How to Buy and Connect a Domain to Shopify

Customers should type your brand domain, not your-store.myshopify.com. You can buy a domain through Shopify or connect a domain you already own at another registrar. Shopify provisions HTTPS for connected domains. The exact DNS records Shopify asks for can change; always copy them from Settings → Domains and from Shopify Help Center: domains.

Quick answer

In Shopify admin, open Settings → Domains. Either purchase a domain Shopify offers or choose to connect an existing domain. At your registrar, create the A record and CNAME (or the records Shopify currently displays)—commonly an A record for the root pointing at Shopify’s IP and a www CNAME to Shopify’s hosts. Set the connected domain as primary. Keep the store password on until the domain serves the right theme. Wait for DNS to propagate; it can take hours, sometimes longer.

Buy from Shopify vs use a registrar you already have

Buy in Shopify when you want billing and renewal in one admin and you do not already own the name. Shopify will show availability and price in your currency. Read the renewal price, not only year one.

Connect a domain you own when the name already lives at Google Domains, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, or another registrar. You keep the registrar account. Shopify does not “move” the domain unless you complete a transfer—which is a separate, slower process. Connecting DNS is enough to serve the store.

Do not start a transfer the week of launch unless you have extra time. Connect first.

Before you connect

• Store name is stable. Tutorial: choose a Shopify store name.
• You can log in to the registrar.
• You know whether email for that domain uses Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or the registrar’s mail. Wrong DNS edits break email. Copy existing MX and TXT records before you change anything.
• The store is on a trial or paid plan as Shopify requires to use a custom domain in your region.

Step-by-step: connect an existing domain

1. In admin, go to Settings → Domains (wording may be “Domains” under Settings).
2. Choose connect existing domain and enter example.com.
3. Shopify shows records to add. Open Connecting a third-party domain and follow the current table.
4. At the registrar, edit DNS:

- Root (@ or blank): A record to the IP Shopify lists (historically Shopify has documented 23.227.38.65—verify in admin, do not trust a blog if admin disagrees). - www: CNAME to the host Shopify lists (often shops.myshopify.com).

1. Remove conflicting A/AAAA/CNAME records for the same host.
2. Save DNS. In Shopify, verify the domain. Retry after the TTL.
3. When Shopify marks it as connected, set it as the primary domain so checkout and emails use it.
4. Confirm https://www.example.com and the apex both reach the store, or set the redirect Shopify offers (www → apex or the reverse). Pick one public URL and keep it.

Shopify issues the SSL certificate after the domain points at them. A few hours of “not secure” during propagation is common. Do not panic-buy a third-party certificate for a normal Online Store.

Step-by-step: buy through Shopify

1. Settings → Domains → buy a domain.
2. Search the name. Reject lookalike spellings you will never advertise.
3. Complete Shopify’s purchase flow and billing.
4. Set the new domain as primary when Shopify says it is ready.

WHOIS privacy and transfer lock depend on the TLD and Shopify’s current product. Read the checkout fine print.

Email on the same domain

If mail already works, do not replace the whole DNS zone with “Shopify defaults.” Add only the Shopify A/CNAME for web. Keep MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. If you are starting mail from scratch, set up Google Workspace or similar before you announce the domain, or use a different domain for email until DNS is calm.

Common mistakes

• Pointing the domain at a parked page or old Webflow site and wondering why Shopify “does not work.”
• Deleting MX records.
• Leaving myshopify.com as primary after connecting.
• Buying five domains and verifying none of them.
• Launching ads on a domain that still shows the password page.

Troubleshooting

Connected but not primary. Set primary in Domains.

SSL pending. Wait, then use Shopify’s retry. Confirm no extra AAAA record pointing elsewhere.

www works, apex does not (or the reverse). You are missing an A or CNAME. Compare with Shopify’s current help article.

Email died. Restore MX from the registrar backup. Web and mail are independent records.

What to do next

Finish store settings and the launch checklist before you spend on ads. The complete Shopify 101 guide maps the rest of going public.

Connecting DNS is a merchant task. If you need a full launch and theme build, AalphaLeo Digital Solutions (+91 9288621081) can help. Do not pay anyone to “secretly” change records you can paste from Shopify admin.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a subdomain like shop.example.com?

Yes, with a CNAME on shop as Shopify documents. The marketing site can stay on the apex with another host. Decide which URL you will put on packaging.

Do I need to transfer the domain to Shopify?

No. Connection is enough. Transfer only if you want Shopify to be the registrar.

Will the old myshopify.com URL stop working?

It usually still works as an alternate hostname. Primary should be the custom domain so you do not split branding.

How long until Google uses the new domain?

Search Console and sitemaps are later SEO work. First make HTTPS and the primary domain correct. Do not expect instant ranking changes from a domain connect.