How To Connect a Domain to Wix: Step-by-Step Guide

A custom domain is the unique address that represents your website on the internet: the online equivalent of your business address. For Wix site owners, connecting a custom domain replaces the default Wix subdomain with a professional, memorable URL that builds trust with visitors.

Important before you start: Connecting an external custom domain to Wix requires a paid plan. The free Wix plan only allows a Wix-branded subdomain (e.g., username.wixsite.com/sitename). If you are on a free plan, you will need to upgrade first. See our guide on how much Wix costs to compare plans.

This guide walks you through how to connect a domain to Wix using both the nameserver method and the CNAME method, with specific steps for popular registrars including GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains. It also covers Wix Studio differences, the SEO impact of connecting a new domain, and the most common connection issues.

• A paid Wix plan is required to connect a custom domain: the free plan does not support this.
• You can connect your domain via nameservers (recommended) or CNAME records: both methods work.
• DNS propagation after updating nameservers or CNAME records can take up to 48 hours.
• Wix Studio and Classic Editor use the same domain connection process, but Studio has a different dashboard layout.
• Connecting a new domain affects your SEO: set up 301 redirects from your old domain and add your new domain to Google Search Console.

Domain Connection Checklist: What to Verify Before You Start

Most domain connection guides skip straight to the steps without covering the things that silently break the process. Run through this checklist before you touch any DNS settings to avoid the most common failures:

• Check if your domain is locked. Most registrars apply a transfer lock by default to prevent unauthorized moves. For nameserver changes, this lock usually does not block you, but some registrars (particularly older GoDaddy accounts) restrict all DNS changes while the lock is on. Log in to your registrar and confirm the domain is unlocked if you run into errors.
• Check DNSSEC status. If your registrar has DNSSEC enabled, changing nameservers to Wix's will cause DNS resolution failures because the DNSSEC signatures no longer match. Disable DNSSEC at your registrar before updating nameservers. You can re-evaluate DNSSEC options later from inside the Wix DNS panel.
• Identify all services using your domain's DNS. If you have email (Gmail Workspace, Zoho, Microsoft 365), subdomains (blog., shop., mail.), or any third-party verifications (Google Search Console TXT records) using your current DNS, write them down. If you switch to Wix nameservers, you will need to re-enter all of these records inside Wix's DNS manager after the switch. The CNAME method avoids this problem entirely by keeping DNS at your registrar.
• Confirm you have your Wix plan active. Wix does not let you connect domains on the free tier. If your paid plan recently expired or you are in a trial period, the domain connection option will not appear in your dashboard.
• Have your registrar login details ready. You will need to log in to both Wix and your registrar during the same session. Have both sets of credentials available before starting.

Domain Connection vs. Domain Transfer: What's the Difference?

Many people arrive at this guide confused between two different actions that sound similar but work very differently:

• Connecting a domain means pointing an existing domain (registered at GoDaddy, Namecheap, or any other registrar) to your Wix site by updating DNS settings. You keep the domain at your registrar: Wix just hosts the website it points to. This is what most people need.
• Transferring a domain means moving the domain's full registration from your current registrar to Wix. Wix becomes your new registrar and handles renewals going forward. This is optional: you do not need to transfer to connect.

For most Wix site owners, connecting (not transferring) is the right move. You keep your existing registrar account, your renewal dates do not change, and your domain is still yours to move later. Transferring makes sense if you want to manage everything from one place (Wix) and do not rely on your registrar for email or other services. The steps below cover connection, not transfer.

How Do You Connect a Domain to Wix?

Wix offers two methods for connecting an external domain: pointing nameservers to Wix (recommended for full control) or connecting via CNAME records (useful if you want to keep email or other services at your registrar). Both approaches achieve the same result: your custom domain loads your Wix site.

Here is the step-by-step process using the nameserver method:

Step 1: Go to Your Settings and Click 'Domains'

Log in to your Wix dashboard and navigate to Settings, then click Domains. This is where you manage all domain connections for your site. Remember: this option is only available on a paid Wix plan. If you do not see it, you need to upgrade your subscription first.

Step 2: Add Your Domain

Type your domain name into the search bar and select it from the results. Click Let's Go to proceed. If you have not yet purchased a domain, check our breakdown of Wix domain registration costs before deciding.

Step 3: Verify You Own the Domain

Wix will prompt you to confirm ownership. Click Yes, I own this domain. Wix uses this step to prevent unauthorized domain connections and ensure you are the legitimate domain owner.

Step 4: Choose Your Connection Method and Update DNS

Wix will present two options for connecting your domain:

• Nameserver method (recommended): Wix provides its nameservers (e.g., ns1.wixdns.net, ns2.wixdns.net). Log in to your domain registrar, find the nameserver settings, and replace the existing nameservers with the ones Wix provides. This hands full DNS control to Wix, making future management easiest.
• CNAME method: Instead of changing nameservers, you add a CNAME record pointing www to www.wixdns.net and an A record pointing your root domain to Wix's IP addresses. Use this method if you want to keep your email or other services running through your registrar's DNS. Wix displays the exact records to add: copy them precisely into your registrar's DNS settings panel.

If you later need to update your domain or switch to a different address, see our guide on how to change your domain name on Wix.

Step 5: Wait For DNS Propagation

After saving your nameserver or CNAME changes, DNS propagation begins. This is the process of your new DNS settings spreading to servers around the world, and it can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours. During this window, some visitors may see the old page while others see your new Wix site: this is normal. Once propagation is complete, your custom domain will be fully live. After connecting your domain, enable HTTPS to secure your site: read our guide on how to enable SSL on Wix.

How to Connect a Domain to Wix Using CNAME Records

The CNAME method is the right choice when you want to keep your email or other DNS-hosted services at your registrar while still pointing your website to Wix. Here are the specific records to add:

1. In your Wix dashboard, go to Settings > Domains and click Connect a Domain.
2. Enter your domain and click through the ownership verification step.
3. When prompted to choose a connection method, select Connect it yourself rather than the nameserver option.
4. Wix will display the exact CNAME and A records you need to add. These typically include:
   • A CNAME record for www pointing to www.wixdns.net
   • One or two A records for your root domain (e.g., @) pointing to Wix's IP addresses
5. Log in to your domain registrar, go to DNS management, and add these records exactly as Wix provides them.
6. Return to Wix and click Done. Allow up to 48 hours for propagation.

If your registrar already has conflicting A records for your root domain, delete them before adding Wix's records. Duplicate A records cause connection failures.

How to Connect a Domain to Wix from Popular Registrars

The process for updating nameservers is the same across all registrars, but the navigation differs. Here is where to find the nameserver settings in the three most common registrars:

Connecting a GoDaddy Domain to Wix

1. Log in to your GoDaddy account and go to My Products.
2. Next to your domain, click DNS.
3. Scroll to the Nameservers section and click Change.
4. Select Enter my own nameservers.
5. Replace the existing nameservers with the ones Wix provided (ns1.wixdns.net and ns2.wixdns.net).
6. Click Save and allow up to 48 hours for propagation.

GoDaddy note: if you use GoDaddy Email Essentials or Microsoft 365 through GoDaddy, switching to Wix nameservers will break your email. Use the CNAME method instead to keep GoDaddy's DNS managing your email MX records.

Connecting a Namecheap Domain to Wix

1. Log in to Namecheap and go to Domain List.
2. Click Manage next to your domain.
3. Under the Nameservers section, change the dropdown from Namecheap BasicDNS to Custom DNS.
4. Enter Wix's nameservers (ns1.wixdns.net and ns2.wixdns.net) in the fields provided.
5. Click the green checkmark to save. Propagation can take up to 48 hours.

Namecheap note: if you use Namecheap's free email forwarding or Private Email service, switching to custom nameservers disables it. If you rely on Namecheap email, either use the CNAME method or manually re-add your email MX records in Wix's Advanced DNS panel after switching nameservers.

Connecting a Google Domains (Now Squarespace) Domain to Wix

Google Domains migrated to Squarespace in 2023. If you previously registered a domain through Google, it now lives in your Squarespace account under the Google Domains brand.

1. Log in at domains.squarespace.com using your Google account.
2. Select your domain and click DNS.
3. Scroll to Nameservers and click Edit.
4. Switch from Default name servers to Custom name servers.
5. Enter Wix's nameservers and save. Allow up to 48 hours for propagation.

Squarespace/Google Domains note: if you use Google Workspace (Gmail for your domain) through Google Domains, your MX records are managed at the DNS level. Switching nameservers to Wix will break Google Workspace email unless you re-add the Google MX records inside the Wix DNS panel after propagation completes.

Wix Studio vs. Classic Editor: Domain Connection Differences

Wix has two editors: the original Classic Editor and the newer Wix Studio (launched in 2023, aimed at agencies and professional designers). The underlying domain connection process is identical for both, but the dashboard layout differs enough to cause confusion.

In Classic Editor (Wix Editor)

Navigate to the Wix dashboard (dashboard.wix.com), select your site, and go to Settings in the left sidebar. The Domains option appears directly in that Settings menu. This is the layout most step-by-step guides show, including the screenshots in this article.

In Wix Studio

In Wix Studio, the path is slightly different. Open the Wix Studio dashboard and click on your site. Instead of a Settings sidebar, look for the Site menu in the top navigation. Inside that, find Domains. The actual domain connection flow (ownership verification, nameserver or CNAME choice) is identical once you reach the Domains screen: only the navigation path to get there differs.

Wix Studio-Specific Considerations

Wix Studio sites are often managed by agencies on behalf of clients. If your site was built by an agency in Wix Studio, confirm who holds the Wix account before trying to connect a domain. The domain must be connected from the account that owns the site. If the site lives in an agency's Wix Studio workspace, the agency needs to either connect the domain themselves or transfer site ownership to your account first.

Additionally, Wix Studio supports multiple team members with different permission levels. Only workspace owners and admins can connect or manage domains. If the Domains option is greyed out or missing in Wix Studio, your account may have a contributor or editor role rather than admin access.

SEO Impact of Connecting a New Domain to Wix

Connecting a new domain to a Wix site that previously used a different domain (or the default Wix subdomain) has real SEO consequences. Most guides skip this entirely, which leads to avoidable ranking drops. Here is what you need to know:

Why Your Old URLs Still Matter

If your Wix site previously operated under a different domain (say, oldbrand.com or username.wixsite.com/mysite), search engines have indexed those old URLs and assigned ranking signals to them. When you connect a new domain, those old URLs do not automatically redirect to the new ones. Without proper redirects, all the SEO value attached to the old URLs is lost.

Setting Up 301 Redirects on Wix

Wix has a built-in redirect manager. After connecting your new domain, go to your Wix dashboard and navigate to Marketing Tools > SEO > Redirects. Add 301 redirects from every old URL pattern to the corresponding new URL. At minimum, redirect the root domain (olddomain.com to newdomain.com) and any pages that had inbound links or search rankings. A 301 redirect tells search engines that the move is permanent and passes the majority of ranking signals to the new URL.

The Propagation Window and Ranking Dips

During the 24-48 hour DNS propagation window, your site may be temporarily inaccessible for some users and crawlers. Google will not penalize this if the downtime is brief. However, if you are migrating from a well-established domain, expect a temporary ranking dip of 1-4 weeks as Google re-crawls and re-evaluates the new domain. This is normal and resolves on its own, provided your redirects are in place.

Adding Your New Domain to Google Search Console

After DNS propagation completes, add your new domain as a property in Google Search Console. Use the Domain property type (not URL prefix) so GSC tracks all subdomains and both HTTP/HTTPS versions. Verify ownership using the DNS TXT record method: Wix lets you add TXT records in the Advanced DNS panel under Settings > Domains > Advanced. Once verified, submit your sitemap (yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml) to help Google discover and index your pages faster.

Canonicalization After Domain Connection

Wix automatically handles canonical tags and sets the connected custom domain as the canonical URL. You do not need to manually update canonical tags when connecting a domain. However, if your site has both www and non-www versions accessible, confirm in Settings > Domains that one version is set as primary. Wix redirects the non-primary version automatically, preventing duplicate content issues between www.yourdomain.com and yourdomain.com.

What Are the Most Common Wix Domain Connection Issues?

Even after following every step, domain connection problems can still occur. The issues below cover the most frequent causes of a failed domain setup and how to fix each one quickly.

DNS Record Errors

Incorrect or missing DNS records (particularly A, CNAME, or MX records) are the most common cause of connection failures. A single typo in a record value will prevent your domain from resolving to your Wix site. Log back in to your registrar's DNS panel and compare every record value exactly against what Wix provided. Pay special attention to trailing dots and www vs. root domain differences.

DNS Propagation Delays

Changes to nameservers or DNS records do not take effect instantly. Propagation can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours depending on your registrar's TTL (Time To Live) settings. Use a free tool like whatsmydns.net or dnschecker.org to check propagation status in real time across different regions before assuming something is broken.

Wrong Nameservers or CNAME Values

If you entered nameservers or CNAME records that differ even slightly from what Wix provided, your domain will not resolve correctly. Return to your Wix dashboard under Settings > Domains, locate your domain, and use the Check Domain tool to see exactly which records are missing or incorrect. Wix highlights the problem records directly.

DNSSEC Conflicts

If DNSSEC is enabled at your registrar, switching nameservers to Wix will cause DNS resolution failures. The DNSSEC cryptographic signatures no longer match after a nameserver change, and browsers will refuse to load the site. The fix is to disable DNSSEC at your registrar before making the nameserver change. This step is missing from most domain connection guides and is a frequent cause of "my domain worked before but now nothing loads" complaints.

Domain Expiration

An expired domain stops resolving immediately, even if your Wix site is live and your DNS records are correct. Log in to your registrar and verify your domain's expiration date. Enable auto-renewal to prevent future lapses: most registrars send reminder emails 30, 15, and 7 days before expiry.

What to Do After Connecting Your Domain to Wix

Once your domain is connected and DNS has propagated, a few more steps ensure your site is fully set up:

Set Your Domain as Primary

If you have connected multiple domains to your Wix site, confirm that the right one is set as the primary domain. In your Wix dashboard, go to Settings > Domains and click Set as Primary next to the domain you want visitors to land on. All other connected domains will redirect to the primary.

Enable HTTPS

Wix automatically issues an SSL certificate for connected custom domains. After propagation completes, visit your domain in a browser and confirm the padlock icon appears in the address bar. If it does not appear after 24 hours, go to Settings > Domains and toggle HTTPS on. Our guide on how to enable SSL on Wix covers this in more detail.

Verify Your Email Still Works

If you switched to the nameserver method, Wix now controls your domain's DNS. This can break email services that were set up at your registrar (like Google Workspace or Zoho Mail). After propagation, send yourself a test email to your custom domain address to confirm it still delivers. If email stops working, re-add your email provider's MX records inside the Wix DNS panel under Settings > Domains > Advanced. If you do not have email hosting set up yet and want a professional address at your domain, Wix email forwarding lets you receive messages at your custom domain and forward them to an existing inbox, included free with any Wix Premium plan.

Check Propagation With a DNS Tool

Visit dnschecker.org and enter your domain to confirm that nameserver changes have propagated globally. Green checkmarks across most regions mean your domain is live for the majority of visitors. A few yellow or red results are normal in the first 24 hours: check again the next day if any persist.

If you later decide to switch to a different domain entirely, see our guide on how to change your domain name on Wix for the full migration process including 301 redirects and SEO recovery steps.

How To Connect A Domain To Wix: Summary

Connecting a custom domain to your Wix site requires a paid plan, a choice between the nameserver method (recommended) and the CNAME method, and up to 48 hours for DNS propagation. The nameserver method is simpler for managing everything in one place, while the CNAME method is better when you have email or other services you want to keep at your registrar.

Before you start, check that your domain is not locked, DNSSEC is disabled, and you have noted all services currently using your DNS. After connecting, verify email is still working, set HTTPS, and if you are migrating from another domain, set up 301 redirects and add your new domain to Google Search Console. For more on securing your site, see our guide on how to enable SSL on Wix.