yourdomain.com) or connect your own custom domain. This guide covers the entire process, from connecting your domain and troubleshooting common issues to navigating the options.
Why use a custom domain
A custom domain (e.g.,yourdomain.com) significantly improves your site in some key areas:
- Brand Identity: It establishes a more professional and credible online presence.
- Search Engine Visibility: It enhances your SEO, helping you rank higher in search results.
- Memorability: It creates a unique address that is easier to share and remember.
Requirements to use a custom domain
Before you begin:- You must be on a Lumi Pro plan.
- You need to own a domain name.
How to configure a domain
Before You Start
- Make sure you have already owned a domain name. Or purchase one first.
- Make sure you have published the project first.
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Step 1: Enter your Domain
Navigate to Domains and Add
Go to “Project Page -> Workspace -> Domains” and click the “Add domain” button.
Step 2: Add New Host Record
Create a new host record in your DNS Provider and enter the following information ——- If your domain is similar to “example.com”, please add as follows ——
| Type | Host | Value | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNAME | @ | www.lumi.ing | Automatic |
- If your domain is similar to “www.example.com”, please add as follows ——
| Type | Host | Value | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNAME | www | www.lumi.ing | Automatic |
- If your domain is similar to “image.example.com”, please add as follows ——
| Type | Host | Value | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNAME | image | www.lumi.ing | Automatic |
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A Simple Step-by-Step Example on Namecheap
Find the Domain to be Configured
- Go to the Namecheap official website: www.namecheap.com
- From the upper right corner of the page, enter “Account -> Domain list”
-
In the Domain list, find the domain to be configured, and click the “manage” button on the right.
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Step 3: Verify the Domain
Check Status Until 'Ready'
Click the “Check Status” button to refresh the status until it shows “Ready”. This process can take up to 48 hours, so you may need to retry..png?fit=max&auto=format&n=F5n4c_dGD_QS-2Y0&q=85&s=b2c7f48960b72fd00b0bed0e02fe4e99)
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How to Buy a Domain
Suggested Websites
Lumi doesn’t directly sell domain to users and has no subordination or cooperation relationship with the recommended websites below. You are free to choose the seller or service provider to purchase domain. Please pay attention to protecting your personal privacy and financial security during the transaction.
- https://www.namecheap.com
- https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-sg/web-cloud
- https://www.spaceship.com
- https://www.enom.com
- https://www.hostinger.com
A Simple Step-by-Step Example on Namecheap
Namecheap is a popular domain registrar and web hosting company known for its competitive pricing, user-friendly interface, and free lifetime Domain Privacy protection. This guide will walk you through the purchasing process.Before You Start
Make sure you have these three things ready:- A domain name idea: e.g.,
my-awesome-blog.com. - A valid email address: For account registration and important notifications.
- A payment method: Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard), PayPal, or Cryptocurrency.
Step 1: Search for Your Domain
Go to the Namecheap website
Go to the Namecheap official website: www.namecheap.com
Step 2: Choose Your Domain and Add to Cart
Check Availability and Add to Cart
The search results will show if your domain is available.
-
If it is, you’ll see a green checkmark and the price; click the “Add to cart” button.
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-
If it’s taken, the system will say “TAKEN” and suggest alternatives with different extensions (like .net, .org, .io). You can choose an alternative or go back and search for a new name.
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Step 3: Configure Your Cart Options (Crucial Step)
On the checkout page, you’ll see several options. Review them carefully..png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ynWgEA-zeP9dMZPg&q=85&s=d837e56d2e9dc2362544794e47eca543)
Domain Registration
- Term: Defaults to
1 Year. This is recommended for beginners. You can choose a longer term for a better price if you’re sure about the domain. - Auto-Renew: If you want to avoid your domain expiring accidentally, leave it on. If you’re on a tight budget or just testing, you can turn it off.
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Domain Privacy
- This is one of Namecheap’s best features! It hides your personal registration details (name, address, email) from the public.
- It is FREE forever with Namecheap. Ensure this is turned
ON.
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Other Add-ons (Upsells)
- Namecheap will offer other products like
PremiumDNS,Web Hosting,VPN, etc. - For a beginner just buying a domain, none of these are necessary. You can ignore them completely and purchase them later if needed. Do not add anything you don’t need.
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Step 4: Create a Namecheap Account or Log In
If you are a new user, you’ll need to create an account.Fill in Your Account Information
On the right side of the page, fill in the fields to create your account: Username, Password, First Name, Last Name, and Email Address..png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ynWgEA-zeP9dMZPg&q=85&s=093c2a2c84c61349962f0b1ee859b833)
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Step 5: Enter Your Contact Information
You are required by ICANN (the organization that governs domains) to provide valid contact information.- Fill out the form with your real name, address, phone, and email.
- Don’t worry about privacy—as long as you enabled WhoisGuard in Step 3, this information will be hidden from the public.
Step 6: Finalize Payment
Add Payment Information
Choose your preferred payment method (like Credit Card or PayPal) and enter your payment details.
Step 7: Purchase Complete & What’s Next
After your payment is processed, you’ll see a confirmation screen. You will also receive a few emails from Namecheap.What to Do After Buying
Congratulations! You are now the owner of a new domain.- Log in to your Namecheap account and go to your Dashboard.
- Click on Domain List in the left sidebar. You will see your newly purchased domain here.
- Click the “Manage” button next to your domain. This is where you will go in the future to manage your domain’s settings, such as pointing it to a web host via the “Advanced DNS” tab.
- Next, you can add this newly purchased domain to your Lumi project.
FAQs of Buying Domains
What's the difference between a domain and web hosting?
What's the difference between a domain and web hosting?
Think of it this way: a domain is your website’s address (like a street address), and hosting is the actual house where your website files live. You need both to have a live website. You’ve just bought the address.
Do I really need Domain Privacy?
Do I really need Domain Privacy?
Yes, absolutely. It’s free and protects your personal information from spammers and marketers. There’s no reason to turn it off.
The .com domain I want is already taken. What should I do?
The .com domain I want is already taken. What should I do?
Try a different extension like .net or .io, add a verb to your name (e.g., getmywebsite.com), use hyphens, or think of a completely new name.
FAQs
My custom domain is connected, but my site isn't live. What should I do?
My custom domain is connected, but my site isn't live. What should I do?
First, use a tool like dnschecker.org to verify your DNS settings. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide. If the settings are correct, try clearing your browser cache or opening your site in an incognito/private window. As a last resort, try removing and re-adding the domain in Project > Settings > Domains.
Can I buy a domain through Lumi?
Can I buy a domain through Lumi?
Lumi doesn’t directly sell domain to users and has no subordination or cooperation relationship with the recommended websites below. You are free to choose the seller or service provider to purchase domain. Please pay attention to protecting your personal privacy and financial security during the transaction.
Does Lumi provide an SSL certificate for my custom domain?
Does Lumi provide an SSL certificate for my custom domain?
Yes. When you connect a custom domain, Lumi automatically generates and installs a free SSL certificate for you. This ensures your site is served over HTTPS, securing visitor data and boosting your SEO ranking. If the SSL certificate isn’t active within 48 hours, please contact our support team for assistance.
How do I remove a custom domain?
How do I remove a custom domain?
- Navigate to Project > Workspace > Domains.
- Click the delete button next to the domain you wish to remove.
- This will disconnect the domain from your project. To complete the process, be sure to also remove the corresponding DNS records from your domain provider’s settings.
Can I remove the .lumi.ing subdomain?
Can I remove the .lumi.ing subdomain?
The default .Lumi.ing subdomain cannot be removed from your project at this time. It will remain active even after you connect a custom domain.
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