To connect a domain to Shopify, separate web traffic from email. Records that route the site are not necessarily those that receive mail. Before editing, capture the full DNS zone and record which service uses each entry. Then check Shopify's current official instructions for the required values.
Prepare the DNS zone
At the registrar, identify A and AAAA records for the apex, the www record and any MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC mail records. If the business uses domain email, do not delete mail settings while replacing web settings. Check old redirects and parking services that may conflict.
Illustrative example: a store uses example.com for an old website and contact@example.com for orders. Its owner changes the website destination according to Shopify's instructions while retaining MX and email-authentication records. They test sending and receiving mail as well as opening the home page.
Apply changes and allow propagation
Add the domain in Shopify's settings, then edit records at the registrar. A DNS cache may continue returning the old address for a while. Do not assume a certificate is broken if a device still reaches the former server; compare a public DNS resolver with your local network. Avoid repeatedly changing values during propagation.
Test the real result
Open the address with and without www on phone and desktop. Check the secure connection, redirects, a product page and checkout. Send and receive a domain email. If a secondary host remains accessible, choose the primary address and redirect the other one. Save old and new DNS values for future diagnosis.
Map DNS before changing anything
Open the registrar's DNS settings and save a dated copy of the current zone. Identify the root domain, www, other subdomains, MX and TXT records. Find out which system receives mail and which sends store notifications. The aim is to point web addresses to Shopify following its current instructions while retaining records needed for email. If another provider manages DNS, obtain the full record list first.
In Shopify, confirm the domain and which address will be primary. Compare requested values with the registrar's records, then edit only those involved. A, AAAA and CNAME values can change; use the instructions shown at the time of work. If an old site exists, save its important URLs so you can plan redirects without cutting off visitors or useful links.
Check in stages
In an illustrative example, my-shop.com still serves an old site while www.my-shop.com should open Shopify. The owner records DNS first, then changes web records. After propagation, they test both addresses while logged out and on a phone, follow the redirect to the primary domain, open a product and place a test order. Finally, they send mail from their business inbox and to it from an external address. A working website does not prove email works.
Check HTTPS and the domain status in the admin too. A browser may cache the old site; try another network or a DNS lookup before making conflicting edits. If email fails while the site works, inspect affected MX and TXT records. Avoid replacing the entire DNS zone to fix one entry.
Preserve URLs and ownership
When a domain already hosted a site, list pages receiving visits or links. Prepare their equivalents on the store and sensible redirects. Test old URLs after the move. Keep the domain in an account controlled by the business, with access and renewal documented; today's successful connection is little help if the owner account becomes inaccessible later.
Questions during connection
How long should you wait? DNS propagation is not instant and varies by record and resolver. Check the state reported by Shopify and the registrar and test from two networks before concluding. Repeatedly editing values every ten minutes makes diagnosis harder.
Why does www work but the root domain fail? They often use different records. Compare each with Shopify's current instructions and choose the primary domain in admin. The goal is one consistent destination, not two competing store URLs.
Can business email stay? Yes if mail and authentication records remain correctly configured. Test sending and receiving after changes. If DNS hosting also moves, copy every required record before the switch.
What happens to old pages? Record important URLs and plan their equivalents. Test redirects and internal links after changing domain. A working homepage does not prove older product or article paths are accessible.
A reversible DNS change record
Before the change, make a table with each record's host, type, value and purpose. Take a screenshot from the registrar and note the time. Place Shopify's current requested records beside it and highlight only entries that must change. Do not paste a generic list from a blog: settings can vary by domain and change over time. Schedule the edit when someone can test both website and email afterward.
After saving, inspect root and www on two devices or networks. Check the primary redirect, HTTPS, a product page, a test checkout and one incoming and outgoing email. If a page still shows old content, compare DNS answers before making another edit. Record the final values and when each service began working. For an existing site, test several old URLs and their redirects too. This record lets the next person understand what changed without guessing.
Related guides
Further reading: official documentation.
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