Connecting a domain has two separate parts: tell ZipHost which domain belongs to the site, then tell your DNS provider where that domain should point. Do not remove your working preview URL while you do this.

Before you begin

  • You must control the domain’s DNS records.
  • Deploy and test the site on its ZipHost preview URL first.
  • Decide whether visitors should use example.com, www.example.com, or both.

1. Add the domain in the site settings

Open the site, go to its domain settings, enter the exact hostname you want to use, and save. The dashboard will show the DNS target or verification record. Copy that value exactly; the record is specific to your site.

2. Create the DNS record at your registrar

Open the DNS manager for the domain—not the website builder and not an email mailbox provider. Add the record ZipHost asks for. For a subdomain such as www.example.com, the host field is usually www. For the root domain, your DNS provider may call the host @.

Remove only records that conflict with the same hostname. Do not delete MX records; they control email. Do not create both an old A record and a new CNAME for the same host unless your DNS provider explicitly supports that setup.

3. Verify and wait for SSL

Return to the site settings and choose Verify. DNS changes may be visible in minutes but can take longer because resolvers cache records. Once the record resolves, ZipHost can issue the certificate. Test both https:// and the exact hostname you configured.

Useful checks

dig +short www.example.com
curl -I https://www.example.com

The first command should return the expected target. The second should return a successful HTTPS response. If verification fails, compare the hostname, target, and record type character by character; most failures are a copied value, a wrong DNS zone, or an old conflicting record.