How to Connect Your Domain and Go Live with ZipWP Cloud?

After building your website with ZipWP, the next step is to publish it using your own domain. This ensures your site is accessible at a professional, branded URL (e.g., yourdomain.com) instead of a temporary ZipWP address.

With ZipWP Cloud, you can host your website and connect it to any domain you own. This guide walks you through how to link your domain and make your website live.

Prerequisites

Before connecting your domain, make sure you have the following:

• A Domain Name: You will need a registered domain. If you already have one, you can proceed. If not, you can purchase a domain from any registrar such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains.

• An Active ZipWP Cloud Plan: Connecting a custom domain requires an active ZipWP Cloud hosting subscription. You can view available plans and subscribe here.

How to Connect Your Domain

Once your website is ready for launch, follow these steps to connect your domain:

• From your ZipWP dashboard, locate your site and click the Go Live button.

• Enter your domain name (e.g., yourwebsite.com) and select the region closest to your target audience. This helps your site load faster for visitors.

• ZipWP will display DNS records required to verify and connect your domain. You will typically have two options:
  • CNAME Method (Recommended): This is the preferred option and is supported by most domain registrars. Access your domain registrar’s DNS settings and add the CNAME record as provided on the screen.
  • A Record Method (Alternative): If your registrar doesn’t support CNAME, use the A record option to verify domain ownership.

• Update the DNS settings in your domain registrar’s dashboard. If you’re unsure how to do this, refer to your registrar’s documentation by searching: “How to add a CNAME/A record on [Registrar Name].” If you need help, you can also reach out to our support team.

• Return to the ZipWP dashboard and click Submit to confirm that the DNS records have been updated.

That’s it! ZipWP will begin verifying your domain automatically.

What Happens After?

DNS propagation can take anywhere from 2 to 24 hours. It is completely normal if your site is not immediately live on your custom domain after submitting.

While you wait, your site remains accessible on its temporary ZipWP URL so you do not lose access or functionality during this period.

Once the DNS records are verified, ZipWP will automatically connect your domain and notify you via email. Your site will then be live and accessible to everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need separate ZipWP hosting plan if I am ZipWP Hobby/Pro/Business plan?

Yes. ZipWP Cloud is a separate hosting subscription with its own plans and features. You can view all available plans here.

Can I use a subdomain like blog.mydomain.com?

Yes. Both root domains and subdomains are supported.

I’m not familiar with DNS settings. What should I do?

Most domain registrars provide help articles for adding DNS records. Alternatively, you can contact their support or reach out to ZipWP support for guidance.

What if my verification failed?

A failed verification usually means the DNS records were not added correctly or propagation has not completed yet. Double-check that the records match exactly what is shown in your ZipWP dashboard, and ensure they are added under the correct domain.

Make sure they are added under the correct domain and in the right format. Keep in mind that DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to fully update, so it’s normal to experience some delay.

If the issue persists, try removing and re-adding the DNS records, then re-verify the domain in ZipWP. For further assistance, you can always reach out to our support team, we’re here to help you get your site live.