When connecting a custom domain to your Famous.ai app, you must update your DNS (Domain Name System) records. These records act as the internet's phonebook, telling browsers exactly where your website is hosted.
Before You Start: Get Your Famous.ai Connection Info
To connect your domain, you first need to get the specific A Record and CNAME values generated for your project.
The Two Records You Actually Need to Know
There are many types of DNS records, but you will mostly deal with these two to get your site live:
A Record: This points your main domain (like
yourwebsite.com) directly to Famous.ai's server IP address.CNAME: This makes sure the "www" version of your link (like
www.yourwebsite.com) goes to the right place.
(Note: You might also see "TTL" while editing. This just means "Time to Live." It tells the internet how often to refresh. Leaving it on "Automatic" or "Default" is almost always the best choice).
1. GoDaddy
In GoDaddy, you can edit DNS records directly from your DNS Management panel.
Step 1: Access your domain settings
Visit godaddy.com and sign in.
Click your username in the upper-right corner and select My Products.
Locate the domain you want to manage and click DNS next to it.
Step 2: Add or edit a DNS record
Review the table that lists all current records.
Click the edit (pencil) icon to modify an existing record, or click Add New Record to create a new one.
Enter the required fields: Type (e.g., A or CNAME), Host (Use
@for the root domain orwww), Value/Points To (Enter the IP address or hostname from Famous.ai), and TTL.Click Save.
2. Namecheap
In Namecheap, you manage your records from the Advanced DNS tab.
Step 1: Open the Advanced DNS tab
Visit namecheap.com and log in.
Click Domain List in the left sidebar.
Click Manage next to the domain you want to connect.
Select the Advanced DNS tab.
Step 2: Add or edit a record
In the Host Records section, click the pencil icon to edit an existing record, or click Add New Record.
Choose the Record Type from the dropdown.
Enter your Host (
@orwww) and Value (server IP or target link).Set the TTL (leaving it on "Automatic" works well for most users).
Click the green checkmark to save.
3. Cloudflare
Cloudflare functions as both a DNS provider and a CDN.
Step 1: Access DNS settings
Visit dash.cloudflare.com and sign in.
Select your domain from the dashboard.
Click DNS in the left sidebar, then select Records.
Step 2: Add or edit a DNS record
Click Add Record (or click the Edit/pencil icon next to an existing one).
Choose the Type, Name, and Content fields based on Famous.ai's instructions.
Choose your Proxy Status. Proxied (orange cloud) routes traffic through Cloudflare for CDN protection. DNS Only (gray cloud) resolves DNS without proxying.
Set the TTL value and click Save.
4. Squarespace Domains (Formerly Google Domains)
Step 1: Access DNS settings
Sign in at domains.squarespace.com.
Select the domain from your dashboard.
Click DNS in the sidebar and open DNS Settings.
Step 2: Add or edit DNS records
Scroll down to Custom Records.
Click Add Record (or locate an existing record in the list to update it).
Enter the Type, Host (
@orwww), and Data/Alias Data (Target IP or hostname).Leave the TTL at its default (usually 3600 seconds) and click Save. (Note: Squarespace may request two-factor authentication to finalize this).
5. Wix
Wix handles DNS differently depending on whether you purchased the domain directly through them or connected it from elsewhere. These steps apply to Wix-registered domains.
Step 1: Open DNS records
Log in to your Wix Dashboard.
Navigate to Site Setup or Domains.
Click the three-dot menu next to the domain and select Manage DNS Records.
Step 2: Add or edit a record
Scroll to the section for the specific record type you need.
Click + Add Record (or hover over an existing record and click Edit).
Enter the Host Name (
@orwww), Value (Target IP or hostname), and TTL (Usually 1 hour).Click Save, then confirm by clicking Save Changes.
Troubleshooting DNS Issues
Changes do not take effect: DNS propagation takes time. Updates appear within 15 minutes to 48 hours. You can check your global propagation status at dnschecker.org.
DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN: This browser error usually means a missing or incorrect DNS record. Confirm that your A record points to the exact IP address Famous.ai provided.
Don't delete your email records: If you use a custom email address (like
[email protected]), do not delete the records labeled MX. Those control your email. Only edit the A Records and CNAMEs."This site can't be reached": Check that your A or CNAME record points to the correct destination and has no typos.
Best Practices for DNS Management
Create a backup: Always capture a screenshot or export your DNS records before editing them so you can easily revert if you make a mistake.
Edit one record at a time: This makes troubleshooting much easier if something breaks.
Lower TTL before changes: If your provider allows it, set your TTL to 300 seconds about one hour before making changes to allow for faster propagation. Restore it to 3600 afterward.
Quick Summary: How to Connect Your Domain
To get your website live on Famous.ai, you just need to update your domain's "phonebook" (DNS settings) so it knows where to find your project. No matter which provider you use, the process follows these three simple steps:
Log In: Go to your domain provider (like GoDaddy or Namecheap) and find the DNS Management or DNS Settings area.
Update the "A Record": This connects your main domain (e.g.,
yourwebsite.com). Set the Host to @ and the Value to the IP Address provided in your Famous.ai dashboard.Update the "CNAME Record": This connects the "www" version of your site. Set the Host to www and the Value to your Famous.ai project link.
Two Golden Rules:
Be Patient: It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 48 hours for the internet to update and your site to show up globally.
Leave "MX" Records Alone: Do not delete or change any records labeled MX—these control your email, and changing them will break your inbox!