# Custom Domain

With Noloco connecting a custom domain is easy. Each app can be accessed at a unique URL like [*mycompany.noloco.co*](https://mycompany.noloco.co) but it is better if you use a custom domain for your portal for a truly white-labeled experience like [*portal.mycompany.com*](https://portal.mycompany.com)

{% @arcade/embed url="<https://app.arcade.software/share/nOiVpDx26M9vAJHYq29g>" flowId="nOiVpDx26M9vAJHYq29g" %}

### What You'll Need

* A Noloco account and a published app.
* A domain name purchased from a domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare).
* Basic familiarity with your domain registrar's dashboard.

### Adding Your Custom Domain to Your Noloco App

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open the "Domains" tab**

You can follow the image below, but to make it faster for you, click this link: <https://portals.noloco.io/~/_/settings/domain/>, and you can choose the app you want, or it will automatically open the last active app after 5 seconds.

<figure><img src="https://319575345-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifpIQWu0HCVYAt51oT%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7c88e255d4c3d265e5c818078e68c5aa6c37707e%2Fdomains_start.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click "Add domain"**

<figure><img src="https://319575345-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifpIQWu0HCVYAt51oT%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-42bc40236935f7af87cf995b7d98bbeb8a6934d9%2Fdomains_connect.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click "Add domain" again**

Enter the domain or subdomain you wish to connect e.g., `www.yourcompany.com` or `app.yourcompany.com` and click 'Add domain'. Noloco will generate DNS records for you to add to your domain registrar.

<figure><img src="https://319575345-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifpIQWu0HCVYAt51oT%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2db821be7e222565d9a6a8805e20c643cb488fa9%2Fdomains_new.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Add your DNS Records**

Next you will be asked to add some records to your domain's DNS settings. To do this, you need to find the “DNS Records” section in your domain name provider's account or dashboard. This will look different for each domain provider, but here are the general steps:

1. Look for an area that's related to DNS, e.g. Manage DNS, Advanced DNS, etc.
2. Locate the area or section where you can add “records” or DNS records

If you get stuck, try contacting your domain name provider's support or exploring their help articles.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Verify your Domain Set Up**

After adding your DNS settings, come back to Noloco and verify the set up

<figure><img src="https://319575345-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifpIQWu0HCVYAt51oT%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b5f372faea91134ce7b4708367c8cb67d03ad420%2Fdomains_verify.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Setting up DNS Records

The next step will be different depending on the type of domain you have used. You could be using a subdomain, or a normal domain.

* A [normal domain](#for-normal-domains) is something like yourcompany.com or yourcompany.co.uk
* A [subdomain](#for-subdomains) is anything like app.yourcompany.com or [www.yourcompany.com](http://www.yourcompany.com)
  * You can swap `app` with anything you like, such as `portal` or `secure`
  * app.yourcompany.com is a subdomain of yourcompany.com

#### For Normal Domains

It is more challenging to use a normal domain as a custom domain for your Noloco app, so we usually recommend using a subdomain instead.

If you are using a DNS provider that supports `ALIAS` records you can add an `ALIAS` record that points to 'ssl.noloco.co' - if you do not see this option, you will need to switch your nameservers to a provider that supports ALIAS records or use a subdomain as described below.

For Cloudflare you should create a [CNAME](https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/reference/dns-record-types/#cname) record that points to 'ssl.noloco.co' additionally, if you are setting up your custom domain with Cloudflare DNS then you need to **disable** [*Always use https*](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/edge-certificates/additional-options/always-use-https/)*.* This is because the https/SSL certificate is handled by Noloco when you configure your domain.

#### For Subdomains

Add a CNAME record for your domain pointing to ssl.noloco.co

### Verify Domain Connection

After adding your DNS records to your domain registrar, you can come back to Noloco and **verify** the setup. This will check if you have correctly setup your domain name, and it will activate your custom domain.

<figure><img src="https://319575345-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifpIQWu0HCVYAt51oT%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b5f372faea91134ce7b4708367c8cb67d03ad420%2Fdomains_verify.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide, so if this doesn't work immediately, please try again in a few minutes or a few hours.

### Cloudflare Connection

When connecting you Cloudflare you need to turn off HTTPS as the SSL is all handled by Noloco. Do do this, in your Cloudflare account go to SSL/TLS > Edge Certificates > Always Use HTTPS > **Off**

### Troubleshooting Custom Domains

<details>

<summary>I don't own a domain yet</summary>

Buying a new domain is quick, easy and typically cheap. We strongly reccomend using [Namecheap](https://namecheap.com) to purchase your domains. They typically cost \~10$ for a `.com` but can vary for other types of domains.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Using with Cloudflare</summary>

If you are setting up your custom domain with [Cloudflare](https://cloudflare.com) DNS then you need to **disable** [*Always use https*](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/edge-certificates/additional-options/always-use-https/)

This is because the https/SSL certificate is handled by Noloco when you configure your domain as described above.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Your domain won't verify</summary>

It's important to wait for 30 minutes or for up to 48 hours for DNS records to propagate. If you check less than the required time, you may not see the changes applied.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Transfer the domain to another app</summary>

If you want to use your custom domain for another app, simply set up the domain settings for that app and then remove the domain settings for the previous app. Noloco will manage the switch for you. However, you might need to wait again up to 24 hours before the changes take effect

</details>

<details>

<summary>Using a normal domain vs a subdomain</summary>

If you're not using a subdomain you might find it trickier to setup your custom domain. Usually we recommend using a custom domain.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Bypassing Custom Domain</summary>

Are you having trouble accessing your app with your custom domain? You can bypass this by following this link: `your app's link/?bypassCustomDomain=true&bypassCustomCode=false` . Just remember to replace **your app's link** with the actual link to your app.

</details>