Launching an online store is an exciting venture, and Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform known for its user-friendly features and powerful tools.
If you’ve purchased a domain from Namecheap and want to use it for your Shopify store, you’re in the right place. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of connecting your Namecheap domain to your Shopify store, allowing you to establish a professional online presence.
Step 1: Sign in to Your Shopify Account
- Log in to Shopify: Visit the Shopify website (www.shopify.com) and log in to your Shopify account. If you don’t have an account, sign up for one.
- Access Your Shopify Dashboard: Once logged in, you’ll land on your Shopify dashboard, where you can manage your online store.
Step 2: Access the Domain Settings
- Click on ‘Online Store’: In your Shopify dashboard, locate and click on ‘Online Store’ in the left-hand menu.
- Select ‘Domains’: Under ‘Online Store,’ choose ‘Domains’ to access your domain settings.
Step 3: Connect Your Namecheap Domain
- Click on ‘Connect Existing Domain’: In the ‘Domains’ section, click on ‘Connect existing domain.’
- Enter Your Namecheap Domain: Type your Namecheap domain name (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) into the box provided. Click ‘Next’ to proceed.
Step 4: Configure DNS Settings in Namecheap
- Access Your Namecheap Account: Open a new browser tab and log in to your Namecheap account at www.namecheap.com.
- Go to ‘Domain List’: From your Namecheap dashboard, go to ‘Domain List’ to see a list of your domains.
- Manage DNS Settings: Find the domain you want to connect to Shopify and click ‘Manage’ next to it.
- Modify DNS Records: In the domain management panel, locate the ‘Advanced DNS’ or ‘DNS Records’ section. You’ll need to modify the DNS records to point to Shopify’s servers.
- Edit A Record: Edit the ‘A Record’ (Host) associated with ‘@’ or ‘www.’ to point to Shopify’s IP address. Shopify provides these IP addresses, which you can find in their documentation.
- Edit CNAME Record: Create or edit a ‘CNAME Record’ (Host) for ‘www’ and set the value to your Shopify store URL (e.g., shops.myshopify.com).
Step 5: Verify and Complete Setup
- Return to Shopify: Go back to your Shopify setup screen and click ‘Verify Connection.’
- Wait for Verification: Shopify will verify your domain settings. This process may take some time (up to 48 hours), as DNS changes need to propagate across the internet.
- Completion: Once the domain is successfully verified, Shopify will display a confirmation message, and your Namecheap domain will be connected to your Shopify store.
Step 6: Set Your Domain as Primary (Optional)
If you want to make your Namecheap domain the primary domain for your Shopify store:
- In the ‘Domains’ section of your Shopify dashboard, find your Namecheap domain and click ‘Make Primary.’
- This will set your Namecheap domain as the default URL for your Shopify store.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve successfully connected your Namecheap domain to your Shopify store. Your online store is now accessible via your custom domain, providing a more professional and memorable web address for your customers. Remember that DNS changes can take some time to propagate globally, so be patient if your domain isn’t immediately live on your Shopify store. With your domain connected, you’re ready to start building your online business and selling products to the world.
