Custom Domain Setup

This article covers the full custom domain process: the DNS records you need to add, where to add them, what each record does, and what to do if verification fails.

If you have not yet started domain setup, read Tenant Setup Overview first.

Why a custom domain

Your tenant ships with a default URL at your-studio.onserene.io. Connecting a custom domain:

• Lets your public contact form and newsletter widget use your own domain in API calls.
• Makes unsubscribe links and confirmation emails come from your domain, which improves deliverability.
• Establishes the address shown to subscribers in their email clients.

The DNS records

Serene Studio shows you the records to add when you connect a domain. They must be in place before the domain can be connected.

CNAME record

The CNAME routes traffic for your subdomain to Serene Studio. Do not add a CNAME for a bare domain (example.com) — most registrars do not support CNAME on the root apex. Use a subdomain (www.example.com, portal.example.com, studio.example.com).

TXT record

The TXT record proves domain ownership, when one is required. Without it, Serene Studio cannot confirm that you control the domain.

Adding records at common registrars

Cloudflare Registrar / Cloudflare DNS

1. Log in at dash.cloudflare.com and select your domain.
2. Open DNS → Records → Add record.
3. For the CNAME: set Type to CNAME, Name to your subdomain, Target to the value from Serene Studio. Set Proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud) — do not proxy through Cloudflare, as this can interfere with SSL provisioning.
4. For the TXT: set Type to TXT, Name to the host shown, Content to the token.
5. Select Save for each.

Namecheap

1. Log in and select Domain List → Manage next to your domain.
2. Open the Advanced DNS tab.
3. Select Add New Record for each record.
4. Match the type, host, and value from Serene Studio. Namecheap strips your root domain from the host field automatically — if Serene Studio shows studio.example.com, enter only studio.

GoDaddy

1. Log in and navigate to My Products → DNS next to your domain.
2. Select Add and choose the record type.
3. For the CNAME, the “Points to” field is the target value from Serene Studio.
4. Do not include a trailing dot in the target — GoDaddy adds one automatically.

Verifying the domain

After adding both records at your registrar:

1. Return to Admin, then Domains.
2. Find your domain in the list. A status chip shows DNS propagating while records are missing, DNS mismatch if a record has the wrong value, and DNS healthy when everything matches.
3. Select Check now to look up your records immediately. The page also checks again on its own every 30 seconds while it is open.
4. SSL provisioning begins automatically once the domain is connected.

If verification fails

The CNAME record is not found

• Double-check that you saved the record at your registrar.
• Confirm the host/name matches exactly what Serene Studio showed.
• Wait 5 minutes and select Check now again — some registrars take a moment to publish new records.

DNS mismatch on the TXT record

• Ensure you copied the full token value from the portal, including any special characters.
• Some registrars wrap TXT values in quotes — paste the value without quotes; the registrar interface adds them.

The domain stays on DNS propagating

• DNS propagation can take up to a few hours in edge cases. Leave the records in place and return later, then select Check now.

SSL certificate

SSL is provisioned automatically once your domain is connected. You do not need to generate or upload a certificate. The certificate covers the exact subdomain you connected.

Renewal is automatic.

Removing a domain

To remove a custom domain, go to Admin, then Domains, open the domain, and choose Disconnect domain. Remove the DNS records at your registrar after you disconnect the domain.

Next steps

• Website integration — wire the contact form and newsletter widget now that your domain is connected.