> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fastcat.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Your Domain

> Point a domain you already own at your FastCat WordPress site, and get SSL issued automatically.

Every site gets a free FastCat hostname like `site-ab34.fastcat.app`, live the moment it's provisioned. When you're ready, point your own domain at it instead.

<Info>
  A site serves **one** hostname at a time. While a custom domain is active, your FastCat hostname stays reserved for you but stops serving traffic. Clear the domain field to switch back.
</Info>

## Add your domain

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enter the domain in your panel">
    Open your site → **Security** tab → **Change domain**, type the hostname (`example.com` or `www.example.com`), and click **Apply**. During ordering, the wizard's domain step does the same thing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create the DNS record at your registrar">
    Add the record below wherever your domain's DNS is managed— Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, Hostinger, and so on. The exact IP address to use is shown in your panel next to the instructions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Let us verify it">
    We check your DNS continuously. The Overview tab moves from **Awaiting DNS setup** to **Issuing SSL certificate**, then to **Live · SSL active**. The page refreshes itself as each step completes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The DNS record

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Root domain (example.com)">
    | Type | Name / Host | Value                      | TTL              |
    | ---- | ----------- | -------------------------- | ---------------- |
    | A    | `@`         | The IP shown in your panel | Default (or 300) |

    `@` means "the root of the domain" at most registrars. Cloudflare lets you type the domain itself (`example.com`) instead.

    A root— or apex— domain **must** use an A record. The DNS standard doesn't allow a CNAME there.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Subdomain (www.example.com)">
    | Type | Name / Host | Value                      | TTL              |
    | ---- | ----------- | -------------------------- | ---------------- |
    | A    | `www`       | The IP shown in your panel | Default (or 300) |

    The Name / Host field is the part before your root domain— `www` for `www.example.com`, `shop` for `shop.example.com`. Some registrars want the full hostname instead; both forms work.

    **CNAME alternative.** For a subdomain you can point at your FastCat hostname instead of the IP:

    | Type  | Name / Host | Value                                       |
    | ----- | ----------- | ------------------------------------------- |
    | CNAME | `www`       | `site-ab34.fastcat.app` (your own hostname) |

    Use your site's actual FastCat hostname, shown on the Overview tab. This verifies and issues SSL just like an A record, and it keeps working if our edge IP ever changes— but it adds a DNS lookup to every first request, so we recommend the A record where you have the choice.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Note>
  Only the exact hostname you entered serves your site. If you want `example.com` **and** `www.example.com` to work, add a redirect from the other one at your registrar or DNS provider (most offer forwarding rules for free).
</Note>

## SSL certificates

Once your hostname verifies, Let's Encrypt issues a certificate automatically— typically 30 to 90 seconds later. Renewals are automatic too; there's nothing to buy or install.

<Warning>
  **Don't visit your domain before the panel says SSL is active.** If you load it during the gap, your browser caches its "Not Secure" warning for the whole session, and it will keep showing the wrong certificate even after ours is live. If that happens, close every window for the domain or open a private/incognito window.
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="It still says 'Awaiting DNS setup' after 15 minutes">
    Check that the record type is **A** (not AAAA or TXT), that the value is exactly the IP in your panel, and that there's no leftover A record for the same host pointing somewhere else. Some registrars keep a default parking record you have to delete.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My domain is behind Cloudflare or another proxy">
    That's supported, but the SSL/TLS mode matters— see [Cloudflare & proxied domains](/wordpress/cloudflare).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does DNS take to propagate?">
    Usually a few minutes. A high TTL on an old record can stretch it to hours, so if you're planning a cutover, lower the TTL to 300 seconds a day beforehand.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'That hostname is already in use'">
    A hostname can only be attached to one FastCat site. If it's on another of your sites, remove it there first; otherwise [contact support](https://fastcat.co/contact).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="WordPress links still point at the old hostname">
    Your site's URL follows whichever hostname is live, so links regenerate on their own. Links hard-coded inside post content are a WordPress-side search-and-replace— ask support if you'd like a hand.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>