Connect your custom domain

Before you start #

Availability and permissions

• Permission to manage this website and access to its domain’s DNS host.

Have these ready

• Know your domain name and where its DNS is managed. Save a copy of current DNS records and identify any email service before approving changes.

Find where your DNS lives #

A registrar is where you bought the domain. A DNS host controls the records directing its traffic. They can be different companies: a GoDaddy-registered domain might use Cloudflare DNS.

Your HIVE-provided madebyhive.site address and your own custom domain are different addresses for the same published site. A domain connection does not replace or rebuild your saved Studio draft.

Get this website’s instructions #

1. Choose the correct website, then open Your website → Website address (or the Website address step in Setup).
2. Add the domain you own and review the connection method and records HIVE displays. Use those exact hostnames, types and values; do not copy an IP from another website or a general article.
3. Complete ownership verification using the TXT record HIVE supplies. Adding this record proves control; it does not yet move web traffic.

Use a supported automatic connection #

The current automatic provider connection is Cloudflare. A domain’s registrar being GoDaddy does not mean HIVE can automatically edit GoDaddy-hosted DNS.

1. If HIVE offers Connect with Cloudflare and your DNS is there, sign in with the account that controls the intended zone. Review the requested access.
2. Return to HIVE and review the proposed record changes. Approve only the intended web records after checking the backup and warnings. Decline if you are unsure.
3. Keep email MX records, email-related TXT records and unrelated services intact. Do not approve a change to an unrelated domain.

Use the manual method #

1. If automatic connection is unavailable, open the manual instructions and add the supplied ownership and web records at your actual DNS host.
2. Review both the root domain (example.com) and www. Remove or replace conflicting web records only as instructed; do not delete unrelated records.
3. If you deliberately choose HIVE-managed DNS, follow the reviewed nameserver migration instructions shown for that flow. Copy and verify all existing service records first. Changing nameservers moves DNS management for the whole domain; it is not the default fix for a pending record.

Verify and activate HTTPS #

1. Return to HIVE and run the available verification check. Wait for DNS changes to become visible if the status is still pending.
2. Once DNS and ownership checks pass, review the activation dialog. Activate HTTPS and the main address only when you intend visitors to use it.
3. Open the main address and www in a private browser tab. Check the certificate, homepage, navigation and contact link. Keep the temporary address until you have confirmed the connection.

If something goes wrong #

• Pending ownership: check the TXT host name, value and DNS zone. Some DNS hosts append your domain automatically.
• Pending web routing: check conflicting A/AAAA/CNAME records, proxy settings and whether you edited the real DNS host. Allow propagation before repeated changes.
• HTTPS pending: finish ownership and web routing first, then recheck. Contact support with the domain and visible error, without provider passwords.

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