Are you looking to start an online business or expand your existing one? Shopify is a great platform for creating and managing an e-commerce store. And if you already have a domain name from Namecheap, it’s easy to connect it with Shopify. In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps on how to do just that! With these simple instructions, you can have your Namecheap domain connected to Shopify in no time!
How to connect your Namecheap domain to Shopify
Before we get started on connecting your Namecheap domain to Shopify, there are a few things you’ll need. Firstly, you should have an active Shopify account and a registered domain name with Namecheap. If you haven’t already done so, purchase the domain from Namecheap and create your e-commerce store on Shopify.
Once you have both of these set up, it’s time to connect them! To do this, navigate to the ‘Domains’ section in your Shopify dashboard and click on ‘Connect existing domain’. You will then be prompted to enter your domain name.
Next, head over to the DNS settings for both platforms. In order for them to communicate effectively, they need each other’s DNS information.
In Shopify’s DNS settings page, copy the provided records into a new file or keep them open in another tab. Then go back to Namecheap’s dashboard where you can edit DNS records.
In this section of your dashboard within Namecheap look for CNAME record field (‘www’) under Type column and delete it if exists (if not skip this). After that add two A Record by clicking “Add New Record” button:
– First A Record: Leave Host as @ symbol; type IP address in Value field 23.227.38.32
– Second A Record: Set Host as www; type IP address in Value field 23.227.38.32
Save changes by clicking “Save all Changes” button at bottom of page!
Finally test if everything works properly by opening up any web browser (Chrome/Firefox/etc.) incognito mode window/tab – just search anonymously! And typing URL bar like https://yourdomainname.com , hit Enter key & see what happens next!
What you’ll need before getting started
Before you can connect your Namecheap domain to Shopify, there are a few things you’ll need to have in place. Firstly, make sure that you have an active Shopify account and a registered domain with Namecheap.
It’s important to note that if your domain is already connected to another website or platform, such as WordPress or Squarespace, you will need to disconnect it before connecting it to Shopify.
Next, ensure that you have access to both your Shopify and Namecheap account login credentials. You will also need basic knowledge of DNS settings so you can edit them later on.
If this is your first time editing DNS records, don’t worry! There are plenty of resources available online that can guide you through the process step-by-step. Additionally, both Shopify and Namecheap offer customer support should you run into any issues along the way.
Be prepared for some downtime during the connection process. It may take up to 48 hours for the changes made in your DNS settings to fully propagate across all servers worldwide. But once everything is set up correctly, customers will be able to easily navigate from your custom URL straight through to your new online store powered by Shopify!
Shopify’s DNS settings
When it comes to connecting your Namecheap domain to Shopify, you’ll need to update your DNS settings in both platforms. Let’s start with Shopify.
First, log in to your Shopify account and navigate to the “Online Store” tab on the left-hand side. Then click “Domains”. If you haven’t already connected a domain, click “Connect existing domain” and enter your domain name.
Next, under the “DNS settings” section, select “Manage DNS”. Here you can edit or add new records such as A record, CNAME record or TXT record for verification purposes.
One important thing to note is that if you have any existing DNS records from a previous website or email provider set up in Shopify’s DNS settings, make sure not to delete them unless they are no longer needed. This could cause issues with other services that rely on those records.
Shopify also provides helpful documentation regarding DNS configurations specific for popular hosting providers like Namecheap which makes setting up easier than ever before!
Namecheap’s DNS settings
When connecting your Namecheap domain to Shopify, you’ll need to adjust the DNS settings in both platforms. Here’s what you need to know about Namecheap’s DNS settings.
First off, DNS stands for Domain Name System and it essentially acts as a directory for the internet. It translates human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers can understand.
To access your DNS settings in Namecheap, log into your account dashboard and navigate to the “Domain List” section. Click on the domain you want to use with Shopify and then select “Advanced DNS” from the left-hand sidebar.
From here, you’ll see all of your current DNS records listed out. You’ll need to add two new ones: a CNAME record and an A record. These will point your domain name towards Shopify’s servers.
For the CNAME record, enter “www” as the host and then paste in Shopify’s provided target URL (e.g. shops.myshopify.com). For the A record, leave the host field blank and enter one of Shopify’s IP addresses (you can find these in their documentation).
Once you’ve saved these changes, allow some time for them to propagate throughout Namecheap’s network before testing your connection.
Editing your DNS records
Editing your DNS records is a crucial step in connecting your Namecheap domain to Shopify. In this section, we’ll guide you through the process of editing your DNS records and making sure they’re correctly configured.
To get started, log in to your Namecheap account and navigate to the “Domain List” page. Find the domain name you want to connect with Shopify and click “Manage”.
Next, locate the “Advanced DNS” section and click on it. Here you will see all of your existing DNS records for this particular domain.
Find the record labeled “www” or create one if it doesn’t exist. Edit the value for that record by changing it from “@” (which means root or apex), to point towards Shopify’s IP address which can be found within their help documentation.
You will also need to add a new CNAME record using Shopify’s instructions where they provide a unique code specific for each store at checkout.myshopify.com
Once you have made these changes, save them and wait for up to 48-72 hours before testing if everything works well together between Namecheap and Shopify.
Editing DNS records can be intimidating but following these steps should ensure smooth sailing as soon as possible!
Testing your connection
After editing your DNS records, it’s important to test your connection between Namecheap and Shopify. This step will ensure that everything is working properly before launching your website.
To begin testing, go to the “Domains” section in Shopify and click on “Connect existing domain”. Enter your domain name (without www) and then click on “Next”. You’ll be prompted to verify ownership of the domain by adding a TXT record in your DNS settings.
Once you’ve added the TXT record, wait a few minutes for it to propagate. Then, return to Shopify and click on “Verify Connection”. If everything has been set up correctly, you should see a message confirming that the connection was successful.
It’s also recommended to test other aspects of your website such as page loading speed and mobile responsiveness. These factors can have an impact on user experience and search engine rankings.
By thoroughly testing your connection between Namecheap and Shopify, you can ensure that your website is ready for launch.
Next steps
After following the steps outlined above, you have successfully connected your Namecheap domain to Shopify. Congratulations! It’s important to note that DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate fully, so don’t worry if it takes some time for your website to start loading on your custom domain.
Now that you’ve completed this step, it’s time to focus on building and growing your online store. Make sure to optimize your website for search engines by adding relevant keywords, creating useful content and developing a strong backlink strategy. Keep track of your analytics data and adjust accordingly based on what works best for your business.
Remember that having a professional-looking website with a custom domain is just one part of running an online store. You’ll need high-quality products, excellent customer service and effective marketing strategies in order to succeed.
We hope this guide has been helpful in connecting your Namecheap domain with Shopify. If you run into any issues along the way or have any questions about managing your Shopify store, be sure to check out their comprehensive help center or reach out directly through their support channels.
Good luck with building and growing your ecommerce business!