GoDaddy is one of many Domain Registrars/Hosts that you can use to register and host your custom domain. To use the domain with your Zenfolio account, you will need to log in to your GoDaddy account and make some changes to your DNS Zone File to point the domain to Zenfolio.
This guide covers pointing the entire domain to Zenfolio through the addition of an A record and a Cname (Alias) Record.
- The A Record allows web browsers to know the location (IP address) of your website. The settings below will point web browsers to your Zenfolio site when your Domain Name is used. Zenfolio will then direct visitors to your Zenfolio website.
- The CNAME (Alias) record is a type of record in the DNS which specifies that the domain name is an alias. The Alias name is the sub-domain you want to use. For example "www", or "photos" which will display as www.yourdomainname.com or photos.yourdomainname.com in the address bar of your Zenfolio site. For general use, the Cname for 'www' should be used.
The steps provided below are based on the last known setup for this domain's DNS administration page. If the steps are no longer accurate, please see this page for the most up-to-date instructions on editing the DNS records for this domain host.
Step 1
- Login to your GoDaddy account.
- In the My Products page, click on DNS next to the custom domain you would like to use with your Zenfolio account.
While viewing the DNS Management page, scroll down then click on Add.
A small window will appear with a drop down menu that can be used to add a DNS record.
- Choose A under the Type drop down menu.
- Enter @ for the Host.
- Enter 64.62.158.18 for the Points To field.
- Click Save.
- Click Add again to add the Cname record.
- Choose Cname from the Type drop down menu.
- Enter www for the Host.
- Enter custom.zenfolio.com for the Points To field (make sure to enter 'custom', do not change the 'custom' part).
- Click Save.
Scroll up and look for any other A records. If there are other A records, delete them until there is only the A record that points to 64.62.158.18.
Scroll up again and look for any other Cname records for www. If there are other Cname records for www, delete them until there is only the Cname record that points to custom.zenfolio.com.
When completed, it should looks like below:
Make sure that no forwarding it set up for the domain. It should look like the screenshot below.
Once you have finished these settings, it may take up to 48 hours for the changes to be seen across the internet, so please be patient.
Step 2
Following the instructions in Step 1 directs your custom domain web traffic to Zenfolio. The next step is to set the domain to your Zenfolio account. | For Zenfolio users that signed up after May 10 2018, please click here for updated instructions using the new Photos Page in the Dashboard. |
- Return to your Zenfolio account then go to Settings.
- Go to Website.
- Go to Custom Domain.
- Select Point a custom domain name to your Zenfolio pages.
- Enter your domain name. Be sure the domain you enter begins with www.
- Click Test DNS Setup.
If the Test comes back with the message The domain name is configured correctly, click Save and you are done.
- A record pointing to Zenfolio was not created.
- There are multiple A records. There should only be one A record and it should be the one pointing to 64.62.158.18
- Cname Record is not pointing to custom.zenfolio.com. The custom part should NOT be edited or changed.
- Domain is using nameservers from another service. The domain should use the domain host's default nameservers.