How to Connect a Custom Domain to Framer: The Steps, the DNS Records and the Mistakes to Avoid

Key takeaways

• Two A records and one CNAME connect a root domain. Framer's custom domain guide lists @ to 31.43.160.6, @ to 31.43.161.6, and www to sites.framer.app (checked 1 November 2026).
• A subdomain needs only one CNAME that points to sites.framer.app.
• Copy the values from your own project. Framer says the same records appear in Site Settings, under Hosting, then Domains. Use those if they ever differ from this page.
• Extra records break it. Framer says to remove other A records, never to set AAAA records, and to turn off any proxy, so Cloudflare must be on "DNS only".
• Wait up to 48 hours. Framer says changes can take that long to spread, though it is usually faster. Its troubleshooting page says up to 24 hours for caching. Framer handles the HTTPS certificate for you.
• Leave your email records alone. Framer's list covers A, AAAA and CAA records. Mail records are a different type, so do not delete them to "clean up".

The short answer

You buy the domain at a registrar, add it in Framer, then copy Framer's DNS records into the registrar's DNS page. Framer does not manage DNS for a domain you bring yourself. Its troubleshooting page says you must set the records with your registrar, such as Namecheap or Cloudflare.

That is the whole job. The rest is about doing it in order without breaking an old website or your email.

This is general information, not advice for your exact setup. If you are still deciding whether Framer is the right tool, our Framer vs Webflow comparison and the Framer cost breakdown come first.

What the other guides do, and the gap this page fills

We searched Google (United States, English) for "framer custom domain" on 1 November 2026. Framer's own help article leads, followed by agency tutorials and video walkthroughs. The tutorials mostly show one registrar and repeat the three records. They rarely cover what to check before you touch DNS, which records to leave alone, or how to tell which problem you have. This page orders the work as a checklist and uses only what Framer's pages state. Our own habits are marked as ours.

Before you start

Check four things first. Each takes a minute and saves a lot of guessing later.

1. You need a paid plan. Framer's pricing page, as summarised in our Framer cost post, shows custom domains on Basic and above, and not on the free plan. Framer's page on moving a domain between projects also says projects need paid subscriptions to use the feature (checked 1 November 2026).
2. You can log in to the registrar. If a former developer bought it, get access first.
3. You know what the domain does today. Is there a live site on it? Is there email on it? Write down both answers.
4. You have a screenshot of the current DNS records. If something goes wrong, you can put them back.

Step by step: connect a root domain

A root domain is the plain version, like example.com. This is the path in Framer's guide.

1. In your Framer project, open Site Settings, then Hosting, then Domains.
2. Choose "Connect a domain you own" and type your domain.
3. Framer shows the records to add. Copy them exactly.
4. Open your registrar's DNS page and add them.
5. Publish the site, then wait for the records to spread.

The records, as listed by Framer on 1 November 2026:

Source: Framer help, how to connect a custom domain, checked 1 November 2026.

Two details trip people up. Some registrars want @ in the name box and others want the full domain, so read the hint text next to the field. And the CNAME is there so that the www version of your address also reaches Framer.

Step by step: connect a subdomain

A subdomain is something like blog.example.com or studio.example.com. It needs one record, not three.

Source: same Framer help article, checked 1 November 2026. Framer notes that some DNS providers need a trailing dot, so sites.framer.app. with a full stop at the end. It also notes that you may need to enter the full subdomain or only the first part, depending on the provider.

A subdomain lets you try Framer while your existing site keeps running on the root domain.

The records that cause most failures

Framer's troubleshooting page, checked 1 November 2026, names the same few causes again and again. Here they are in the order we would check them.

If your registrar only lets you set nameservers and not individual records, Framer says to use a DNS provider such as Cloudflare or Namecheap FreeDNS, change the nameservers at the registrar to that provider, and add the A and CNAME records there. If it only allows one A record, Framer says you can proceed with a single Framer address.

To see what the world sees, Framer points to the DNS Checker site. Check the A, CNAME and AAAA lookups for your domain. Many red crosses in that tool, Framer says, can mean your registrar is having trouble.

Keep your email working

Framer's pages do not mention email at all. So this part is our own habit, not a Framer rule.

Email delivery depends on MX records, plus text records such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Those are different record types from the A, AAAA and CNAME records that Framer lists. Nothing in Framer's steps asks you to change them. So when you clean up extra A records, delete only A records.

A safe routine:

1. Before any change, export or screenshot every record, mail records included.
2. Add or edit only the three Framer records (or the one CNAME).
3. After the change, send a test email to and from an address on the domain.

If you move DNS to a new provider, copy every mail record across before you change nameservers. A missed MX record means lost messages.

If you already have a live website on the domain

Connecting the root domain points the address at Framer, so the old site stops showing on that address. Plan the switch.

Framer's redirect tool sits in Site Settings, under Hosting, then Redirects. It supports wildcards, so one rule can cover a folder such as /blog/. Framer's page also says paths do not update by themselves when you rename a page, and that it only redirects paths inside your own domain. To send a whole other domain to a new one, use the old domain's own host. Our redesign SEO checklist covers the full list of what to carry over, and the Framer SEO guide goes deeper on redirects and indexing.

Other things Framer's pages say

Checked 1 November 2026. A free Framer address ending in framer.website, framer.photos, framer.media or framer.wiki is set up by Framer itself and goes live within seconds. On a yearly plan, Framer's partner Hover offers a free or discounted domain, once per subscription, with the domain managed through Hover. To move a domain between Framer projects, remove it from the first and connect it in the second. No DNS change is needed, but redirects must be rebuilt.

When this will not work, or not suit you

• You want email hosting from Framer. Framer is a site host. Email stays with whoever you use now, such as Google Workspace or your registrar's mail.
• You are not sure what is on the domain now. Pause. A short audit of the current records is cheaper than a day of lost mail.

How we help at Amariq

Domain moves are quiet work that goes wrong in noisy ways, so we treat them as a small project of their own. We record every existing DNS record before touching anything, point the new Framer site at a subdomain for review, and switch the root domain only after redirects are in place and a test email has gone through. We build and look after sites on Framer, Webflow, WordPress and Shopify, plus Wix, Squarespace and custom builds. Pricing comes from scope, never by the hour, and the domain, hosting and analytics accounts stay in your name. Our Framer development service covers builds and launches, and the web design page covers the design side before it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Framer custom domain take to go live?

Framer says DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to spread worldwide, though it is often faster. Its troubleshooting page mentions up to 24 hours for cached records. If nothing has changed after that, check for extra records.

Do I need a paid Framer plan to use my own domain?

Yes, based on the pricing page as we read it on 1 November 2026, which shows custom domains from Basic upward and not on the free plan. Check the live Framer pricing page before you buy, because plans change. See our Framer cost guide for the table.

Why does my Framer domain show an error or no HTTPS?

The usual causes on Framer's list are extra A records, an AAAA record, a proxy left on, or a CAA record that blocks the certificate. Framer provisions and renews the certificate itself, so you do not install one.

Can I use Cloudflare with Framer?

Yes. Framer's troubleshooting page says you can manage DNS through Cloudflare, as long as proxying is off ("DNS only") and the records match what Framer asks for.

Will connecting a domain break my email?

Not by itself. Framer's steps involve A and CNAME records, and email uses MX and text records. Do not delete those, and send a test email afterwards. This is our habit and not a statement from Framer's pages.

Can I use a subdomain instead of the root domain?

Yes. Add one CNAME from the subdomain to sites.framer.app. It is a good way to run Framer next to an existing site.

Can I move my domain to another Framer project?

Yes. Framer says it needs no DNS change. Remove the domain from the first project, connect it in the second, and rebuild your redirects there. Both projects need paid subscriptions.

Does a custom domain help SEO?

A domain you own keeps your address stable if you ever change platforms. Rankings still come from content and links. For the settings that matter on the Framer side, read our Framer SEO guide, and compare options in Squarespace vs Webflow vs Framer.