Your hosted website starts on a test address at an OwnerRez domain. To go live, you do two things: enter your domain in OwnerRez, then add DNS records at your domain registrar (the company where you bought the domain). After the DNS records are correct, OwnerRez installs a free HTTPS (SSL) certificate for you.
If you don't have a domain yet, buy one through Name.com. For domains bought there, the OwnerRez DNS settings are added automatically.
- April 9, 2025, Webinar: Focus Session - DNS Settings for Hosted Websites and Verified Email Domains
- Video - Going Live - Setting DNS Records for NameCheap
- Video - Setting DNS Records for GoDaddy
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- Setting DNS Records for Squarespace
- Configuration
- Common Questions
Configuration
Step 1 – Enter your domain and choose a redirect option
Go to Settings > Hosted Websites > (your site) > Change Settings. In Live Location, enter your domain and choose one of three options:
| Option | Main address guests see | Other address | Use it when |
| Redirect to www | www.mydomain.com | mydomain.com redirects to www | The site uses your whole domain. This is the most common choice. |
| Redirect to apex (non-www) | mydomain.com | www.mydomain.com redirects to the apex | The site uses your whole domain, and you prefer the shorter address. |
| Don't handle www (no redirect) | Exactly what you entered, e.g. book.mydomain.com | None | The site is on a subdomain and another site uses your main domain. |
The "apex" is your domain with nothing in front of it, e.g., mydomain.com. Type the domain without "www.", because OwnerRez adds it when needed.
Step 2 – Add DNS records at your registrar
At your registrar, open the DNS settings for your domain (often called "Manage DNS" or "Advanced DNS"). Add the records for the option you picked in Step 1.
Redirect to www or Redirect to apex
Both options need the same records. OwnerRez checks both mydomain.com and www.mydomain.com and issues the certificate only after both are verified. If one record is missing, the certificate is blocked, even though that address only redirects.
| Type | Host | Value |
| A | @ |
52.201.23.5 |
| A | @ |
52.86.46.114 |
| A | @ |
34.235.235.52 |
| CNAME | www |
hosted.ownerrez.com |
| TXT | _cf-cloudfront |
d2aukqo5uy3rwg.cloudfront.net |
Remove these if they exist:
- Any other A or AAAA record on @
- Any other record on www
- Domain parking or forwarding
Records on other hosts, such as mail or MX records, can stay.
Don't handle www (subdomain)
Add one record. In this example, the subdomain is "book":
| Type | Host | Value |
| CNAME | book |
hosted.ownerrez.com |
Don't add a www.book record. With this option, the certificate only covers the address you entered, so https://www.book.mydomain.com displays a security error.
Step 3 – Wait for the certificate
OwnerRez checks your DNS automatically. The certificate is usually installed within a few hours, and it can take up to 48 hours. If you change the domain or switch from "Don't handle www" to one of the redirect options, the check restarts.
Step 4 – Confirm
Use the Dig tool:
- A lookup on mydomain.com returns the three IPs above
- CNAME lookup on www.mydomain.com (or your subdomain) returns hosted.ownerrez.com
Common questions
Can my registrar do this for me? Yes. Paste the table from Step 2 into your registrar's support chat and ask them to add the records and turn off parking or forwarding.
Do I change nameservers? No. Add the records with your current DNS provider, usually your registrar. If your nameservers point to another service, such as Wix, either add the records there or switch the nameservers back to your registrar.
Should I set up a redirect or forwarding at my registrar? No. Registrar forwarding breaks the site. OwnerRez handles the www redirect using your choice in Step 1. For other redirects, create them in OwnerRez.
Can I use a CNAME on @ instead of A records? Some registrars allow it, but it can conflict with your email records. Use the A records.
Still stuck? First, contact your registrar, since they can see your DNS screens. Then contact us.