Using a custom domain on aliases is the choice of a verified domain owned by the account holder, such as yourdomain.com, in the domain selector of the Create Alias form, so the new alias address uses that domain rather than a brand domain. For example, the finished address reads shop@yourdomain.com.
This page covers that choice, the check of the full address before creation, and the setting of a default domain.
What does this page cover, and what do the related pages cover?#
This page owns one decision in alias creation: choosing a verified custom domain for a new alias. It owns only that decision. Domain setup belongs to a separate page. Adding the domain to the account, including the domain form and the DNS records that follow, is covered in Adding a custom domain. The full alias form, including generation methods, destinations, categories, and descriptions, is covered in Creating aliases. DNS setup and the full alias form are not repeated here.
A Pro or Business account is required for custom domains. The domain must already be added to the account and hold Active status, which means its DNS records are verified and mail forwards through the domain. A verified destination inbox is also required before an alias can be created. Brand domains remain available in the same selector when no custom domain is selected.
How is a custom domain chosen when an alias is created?#
The domain is chosen in the Create Alias form, at the same stage where the alias name is entered. The selector lists Active custom domains alongside the brand domains, and the choice applies only to the alias being created.
- Open the Aliases page. Go to Aliases in the dashboard.
- Select + Create Alias. The button sits at the top right of the Aliases page.
- Choose a generation method. Manual allows a chosen alias name to be typed. Other generation methods are covered in the alias creation guide.
- Type the alias name. In the Alias Address field, type the local part, the part before the
@. The field hint states: "Lowercase letters, numbers, dots, dashes (3-64 chars)". - Choose the domain. In the domain selector beside the Alias Address field, select the custom domain, for example yourdomain.com. Only Active domains appear in this list.
- Check the preview bar. The preview bar at the top of the form shows the full address as the name is typed, including the chosen domain. Confirm the full address reads as intended before continuing.
- Complete the remaining fields and select Create. Destination, company or website, category, and description follow the alias creation guide. Create sits in the preview bar. The alias address, including its domain, is fixed once the alias is created.
What does a worked example look like?#
An account holder owns yourdomain.com, with the domain in Active status, and needs an alias for a store signup. The sequence runs as follows: open Aliases, select + Create Alias, choose Manual, type shop in the Alias Address field, select yourdomain.com in the domain selector, confirm the preview bar reads shop@yourdomain.com, then select Create.
The same alias name on a brand domain produces a different address. The original guide gave shop.a3f9@aliasfleet.me as the brand domain form, where the local part carries a generated suffix. On the custom domain, the address is shop@yourdomain.com: the chosen name, the @ sign, and the owned domain, with no generated suffix and no brand domain in the address.
The comparison shows what the domain choice changes and what it leaves unchanged. The domain choice changes only the domain part of the address. It does not change the destination inbox, the alias name rules, or the forwarding behaviour. Mail sent to shop@yourdomain.com forwards to the destination set on the alias, in the same way as mail sent to an alias on a brand domain.
How is a default domain set for new aliases?#
A default domain removes the need to select the same domain on every new alias. The default alias domain is an account default covered in General settings. That domain is then pre-selected in the domain selector when a new alias is created. The pre-selection is not permanent for any single alias: the selector can still be changed to a different Active domain, or to a brand domain, before Create is selected. A default domain therefore sets the starting choice, not the final address.
How is a new alias on a custom domain verified?#
Verification confirms that mail to the new address reaches the destination inbox. After creation, a test email sent to the new alias address from a separate inbox, checked on arrival in the destination inbox, provides that confirmation. The alias card in the Aliases list shows the full address and its destination, which confirms the address and destination recorded at creation. If the test email does not arrive, the troubleshooting checks below apply before any DNS change is made. A related walkthrough of aliases on a custom domain is available in How to set up email aliases on a custom domain.
Why does a custom domain not appear in the domain selector?#
A missing domain in the selector is a status problem, not a form problem. Only domains in Active status appear. A domain in DNS Pending status has its records set but verification has not completed, and a domain in Setup Required status still needs its DNS records added and verified. In either case, the DNS setup and verification are completed first, as covered in Adding a custom domain, and then the selector is checked again. The meaning of each status badge is covered in Domain status and health.
Can the domain on an existing alias be changed?#
No. An alias address is fixed at creation, and the domain is part of that address. There is no field in the alias edit view for changing the address or its domain. To move an alias name to a different domain, a new alias with that name is created on the new domain, the new alias is confirmed to forward correctly, and then the old alias is deleted. The deletion guide is Deleting an alias. Deletion is permanent, so the old address is not recreated after deletion.
What if mail to an alias on a custom domain stops arriving?#
The alias and the domain are checked in order, before DNS records are changed. First, the alias itself is confirmed active: the Active toggle on the alias card must be on, since a paused alias does not forward mail. Second, the domain is confirmed to be still in Active status on the Domains list; a domain that leaves Active status stops forwarding for every alias on that domain. Third, the destination inbox is confirmed to be still verified. Fourth, the alias address is copied from the alias card rather than typed from memory, since a single wrong character sends mail to a different address or to no address. If those checks pass and mail still does not arrive, Emails not arriving gives the full delivery troubleshooting guide.