> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lumi.new/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. > Publish your project on a custom domain. # Custom Domain Lumi simplifies publishing your project online, whether you use a free staging URL (e.g., `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. Image(35) Pn ### Step 1: Enter your Domain Go to "Project Page -> Workspace -> Domains" and click the "Add domain" button. Enter your domain and click "Continue". Image(1) Pn ### 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](http://example.com)", please add as follows —— | **Type** | **Host** | **Value** | **TTL** | | :------- | :------- | :---------------------------------- | :-------- | | CNAME | @ | [www.lumi.ing](http://www.lumi.ing) | Automatic | * If your domain is similar to "[www.example.com](http://www.example.com)", please add as follows —— | **Type** | **Host** | **Value** | **TTL** | | :------- | :------- | :---------------------------------- | :-------- | | CNAME | www | [www.lumi.ing](http://www.lumi.ing) | Automatic | * If your domain is similar to "[image.example.com](http://image.example.com)", please add as follows —— | **Type** | **Host** | **Value** | **TTL** | | :------- | :------- | :---------------------------------- | :-------- | | CNAME | image | [www.lumi.ing](http://www.lumi.ing) | Automatic | After completing adding the host record, click the "Continue" button. Image(2) Pn #### A Simple Step-by-Step Example on Namecheap You can freely choose a service provider or seller to purchase and configure a domain. The configuration process is similar to the following example. 1. Go to the Namecheap official website: [**www.namecheap.com**](http://www.namecheap.com) 2. From the upper right corner of the page, enter "Account -> Domain list" 3. In the Domain list, find the domain to be configured, and click the "manage" button on the right. Image(3) Pn Image(4) Pn 1. Click the Tab "Advanced DNS" 2. Click the red "ADD NEW RECORD" button 3. Submit the corresponding information Image(39) Pn ### Step 3: Verify the Domain 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. Image(5) Pn Once the status shows "Ready", click the "Verify Domain" button. Image(6) Pn If the verification is successful, the button will change to "Verified" and a green icon will appear next to the domain. Image(7) Pn ## 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.namecheap.com) * [https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-sg/web-cloud](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-sg/web-cloud) * [https://www.spaceship.com](https://www.spaceship.com) * [https://www.enom.com](https://www.enom.com) * [https://www.hostinger.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: 1. **A domain name idea**: e.g., `my-awesome-blog.com`. 2. **A valid email address**: For account registration and important notifications. 3. **A payment method**: Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard), PayPal, or Cryptocurrency. #### Step 1: Search for Your Domain Go to the Namecheap official website: [www.namecheap.com](http://www.namecheap.com) In the main search bar on the homepage, type your desired domain name and click the "Search" button. Image(26) Pn #### Step 2: Choose Your Domain 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. Image(27) Pn * 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. Image(28) Pn After adding it to your cart, click the "Checkout" button, which usually appears in the bottom-right corner or at the top of the page. Image(29) Pn #### Step 3: Configure Your Cart Options (Crucial Step) On the checkout page, you'll see several options. Review them carefully. * **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. * **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`. * 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. Once you've confirmed your settings, click "**Confirm Order**". Image(33) Pn #### Step 4: Create a Namecheap Account or Log In If you are a new user, you'll need to create an account. On the right side of the page, fill in the fields to create your account: Username, Password, First Name, Last Name, and Email Address. Image(34) Pn Click "Create Account and Continue". If you already have an account, simply log in on the left. #### 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. Click "**Continue**" when you're done. #### Step 6: Finalize Payment Choose your preferred payment method (like Credit Card or PayPal) and enter your payment details. Review all the details one last time and click "Pay Now" or "Continue" to complete the purchase. #### 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. You will get a confirmation of your purchase. Look for an email with a subject like "IMMEDIATE VERIFICATION required." You MUST click the link inside to verify your email address. If you don't do this within 15 days, ICANN will temporarily suspend your domain. #### 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 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. Yes, absolutely. It's free and protects your personal information from spammers and marketers. There's no reason to turn it off. 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 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. 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. 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. 1. Navigate to Project > Workspace > Domains. 2. Click the delete button next to the domain you wish to remove. 3. 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. 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.