How to Connect a Domain to Your Wix Site (From Wix or Another Registrar)
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Connecting a domain is the step that turns a site at a free Wix address into a site people can find at yourbusiness.com. It's usually quick, but it's also where many new site owners get stuck, mostly because DNS settings live at a different company and use unfamiliar terms.
This guide explains how to connect a domain to a Wix site in every common situation: a domain bought from Wix, a domain bought from another registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap or Squarespace Domains, and a domain whose registration you'd rather move to Wix entirely. It also covers the choice between name servers and pointing, how to protect your existing email, how long changes take and how to fix the most common errors. Instructions are based on the Wix Help Center as checked on November 4, 2026.
What connecting a domain to Wix actually means
Connecting a domain tells the internet to load your Wix site when someone types your address. Technically, it means updating your domain's DNS so that it points to Wix's servers.
There are three different ways to get a domain working with a Wix site, and it helps to know which one you're doing before you start:
Connecting a domain bought from Wix: Wix handles everything automatically.
Connecting a domain bought elsewhere: your domain stays registered with your current registrar, and you change its name servers or DNS records so it points to Wix.
Transferring a domain to Wix: the registration itself moves to Wix, so you pay for renewals and manage everything in your Wix account.
Connecting is also called domain mapping. It doesn't change who owns the domain or who you pay to renew it. Transferring does.
Before you connect a domain to Wix
A few minutes of preparation prevents most connection problems. Check these first:
Your Wix site has a paid plan. Wix requires a Premium plan before you can connect a custom domain.
You know where your domain is registered. If you're not sure, run a free WHOIS lookup to see your domain's registrar and expiry date.
You can log in to that registrar. You'll need access to its DNS or name server settings.
You know what else uses the domain. Business email, verification records for tools like Google Search Console and subdomains all rely on DNS records.
DNS proxies are turned off. Wix doesn't support DNS proxy services such as Cloudflare's proxy for connected domains, so disable them before connecting.
The nuance: the most common reason a domain connection breaks something isn't the website. It's email. If your domain already sends and receives email, write down your current DNS records, especially MX records, before you change anything.
How to connect a domain you bought from Wix
If you bought your domain from Wix, connecting it is the easiest case. When you buy a domain from Wix or transfer one to Wix, it's automatically connected through Wix name servers, so there are no DNS records to edit.
To assign a Wix domain to a site, you choose the site from the Domains section of your Wix account. If you bought the domain while upgrading a site, it's usually already assigned. If you have several sites, make sure the domain is assigned to the right one, then wait for the connection to propagate, which can take up to 48 hours.
How to connect a domain from another registrar to Wix
If your domain is registered with another company, you'll add it to your Wix account first, then update its settings at your registrar. Wix walks you through each step on screen.
Step 1: Add the domain to your Wix account
Go to the Domains section of your Wix account.
Choose Add an Existing Domain.
Choose Connect a domain you already own.
Select the Wix site you want to connect the domain to.
Enter your domain name and choose to connect it to your site.
At this point, Wix checks whether your registrar supports automatic connection. If you see an option to start a transfer instead, you can still choose to connect.
Step 2: Use automatic connection if it's offered
Some domain providers support automatic connection. If Wix shows a popup with a Continue button, you can sign in to your registrar from inside Wix and Wix updates the records for you, then emails you when the domain is connected.
Automatic connection isn't available for every user or every provider. If you don't see it, choose the manual setup.
Step 3: Choose name servers or pointing
For a manual connection, Wix offers two methods:
Name servers (recommended by Wix): Wix hosts your DNS records, and you manage them in your Wix account. Your domain stays registered with your current registrar.
Pointing: your DNS records stay with your current provider, and you add two records that point the domain to Wix.
We explain how to choose between them in the next section.
Step 4: Update your registrar settings
Wix's on-screen guide breaks this into small checkpoints: log in to your registrar, find your domain's settings, find the name server or DNS area, then replace the relevant values. Keep the Wix page open in one tab and your registrar in another, and confirm each checkpoint as you go.
Step 5: Wait for propagation
Once your records are updated, Wix says it may take up to 48 hours for the changes to propagate and for your site to appear worldwide. Many connections work much sooner, but don't panic if your domain still shows an old page for a while. Wix emails you when the domain is connected.
Name servers vs pointing: which should you use?
The choice comes down to where you want your DNS records to live. DNS records are the instructions that tell the internet where to send web traffic, email and verification checks for your domain.
Factor | Name servers | Pointing |
Where DNS records are hosted | Wix | Your current DNS provider |
Where you manage DNS | Your Wix account | Your registrar or DNS host |
Wix's recommendation | Recommended in most cases | Better for complex existing DNS setups |
Support from Wix for DNS issues | Yes | Limited, since records are hosted elsewhere |
Needed for some Wix features | Yes | No |
Wix requires a name server connection for a few features, including sending email marketing campaigns from your own domain, creating subdomains for each language version of a site with Wix Multilingual and connecting a subdomain to a Wix Photo Albums album.
Choose name servers if:
Your domain only runs a website, or a website plus simple email
You want to manage everything from your Wix account
You plan to use Wix features that need a name server connection
Choose pointing if:
Your domain has many existing DNS records you don't want to recreate
Your email runs on a setup with lots of custom records, like Microsoft 365
Another team or provider manages your DNS
How to connect a domain to Wix with name servers
With the name server method, you replace your domain's existing name servers with the two Wix name servers shown in your Wix account. Wix's on-screen instructions show the exact values to use for your domain.
At your registrar:
Log in and open the settings for your domain.
Find the area for name servers, sometimes labeled DNS, nameservers or domain servers.
Choose the option to use custom name servers.
Delete the existing name servers and enter the two Wix name servers from your Wix account.
Save the changes, then confirm in Wix that you've replaced them.
When you connect via name servers, Wix automatically imports your domain's existing MX records, which keeps standard email routing in place. Some email providers also need CNAME or TXT records, so add any of those manually in your Wix account's DNS settings.
If you get stuck, contact your registrar's support team and ask them to update your name servers to the values shown in your Wix account.
How to connect a domain to Wix by pointing
With the pointing method, your name servers stay the same and you update two DNS records at your current provider. According to the Wix Help Center's pointing method guide, the records are:
Record type | Host | Value |
A record | @ (or leave blank) | 185.230.63.107 |
CNAME record | www | pointing.wixdns.net |
At your DNS provider:
Log in and open the DNS management area for your domain.
Edit the existing A record for the root domain, shown as @ or blank, and set its value to the Wix IP address.
Edit or create the CNAME record for www and set it to the Wix value.
Remove any conflicting records for the same host, such as a second A record for @.
Save the changes and confirm in your Wix account that you've updated the records.
Here's the subtlety: you must update both records. If only one is changed, your site may load on some addresses but not others, or show a "not secure" warning, because the SSL certificate can't be issued properly for both versions of your domain.
Always check the values shown in your own Wix account before saving, because Wix's dashboard is the source of truth for your specific connection.
Connecting domains from popular registrars
The steps are the same everywhere, but registrars label their settings differently. Here's what to look for:
GoDaddy: open the domain's settings in your GoDaddy account and look for the DNS or nameservers option.
Namecheap: go to Domain List, click Manage next to the domain and use the Nameservers section.
Squarespace Domains: open the domain's settings and look for the DNS or name servers section.
Other registrars: search their help center for "change name servers" or "edit DNS records".
If your registrar supports Wix's automatic connection, that's usually the fastest route, because you never have to find these settings yourself.
How to keep your email working when you connect a domain
Email is the part of a domain connection most likely to break, and the part people notice fastest. Your email depends on MX records, and often on TXT records for verification and spam protection, such as SPF.
Follow these rules to protect it:
Record your current DNS before changing anything. A screenshot of your registrar's DNS page is enough.
With name servers, check that Wix imported your MX records and add any CNAME or TXT records your email provider requires.
With pointing, you only change the A and CNAME records for the website, so email records usually stay untouched.
If you use Microsoft 365 email that already works, Wix recommends connecting by pointing to avoid re-adding several custom records.
If you plan to set up new business email after connecting, Wix offers Google Workspace mailboxes from your Wix account, and when Wix hosts your DNS it can add the required records for you.
How long does it take to connect a domain to Wix?
The setup itself usually takes a few minutes. Propagation is what takes time. DNS changes spread gradually across the internet, because networks cache records for a period before checking for updates.
Wix says it can take up to 48 hours for a domain connection to go live worldwide. In practice, you may see your site on the new domain within an hour, while friends in another country still see the old page. That's normal during propagation.
While you wait:
Avoid changing the records again unless you know they're wrong, since each change can extend the wait.
Check your site in a private browser window to avoid cached versions.
Clear your browser cache or flush your DNS if you've already updated the records and still see an old page.
Common Wix domain connection problems and fixes
Most connection problems come down to a handful of causes.
The site doesn't load on your domain
If your site still doesn't load on your domain after 48 hours, Wix recommends troubleshooting with its Domain Assistant. Check that your DNS records are set exactly as Wix shows them (both the A record and the CNAME record if you used pointing), then clear your browser cache, flush your DNS and reload.
The site shows a "not secure" warning
During propagation, your site may appear as not secure, because Wix only issues the SSL certificate once propagation is complete. If the warning lasts beyond 48 hours on a pointing connection, check that both the A and CNAME records are set exactly as shown in your Wix account.
Email stopped working after connecting
If you connected with name servers, your email provider's records may be missing from your Wix DNS settings. Compare your Wix DNS records with the list you saved earlier and add any missing MX, CNAME or TXT records.
The domain says it's connected to another Wix account
If a domain is already connected in a different Wix account, it has to be removed from that account before it can be connected in yours. This often happens when a designer or colleague set up the site originally.
Cloudflare or another proxy is in the way
Wix doesn't support DNS proxies like Cloudflare's proxy for connected domains. Turn the proxy off for the records that point to Wix, or move your DNS to Wix with name servers.
How to check that your domain is connected correctly
Once propagation has had time to finish, run through a quick check before you announce your new address. It takes five minutes and catches most issues before customers do.
Visit both versions of your address. Load yourbusiness.com and www.yourbusiness.com and confirm both open your Wix site.
Look for the padlock. Your browser should show a secure connection on both versions. If it doesn't, recheck your DNS records.
Check your domain in your Wix account. The Domains section shows whether the domain is connected and which method it uses.
Send a test email. Send a message to and from your domain email address to confirm mail is still flowing.
Test on mobile data. Turn off Wi-Fi on your phone and load the site, which helps rule out cached DNS on your home network.
Run a WHOIS check. Confirm the registrar and expiry date are what you expect, especially after a transfer.
If everything passes, your connection is done. If one item fails, it usually points straight to the record that needs fixing.
What to do after you connect your domain to Wix
A connected domain is only useful if people and search engines use it. A few follow-up tasks make the switch complete:
Update Google Search Console. Add your new domain as a property and submit your sitemap so Google indexes the right address.
Update your business listings. Change the website field on your Google Business Profile, social media profiles and directory listings.
Update email signatures and marketing materials. Make sure printed materials, invoices and email footers use the new domain.
Set up redirects for old addresses. If you previously used a different domain, redirect it to the new one so old links still work.
Turn on auto-renewal. Wherever your domain is registered, auto-renewal prevents an accidental expiry from taking your site offline.
Here's the subtlety: connecting a domain to Wix doesn't renew it. If your domain is still registered elsewhere, its renewal date and price are set by that registrar, not by Wix. Keep an eye on both your Wix plan renewal and your domain renewal, because they're separate subscriptions.
Should you transfer your domain to Wix instead?
Connecting is enough for most people, but transferring can make sense if you want one bill and one dashboard for everything.
Here's how transferring to Wix works, according to the Wix Help Center:
You buy at least one additional year of registration when you transfer.
Wix says it doesn't charge any extra transfer fees.
Any time remaining on your current registration carries over.
A free domain voucher from a Wix plan can be applied to a transfer.
Transferred domains are automatically connected through Wix name servers.
Adam Garcia, Founder of The Stock Dork, describes how much value an established domain can carry: "TheStockDork.com is a memorable, quirky domain that helps us stand out in the crowded financial advice space and makes our brand more approachable for new investors. Last year alone, our domain name helped drive over 100,000 organic visits."
That's the real choice here. You never need to give up a domain you've built a brand on to use Wix. You can either connect it as it is or transfer it, and both keep the same address.
Connect your domain | Transfer your domain to Wix | |
Who you pay for renewals | Your current registrar | Wix |
Where DNS is managed | Wix (name servers) or your provider (pointing) | Wix |
Time to complete | Minutes, plus up to 48 hours of propagation | Up to 7 days |
Cost | No extra cost from Wix | At least one extra year of registration |
Best for | Keeping your current registrar and renewal price | Managing everything in one account |
The nuance: a newly registered or recently transferred domain usually can't be transferred to another registrar for 60 days. If you just bought your domain elsewhere, connect it now and consider transferring later.
Connecting more than one domain to a Wix site
You can connect secondary domains to a Wix site so they send visitors to your main domain. This is useful if you own a misspelling, a country-code version or an older brand name. Each secondary domain is connected the same way, then set to redirect to your primary domain so search engines and visitors end up in one place.
If you're still building the site itself, you can design and publish it with the Wix website builder on a free address first, then connect your domain when you upgrade.
Connecting a domain to Wix: a quick decision guide
If you're not sure which route to take, these questions usually settle it:
Did you buy the domain from Wix? Then you don't need to do anything technical. Assign it to your site and wait for propagation.
Does your registrar support automatic connection? Use it. It's the fastest and least error-prone option.
Does your domain only power a website and simple email? Connect with name servers and manage everything in Wix.
Do you have complex email or many custom DNS records? Connect by pointing and leave your DNS where it is.
Do you want one bill and one dashboard? Transfer the domain to Wix once it's past any 60-day transfer lock.
Most small businesses end up with name servers or a transfer, because both let them handle site, DNS and email settings from one account.
Connect domain to Wix FAQ
Do I need a paid plan to connect a domain to Wix?
Yes. Wix requires a Premium plan before you can connect a custom domain to a site. You can build and publish on a free Wix address before upgrading.
Should I use name servers or pointing to connect my domain to Wix?
Wix recommends name servers in most cases, because Wix then hosts your DNS and you manage everything in your Wix account. Pointing is better if your domain has many existing DNS records, like complex email setups, that you don't want to recreate.
How long does it take for a domain to connect to Wix?
The setup takes a few minutes, but Wix says DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours before your site appears on the domain worldwide.
Will connecting my domain to Wix affect my email?
It can. With name servers, Wix imports MX records automatically, but you may need to add other records your email provider requires. With pointing, your email records usually stay untouched.
What are the Wix DNS records for pointing?
According to the Wix Help Center, you set an A record for @ to 185.230.63.107 and a CNAME record for www to pointing.wixdns.net. Always confirm the values shown in your Wix account.
What happens to my old website when I connect my domain to Wix?
Once the new records propagate, your domain loads your Wix site instead of the old one. The old site may still exist at your previous host, so keep it until you've confirmed everything works, then cancel that hosting if you no longer need it.
What is DNS propagation?
DNS propagation is the time it takes for updated DNS records to spread across the internet. Networks cache records for a while, so some visitors see the new site before others.
Can I connect a domain to Wix without transferring it?
Yes. Connecting keeps your domain registered with your current registrar, while pointing it at your Wix site. You can transfer it later if you want to manage renewals in Wix.
Connecting your domain to Wix: the bottom line
Connecting a domain to Wix is straightforward once you know which situation you're in. If you bought the domain from Wix, it connects automatically. If it's registered elsewhere, use automatic connection where it's offered, or choose name servers for simplicity and pointing for complex DNS. Protect your email records, update both pointing records and give propagation up to 48 hours.
If you'd rather manage renewals, DNS and billing in one place, a domain transfer to Wix lets you keep the same address you've already built your brand on.
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