format; the classic example is a CNAME at the bare domain, which some registrars refuse, so the www row does the work and the bare domain forwards.
Addresses
The cubesites.site address is included and always works. Your own domain is optional.
DNS changes can take a few hours.
Step 1 of 2
Character for character
Type, Name and Value. A missing subdomain prefix or an extra domain pasted into the value are the classics.
Reduced motion is on, so the walkthrough waits for you. Use the arrows or pick a step.
Before you continue: Change only the website records. Editing mail records while chasing a website turns one problem into two.
When it works, and when to remove it#
Once records resolve, the domain joins the addresses with Check now confirming and Make main promoting it. A padlock follows automatically within minutes; a stale padlock usually clears with a hard reload.
Removing a domain is a click, and its records can be tidied at the registrar afterwards or left alone: an unused record is harmless once the site has stopped answering to it.
Addresses
The cubesites.site address is included and always works. Your own domain is optional.
DNS changes can take a few hours.
Step 1 of 2
Promote it
Make main puts the domain everywhere: headings, shared links and search results.
Reduced motion is on, so the walkthrough waits for you. Use the arrows or pick a step.
- Records match exactly
- Full day given before escalating
- Both www and bare domain behave
- The main address the one shared everywhere
Common questions
Can CubeSites set the DNS for me?
No, records live with the registrar that holds the domain. Support can read the symptoms with you but not edit another company's panel.
What about the old site at the domain?
Changing the records moves visitors to the new site. Take a copy of anything needed from the old one before the switch.
Related guides
Something here out of date, or a step that did not match what you see? Tell us and we will correct the guide. Never send a password or an API token.