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Connecting a Custom Domain from GoDaddy.com

Your Zenfolio website will have a unique web address by default, based on your username, which will appear in this format: username.zenfoliosite.com

If you have your own custom domain name with GoDaddy.com please follow these steps for connecting.

  1. Point the Custom Domain to Zenfolio using DNS Records
  2. Connect Your Domain to Your Zenfolio Account and Website

Point the Custom Domain to Zenfolio using DNS Records

  1. Login to your GoDaddy account and open the DNS Records tab. If you have more than one domain, select the domain you want pointed to your Zenfolio website. Note: only one domain can be pointed to your Zenfolio website.
  2. Creating the required A records:
    • Create a new DNS record.
    • In the Type or Record field, input or select A.
    • In the domain's "host" or "host name" field, input @.
    • In the IP, Target, Value, Points To or Destination field, enter Zenfolio's IP address: 199.181.197.11
    • Repeat these steps to create another A record, and enter Zenfolio's IP address: 199.181.197.12
  3. Creating the required CNAME record:
    • Create another record but this time, select CNAME for the record type.
    • For the new CNAME record, enter www for the Host/Name. 
    • Enter custom.zenfoliosite.com for the Target, Value, Points To, or Destination field.
      Note: custom.zenfoliosite.com. must be typed exactly. Do not replace the word 'custom'.
  4. Creating the required AAAA records:
    • Create a new DNS record
    • In the Type or Record field, input or select AAAA.
    • In the domain's "host" or "host name" field, input @.
    • In the IP, Target, Value, Points To or Destination field, enter Zenfolio's IP address: 2620:78:200f::cf:11
    • Repeat these steps to create another AAAA record, and enter Zenfolio's IP address: 2620:78:200f::cf:12

04b-GoDaddy-DNS-correct-records-for-Zenfolio.png

Please check that your DNS Records look similar to the screenshot above, and that the values entered match the table below:

Host Record Type Target, Value, Points To, Destination
@ A 199.181.197.11
@ A 199.181.197.12
@ AAAA 2620:78:200f::cf:11
@ AAAA 2620:78:200f::cf:12
www CNAME custom.zenfoliosite.com

 

GoDaddy Default and Zenfolio A Records Conflict

It is only possible to have the Zenfolio A Records configured to connect correctly.

  1. View the DNS Records tab
  2. Incorrect A Record showing 15.197.225.128
  3. Incorrect A Record showing 3.33.251.168
  4. No ability to edit or delete rows
  5. Correct Zenfolio required A Records with IP addresses of 199.181.197.11 and 199.181.197.12

03a-GoDaddy-DNS-Records-no-delete.png

If you see Incorrect Records this means that Forwarding has been enabled which is causing a conflict. Please follow the easy step below to resolve:

 

Remove GoDaddy Forwarding

  1.  Go to the Forwarding tab
  2. Domain forwarding shows as being set up
  3. Click 'Remove'

02-GoDaddy-forwarding-set.png

Once you have finished these settings, feel free to proceed to Step 4 below but please note that it may take up to 24 hours for the DNS changes to apply, but GoDaddy is usually within one hour from experience.

Note: The custom domain will need to use the default Nameservers provided by your domain host. Because Zenfolio is not the actual host of your domain, there are no Zenfolio Nameservers to provide.

 

Connect Your Domain to Your Zenfolio Account and Website

Following the instructions in Step 2 directs your custom domain web traffic to Zenfolio. The next step is to set the domain to your specific Zenfolio account and website. 

  1. Return to your Zenfolio account then click on your name in the top right-hand corner.
  2. Select Account Settings from the dropdown menu
  3. Go to Domain & Social.
  4. Activate the Custom Domain switch on the page.
  5. Click on the pencil icon to edit the custom domain being used. 
  6. Choose "I want to add a top-level domain", and enter your domain name. The www. portion will automatically be added.
  7. Click on Continue and then Confirm the change.

User-added image

If the DNS records are set up properly, your website should now be accessible at your custom domain, usually within 1-2 hours, please be patient. 


If you've verified that your account has the correct DNS Settings and does not show the error in the screenshot below, and after 48 hours your custom domain is still not working, please send an email to Customer Support for assistance. Please include a screenshot of your DNS settings from inside your GoDaddy account.

  1. If GoDaddy Forwarding is enabled, these A records need to be removed by disabling Forwarding, please refer to the section above titled Remove GoDaddy Forwarding.

01-godaddy-connection-error-edited.png

 

 

Tips for using a Custom Domain


Things to do: 

  • Read these instructions fully
  • Contact Customer Support using the Info Center.jpg Info Center in the top right-hand area of your account pages, if you have questions
  • Please be patient. It can take up to 48 hours for your changes to be live everywhere


Things not to do:

  • Forward/Redirect your domain - will not work with Zenfolio
  • Display the Zenfolio site within an iFrame
  • Use Domain Masking through your domain host
  • Change your NAMESERVERS (you should be using your domain host's default nameservers)

 

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