Articles on: InstaWP Live

Mapping a Custom Domain for Live Sites on InstaWP

This guide provides a step-by-step process to map your domain to a live site effectively. Each step is designed to ensure a smooth transition and connection of your domain to the desired website, facilitating a professional online presence. Follow the instructions carefully to complete the process successfully.

Step 1

Go to Sites and click InstaWP Live. Select the vertical ellipsis of the site you want to map domain and click on the Map Domain option to open the Map Domain modal window.

Step 2

Enter the desired domain name in the provided field. Ensure you copy these two A Records and add them to your domain DNS settings.

The primary domain is your main website address, while the alias domain is an additional domain that redirects to the primary one. For example, if 'example.com' is your primary domain, you could set 'example.net' as an alias domain that redirects visitors to 'example.com'.

Step 3

Proceed to the DNS Records page and click Add Record to add the A records by entering the necessary details.

Note: DNS settings may vary across different domain registrars. Please ensure you review and update the DNS settings according to your registrar’s specific requirements.

Step 4

Input the required IP address and other details into the designated field. Click Save.

Please ensure that the proxy status is set to 'Off'.

Step 5

Repeat the process to copy and enter the second IP address, then Save again.

Adding two A records helps distribute incoming requests, preventing the primary server from becoming overloaded and reducing the risk of service disruptions.

Step 6

Once successful, return to your InstaWP Dashboard and click on Map Domain button to finalize the mapping.

Once done, it'll show a confirmation message on the top right corner of your screen.

Set Primary Domain

This will add a new domain name to the list of your live-hosted site, which you can set to the primary domain name for your live site. You can enter this page by clicking Map Domain option from the Settings page.

When you set a domain as primary, we also run a "search-replace" for old domain to new domain.

If you wish to add www as well, map a new domain and enter the www.yourdomain.com, then create 2 A records for www accordingly.

Check SSL

InstaWP simplifies SSL management by allowing you to easily check and validate SSL certificates for your live website, ensuring secure data transmission between the server and web browser.

In the next step, you can check the SSL status and click on the link provided to access and review your SSL certificate details.

Retry SSL Installation for InstaWP Live Sites

If the SSL installation for your InstaWP Live site fails, the failure notice will indicate the possible reason, such as DNS misconfiguration or expired records.

Before retrying, ensure the issue is resolved by checking your DNS settings or verifying domain ownership. Once the issue is fixed, you can retry the process to successfully install the SSL certificate.

To do this, go to the Map Domain section of your site, click on Check SSL, and then select Retry SSL. This will reinitiate the SSL installation process, ensuring your site is properly secured.

Updated on: 02/05/2025

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