Your store starts out at a free Minicart subdomain, but many stores eventually want their own domain. You can buy one through Minicart or connect one you already own.
Ask Sloane
Say "Sloane, connect my domain example.com" and she will walk you through it. Or open Settings > Domains in the left sidebar and add it there.
Option 1: Buy a domain through Minicart (Recommended)
The easiest way to get a domain for your store. It also asks the least of you technically. Search for the domain you want. If it is available, Minicart registers it and configures everything for you. There are no DNS records to copy and nothing to set up at a registrar. Email is handled the same way, so when you are ready you can add an address like [email protected] without touching any DNS settings yourself.
Option 2: Connect a domain you already own
Add your domain and Minicart will show you exactly what to change at your current registrar. Either way your existing email keeps working.
Domain, using nameservers (e.g. example.com)
This is the easier path and the one Minicart offers whenever your registrar allows nameserver changes. Log in to your registrar and replace your current nameservers with these 2:
Nameserver 1:
ping.minicart.comNameserver 2:
pong.minicart.com
This moves all DNS for this domain to Minicart. Your existing, common records are imported automatically.
Domain, using A/CNAME records (e.g. example.com)
If you cannot change nameservers at your registrar, add these records instead:
Type:
A, Host:@(root), Value:37.16.6.148Type:
CNAME, Host:www, Value:yourstore.minicart.com
Ensure no other A records for @ exist.
Subdomain, using a CNAME record (e.g. store.example.com)
Add a single record at your registrar:
Type:
CNAMEHost:
store(or whatever subdomain you chose)Value:
yourstore.minicart.com(the exact value is shown in Minicart Portal, based on your Minicart subdomain)
The exact values you need are always shown in Minicart Portal after you add your domain. Copy them from there to be safe.
Verify
Once you have made the change at your registrar, click Verify in Minicart Portal. DNS can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to update. Once the domain shows Active, your store is live at that URL. Minicart sets up a secure https certificate for you automatically.
If Verify still fails after 48 hours, go back to your registrar and check that your nameservers or records match exactly what Minicart shows, with no extra spaces, then verify again.
Still stuck
Domains can be fiddly and every registrar words things differently. If your domain will not verify or you are not sure what to change, reach out through Contact support in the left sidebar and we will take a look with you.