How To Connect A Domain To Wix

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 the most common connection issues and what to do once your domain is live.

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 don't change, and your domain is still yours to move later. 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 wix 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.

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.

Connecting a Google Domains Domain to Wix

Note: Google Domains has migrated to Squarespace. If you previously registered a domain through Google, it now lives in your Squarespace account under Google Domains.

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.

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 wix 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 or Wix Domain Checker tool to see exactly which records are missing or incorrect. Wix highlights the problem records directly.

Firewall or Registrar Blocking

Some domain registrars apply automatic DNSSEC or firewall settings that conflict with third-party nameservers like Wix's. If you changed nameservers but your domain still does not resolve after 48 hours, check whether DNSSEC is enabled at your registrar and disable it before retrying. Also verify no security software on your network is blocking DNS lookups to Wix's servers.

Domain Expiration

An expired domain immediately stops resolving, 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 G Suite or Zoho Mail). After propagation, send yourself a test email to your custom domain address to confirm it still delivers. If email stops working, you will need to re-add your email provider's MX records inside the Wix DNS panel under Settings > Domains > Advanced.

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.

Conclusion: How To Connect A Domain To Wix

Connecting a custom domain to your Wix site is a straightforward process once you know the right steps. Remember that a paid Wix plan is required, you have two reliable methods available (nameserver or CNAME), and DNS propagation takes time - typically a few hours, but up to 48. The exact steps for updating nameservers differ slightly between registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains, but the Wix side of the process is the same regardless of where your domain is registered.

If something goes wrong, the Wix domain checker in your dashboard is your best first stop for diagnosing missing or incorrect records. Once your domain is live, complete your setup by enabling SSL on Wix to keep your visitors' connections secure.