Fixing Custom Domain Connectivity Issues - for GoDaddy Users

If your custom domain has been recently disconnected from your Zenfolio account, and you're a GoDaddy user, it may be due to GoDaddy adding "parked" A records to your DNS zone file during the renewal process. This guide explains why this has happened, and provides step-by-step instructions needed to fix the issue.

Why Is My Domain Disconnected?

GoDaddy recently introduced a change to their renewal process, and have begun automatically opting users into their "Website and Marketing" web building tools. If not manually opted out of ahead of domain renewal, GoDaddy adds two "parked" A records to your DNS zone file. These records temporarily reroute the domain to their web building suite, which disrupts custom domain connections to your Zenfolio account.

While your domain still includes Zenfolio’s required five unique DNS records, the presence of the parked records is causing a routing conflict with your domain, which our system is designed to check for. If any additional records are detected under the "@" or "www" host names when our system performs its routine checks on your custom domain, it disables the custom domain connection under Account Settings → Domain & Social in your account at that time to ensure functionality and security isn't compromised.

How to Fix the Issue

To restore your custom domain, you need to remove the parked records GoDaddy added to your DNS zone file in your GoDaddy account, and then re-enable your custom domain in your Zenfolio account:

Step 1: Locate and Remove Parked Records in your GoDaddy account

1. Sign in to your GoDaddy Domain Portfolio. 
2. Click on your custom domain under Domain Name ↓ to access the Domain Settings page.
   
3. On the Domain Settings page, click DNS to view your DNS records.
4. In the DNS area, locate the following A Records:

4. Click the trashcan icon next to these two records to delete them both.

Step 2: Contact GoDaddy Support (If Needed)

If you're unable to remove the parked records or can't locate them in your DNS zone file, they may be admin-locked. In this case, you’ll need to contact GoDaddy Support to assist you.

1. Visit GoDaddy’s support page: Contact GoDaddy.
2. Log in to your GoDaddy account.
3. Click Chat Now on the right-hand side and choose Technical Support at the prompt.
4. When connected with a representative, request the removal of the two A records with the values 3.33.130.190 and 15.197.148.33 from your DNS zone file.

Step 3: Re-enable Custom Domain in your Zenfolio Account

After confirming that those two records have been removed, you will then need to re-enable your custom domain connection in your Zenfolio account:

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. Click on the Domain & Social tab.
4. Re-activate the Custom Domain switch on the page. Your previous custom domain should show in the field below.
5. If your custom domain doesn’t show in the field: 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 custom domain name. The www. portion will automatically be added - you do not need to include it.
7. Click on Continue and confirm the change.

If the DNS records are set up properly, you should pass the DNS test, and your Zenfolio website will once again be accessible at your custom domain within 24 hours.

What Happens After the Fix?

Once the parked records are removed and your custom domain is re-enabled, as long as your domain renewal stays active with GoDaddy, our system will no longer disable the Custom Domain settings in your account automatically.