How to Connect a Custom Domain to Pagely

Before changing DNS

Publish the site on its Pagely address so there is a working fallback.
Use a Pro account; custom domains are a Pro feature.
Confirm the account email address.
Make sure you can sign in to the registrar or DNS host for the domain.
Record any existing email-related MX and TXT records. Do not remove them.

Connect from the Domains page

Open Dashboard, choose Domains, and select Connect a domain beside the published site. Enter the root domain, such as example.ca, or the www form. Pagely treats the root as the canonical address and prepares www as a redirect when applicable.

The next screen shows the exact DNS record name and target for this connection. Add each displayed CNAME at the service currently hosting your DNS. Registrar screens use different labels, so match the values rather than following a screenshot from another provider.

Keep reading

Website launch checklist

Pagely's editorial team keeps this guide current for the same claim-checking process behind every page.

Read the guide

Wait for the two checks

First, Pagely waits to see the DNS record. Then the hosting network provisions the hostname and SSL certificate. The dashboard moves from Waiting for DNS to Securing SSL and finally Connected. The Pagely subdomain remains available during this process.

Test both example.ca and www.example.ca when the status is Connected. The www address should forward to the root address, giving visitors and search engines one canonical version.

Troubleshoot without breaking email

Still waiting for DNS: compare the host and target character for character, and remove an accidental duplicate record for the same host.
Registrar refuses a root CNAME: use its CNAME-flattening or ALIAS-style option if the dashboard offers that guidance, or contact the registrar before changing nameservers.
www warning: add the separate www CNAME shown by Pagely.
SSL is pending: leave the correct record in place while certificate issuance completes.
Mail stopped: restore the MX and mail-related TXT records. A website connection should not require deleting them.
Need to back out: disconnect the custom domain in the Domains page. The Pagely address stays live and the domain can be reconnected later.

Sources reviewed

Product features and third-party guidance can change. These primary sources were checked on September 14, 2026.