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Custom domain DNS setup by provider

Set up or fix custom-domain DNS in Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace, Wix, or Hostinger.

Choose the company that manages your DNS below. It may be different from the company where you bought the domain. If your nameservers point to Cloudflare, for example, make the change in Cloudflare.

Keep T.LY open in another tab. Open Settings > Domains, select the pending domain, and copy the Name and Target values shown there. Those values are for your domain and take priority over the examples on this page.

Choose your DNS provider

First, know which record you need

Domain added to T.LY Type Name or Host Target or Value
go.example.com Recommended CNAME go cname.t.ly
example.com A @ 168.220.91.95

Add only the row that matches the domain you entered in T.LY. A subdomain such as go.example.com is usually the safer choice because it does not replace the DNS record for your main website.

T.LY custom-domain setup showing the exact CNAME record and copy buttons for a pending subdomain.
T.LY shows only the record that applies to the domain you added. Copy these values into your DNS provider.

Cloudflare

  1. Open your domain in the Cloudflare dashboard.
  2. Select DNS, then Records.
  3. Select Add record.
  4. Copy the Type, Name, and Target from T.LY.
  5. Set Proxy status to DNS only. The cloud should be gray, not orange.
  6. Leave TTL on Auto, save the record, then return to T.LY and select Check DNS Again.
Cloudflare field guide showing T.LY CNAME and A record values with DNS only selected.
Cloudflare field guide. The important extra setting is DNS only.

Cloudflare may change its screen labels. If you cannot find the controls, check Cloudflare's record-management guide.

GoDaddy

  1. Open Domain Portfolio and select your domain.
  2. Select DNS.
  3. Select Add New Record.
  4. Choose the Type shown in T.LY. Put the short label such as go in Name, or use @ for a root domain.
  5. Paste the T.LY target into Value.
  6. Leave TTL at its default, save, then return to T.LY and select Check DNS Again.
The DNS and DNS Records tabs in GoDaddy domain settings.
Open the DNS tab, then DNS Records. Screenshot from GoDaddy’s CNAME guide.
GoDaddy field guide showing the Name and Value for T.LY CNAME and A records.
What to enter: GoDaddy adds your domain automatically after the Name. Enter go, not go.example.com.

Adding a root domain instead? See GoDaddy's A record guide.

Namecheap

  1. Open Domain List, then select Manage beside the domain.
  2. Open Advanced DNS.
  3. Under Host Records, select Add New Record.
  4. Choose the record Type shown in T.LY.
  5. Put only the short label such as go in Host. Use @ for a root domain.
  6. Paste the T.LY target into Value, leave TTL on Automatic, and save.
The CNAME record fields in Namecheap Advanced DNS.
This is where Namecheap puts the Type, Host, Value, and TTL fields. The values in its screenshot are only an example. Use the values T.LY gives you. Screenshot from Namecheap’s CNAME guide.
Namecheap field guide showing the Host and Value for T.LY CNAME and A records.
What to enter: Namecheap automatically appends the domain to Host, so use the short label.

If Host Records cannot be edited, the domain may use another company's nameservers.

Squarespace Domains

  1. Open your Squarespace domains dashboard and select the domain.
  2. Select DNS in the side panel.
  3. Add a custom DNS record.
  4. Choose the Type shown in T.LY. Put go in Name for a subdomain, or @ for a root domain.
  5. Paste the T.LY target into Data.
  6. Keep the default TTL, save, then return to T.LY and select Check DNS Again.
Squarespace Domains field guide showing the Name and Data for T.LY CNAME and A records.
Squarespace calls the destination field Data.

See Squarespace's DNS guide if its dashboard looks different.

Wix

  1. Open Domains in Wix.
  2. Open the Domain Actions menu beside the domain, then select Manage DNS Records.
  3. Find the record type shown in T.LY and select Add Record.
  4. For a subdomain, put go in Host Name. For a root domain, leave Host Name blank.
  5. Paste the T.LY target into Value, save, and confirm Save Changes.
  6. Return to T.LY and select Check DNS Again.
The Add Record control in the CNAME section of Wix DNS settings.
Scroll to CNAME (Aliases), then select Add Record. Screenshot from Wix’s DNS record guide.
Wix field guide showing the Host Name and Value for T.LY CNAME and A records.
What to enter: Wix uses a blank Host Name for the root domain instead of @.

Wix only manages the records when the domain uses Wix nameservers.

Hostinger

  1. Open hPanel, select Domains, then DNS.
  2. Select the domain you want to use.
  3. In the DNS records area, add a record.
  4. Choose the Type shown in T.LY. Put go in Name, or use @ for a root domain.
  5. Paste the T.LY target into Target or Points to.
  6. Keep the default TTL, add the record, then return to T.LY and select Check DNS Again.
The CNAME record form in Hostinger DNS settings.
Hostinger’s CNAME form has the same Type, Name, Target, and TTL fields shown in T.LY. Screenshot from Hostinger’s CNAME guide.
Hostinger field guide showing the Name and Target for T.LY CNAME and A records.
What to enter: Hostinger may label the destination Target or Points to, depending on the record type.

If T.LY still cannot verify the domain

  • Use the company that hosts your DNS. Check your nameservers if the registrar does not let you edit records.
  • Check the Name or Host field. Most providers want go, not go.example.com.
  • Remove only conflicting records on the same host. Do not delete MX, TXT, or other mail records for the rest of the domain.
  • Only worry about AAAA when T.LY shows one. If T.LY lists an AAAA record as blocking activation, remove that exact record and verify again.
  • Give DNS time to update. Most changes appear quickly, but provider caches can take longer.

Still stuck? Email [email protected] with the custom domain and a screenshot of the DNS record. Do not send your registrar password or account credentials.

Need more help?

If you still have questions, contact [email protected] or use the contact form. For abuse or suspicious links, use Report Abuse. For feature requests, email [email protected].

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