A root domain is the main, core address of a website (like example.com) without any subdomains or paths, serving as the base from which all other pages and subdomains branch off. You can maintain your brand's experience by allowing members to land on your own custom root domain!
A root domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) is the main domain you own. This setup allows users to access your Heartbeat community directly by typing yourdomain.com.
Not sure whether to use a root or sub-domain for your community URL? Learn the difference here.
Step 1: Enter your root domain
Go to Settings > Custom Domain in your community. Input the custom root domain you want to use in Step 1. Click Confirm to move to the next step.
Step 2: Update your DNS
Once your custom domain is confirmed, you'll need to create a DNS record to verify that you own the domain. To do this, go to your domain host DNS manager and add the following A record (your host name and value will be unique to your custom domain):
Sometimes we'll require a 2nd DNS record with a TXT type to complete your setup. If you see 2 DNS records on this step, add both to your DNS manager.
If you're having trouble adding records to your DNS manager, find your provider below for a helpful guide on adding new records. If your platform isn't listed below, we recommend searching its help articles using the keyword "CNAME."
- Squarespace
- Namecheap
- 101 Domains
- Bluehost
- Cloudflare (Ensure that "Proxy" is disabled)
- DNSimple
- Dreamhost
- Godaddy (Ensure the 'host' field only contains your subdomain name and not the entire url)
- GreenGeeks
- Hostgator
- Hostinger
- SiteGround
- Westhost
- Wix
You need to make sure that there are no conflicting records set for the same host and remove them if there are any. The records you need to check may be of Unmasked/Masked/Permanent Redirect, A, or CNAME record types.
If you are still experiencing issues adding records to your DNS manager, contact their support team for further assistance.
Step 3: Verify DNS Record
Once your records are added to your DNS manager, come back to Heartbeat and click 'verify'. Once both records are verified, you're all set!
If you can’t confirm that your A record exists, we suggest contacting your hosting platform to troubleshoot further.
💡 Tips + Troubleshooting
Check if Heartbeat can see the DNS record
DNS changes take anywhere from 10 minutes to 48 hours to fully update. This depends on your domain host.
There are many tools you can use to check if the record has been added to domain properly.
This article shows you how to use dnschecker.org. Heartbeat has no affiliation with this site, we just find it easy to use.
To start, click here: dnschecker.org/all-dns-records-of-domain.php
- Enter the your community URL.
- Click on A.
- Click on the button Lookup DNS.
If the record has been entered properly, you will see it as shown in the second image below.
Multiple A Records Conflicts
Multiple A records associated with the same domain can cause conflicts. This often happens when other services (e.g., email providers, and platforms) are also using subdomains or the root domain. Ensure that your custom domain has only one A record pointing to Heartbeat’s servers.
Cache and Browser Issues
After DNS propagation and SSL certificate setup, sometimes browsers cache the old configuration, leading to the site still appearing down or not resolving correctly. Clear your browser’s cache or try accessing the site from an incognito/private browser window.
Still not working?
First, check if the A record is showing by using the guide above.
If the A record is not showing when you use the guide above, please contact your domain host.
If the A record is showing, then, on the custom domain page, click the Refresh button and try again.
If you're still experiencing issues, contact support@heartbeat.com
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I change my domain registrar or DNS provider?
You must reconfigure your DNS records with the new provider to ensure your custom domain points correctly to Heartbeat.
Can I revert back to the default Heartbeat domain?
Yes, you can always revert to the default Heartbeat domain by removing or deactivating your custom domain settings in the Heartbeat admin dashboard