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Starhost lets you connect any domain you own to your hosted site. Once you add your domain and update your DNS records, Starhost verifies ownership and automatically provisions an SSL certificate so your site is live over HTTPS. The process typically takes just a few minutes, though DNS changes can take longer to propagate depending on your registrar.

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Add a custom domain

1

Open your site settings

Log in to your Starhost dashboard at mystarhost.com and select the site you want to configure.
2

Navigate to Domains

In your site settings, click Domains, then click Add Domain.
3

Enter your domain name

Type your domain name in the field provided — for example, yourdomain.com. If you want to use a subdomain, enter the full subdomain address (e.g., www.yourdomain.com).
4

Note the DNS records

Starhost displays the DNS records you need to add. Depending on your setup, you’ll be given either an A record (for root domains) or a CNAME record (for subdomains). Copy these values — you’ll need them in the next step.
5

Update your DNS records

Log in to your domain registrar (for example, Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Cloudflare) and add the DNS records provided by Starhost. Save your changes.
6

Wait for verification

Return to your Starhost dashboard. Starhost automatically checks for your updated DNS records. Verification usually completes within a few minutes to a few hours. Once verified, SSL is provisioned automatically.
DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours depending on your domain registrar and the TTL (time-to-live) settings on your DNS records. If your domain hasn’t verified after a few hours, double-check that the records were saved correctly at your registrar.

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DNS record reference

Use the following record types when pointing your domain to Starhost:
Record typeWhen to useValue
A RecordRoot domain (e.g., yourdomain.com)Starhost’s IP address — shown in your dashboard
CNAME RecordSubdomains (e.g., www.yourdomain.com)Your Starhost site address — shown in your dashboard
Once your domain is verified, Starhost automatically provisions a free SSL certificate. You don’t need to do anything extra to enable HTTPS. See the SSL & Security guide for details.

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Frequently asked questions

In most cases, DNS changes propagate within a few minutes to a few hours. In rare cases — especially when your previous TTL was set high — propagation can take up to 48 hours. You can check propagation progress using a tool like dnschecker.org.
Yes. To use a subdomain (such as www.yourdomain.com or blog.yourdomain.com), add a CNAME record at your registrar pointing to your Starhost site address. Enter the full subdomain when adding the domain in your Starhost dashboard.
First, double-check that you’ve added the DNS records exactly as shown in your Starhost dashboard — watch for typos or extra spaces. Make sure you’ve saved the changes at your registrar, then wait for propagation. If verification still fails after 48 hours, contact Starhost support.