A custom domain is a domain owned by the account holder, such as yourdomain.com, connected to an AliasFleet account so forwarding aliases use addresses on that domain. This guide covers opening the domain form, entering a root domain or a subdomain, and reaching the DNS setup page where verification begins.
Custom domains require a Pro or Business account. The domain must already be registered, and the account holder needs administrative access to the domain registrar or DNS provider (for example Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Cloudflare) so the DNS records can be added once this step is complete.
How is a domain added?#
This page covers the form step only. No DNS records are added here. The DNS setup page that opens next lists the records for the chosen domain type, and the DNS verification guide covers adding and checking those records.
- Open the Domains page. Go to Domains and click Add Domain.
- Choose the domain type. Select Add New Domain for a root domain, or Add Subdomain for a subdomain under a domain already verified.
- Enter the domain name. Type the domain without
wwworhttps, for exampleyourdomain.com. The form removeshttps://,www., and any trailing path automatically, so an entry pasted from a browser address bar is still accepted. - Click Continue. The domain is registered to the account and the DNS setup page opens, showing the records for that domain type.
What is the difference between a root domain and a subdomain?#
The choice made in step 2 decides which records the DNS setup page lists. A subdomain inherits SPF, DKIM, and DMARC from its verified parent domain, so only an MX record is listed for it. A subdomain can only be added under a domain that is already verified.
| Domain type | Example | DNS records listed |
|---|---|---|
| Root domain | yourdomain.com | MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC |
| Subdomain | mail.yourdomain.com | MX only |
Example#
An account holder owns yourdomain.com and wants aliases such as newsletter@yourdomain.com. The sequence is: open Domains, click Add Domain, select Add New Domain, enter yourdomain.com, and click Continue. The DNS setup page then opens for yourdomain.com.
The same account later adds mail.yourdomain.com as a subdomain of the verified yourdomain.com. The sequence is unchanged except for the choice in step 2: select Add Subdomain and enter mail.yourdomain.com. The DNS setup page then lists only the MX record for the subdomain.
What happens after the domain is added?#
The domain is not active yet. It remains in Setup Required status until the DNS records are added and verified. The next step is covered in DNS verification, which owns the record values, where they are added, and the verification check.
The setup page can be reopened at any time. Go to Domains and click Continue Setup on the pending domain.
What if the domain entry is not accepted?#
- The entry includes www, https, or a path. The form removes
https://,www., and trailing paths automatically. If the entry is still rejected, check that the remaining text is a valid registered domain name with no spaces. - The subdomain option is not available. A subdomain requires a verified parent domain. Add and verify the parent domain first, then add the subdomain.
- The domain stays in Setup Required. That status is expected until the DNS records are added and verified. It does not indicate a problem with the form entry. See DNS verification for the record and verification steps.
- The DNS setup page was closed before records were copied. Return to Domains, click Continue Setup on the pending domain, and the setup page opens again.
Related guides#
- DNS verification: the record values, where to add them, and how to run the verification check.
- Subdomains: subdomain setup and how subdomain records inherit from the parent domain.
- How to Set Up Email Aliases on a Custom Domain: the full walkthrough of aliases on a domain the account holder owns, including the DNS records step by step.