How to Change Your Shopify Domain Name

Are you building an ecommerce store on Shopify and looking to connect a custom domain to your Shopify store? If the thought of DNS settings and A records feels scary or leaves you scratching your head, I’ve got you covered!

Your store’s domain name is critical to your branding and helps build credibility and trust with your customers. It’s also one of the essential steps to making your Shopify store live.

In this article, I’ll help you buy the right Shopify domain name and show you how to connect it to your Shopify store.

What is a Shopify domain name?

Your domain name is the URL people will type into their browsers to visit your store.

When you first sign up for a Shopify account, you’re asked to choose a store name. Shopify uses this store name to create a URL for your store on their ‘myshopify.com‘ domain. This URL will usually look something like “yourstorename.myshopify.com.”

You could use this URL as your customer-facing URL, but I strongly advise against it. Instead, you should buy a custom domain name and connect it to your Shopify store. Using a custom branded domain name helps you build credibility and trust with your customers and allows you to develop your brand separate from Shopify.

Even after connecting a custom domain name to your store, you will use your ‘myshopify.com‘ URL for administrative purposes. For example, you may use it to log in to your Shopify Admin dashboard or to connect third-party apps or services with your store.

How to choose a domain name for your Shopify store

If you don’t already have a custom domain name, the first step is choosing a domain name for your store.

Start by brainstorming several name ideas. Think of anything that describes your business, products, and what you do. If you have an established brand, you should incorporate your brand name as part of your domain name.

Once you have several ideas, it’s time to check domain name availability. You can use the domain checker from Shopify, Namecheap, GoDaddy, or any other domain name registrar.

If your preferred domain name isn’t available, you’ll need to continue brainstorming names until you find an available domain name.

Generally, you want to stick with a .com domain name if possible, but there are newer domain extensions that might make sense. For example, a domain ending in .shop, .us, or other extensions could work too.

Finally, once you find a domain name you like, use a tool like namecheckr to check whether the name is available on any social media platforms you plan to use. Keeping your name and branding consistent across channels will help your customers identify your accounts and build brand awareness.

If everything checks out, it’s time to buy your custom domain name. You can choose to buy a domain name from Shopify or an external domain name registrar, like Namecheap.

Should you buy a domain name from Shopify?

You might wonder whether to buy a domain name from Shopify or a third-party provider. The short answer is no; you should not buy a domain from Shopify. I highly recommend you buy a domain name from a third-party provider (my favorites are Namecheap and GoDaddy).

I suggest using a third-party domain name registrar for two main reasons:

1. Keep your services separate
2. Better pricing on domain names

Keep your services separate

It’s never good to put all your eggs in one basket, and that’s what you do if you buy a domain name from Shopify. If you lose access to your Shopify account for any reason, you lose access to both your store and domain name.

Similarly, if you decide to move away from Shopify in the future, you’ll have to migrate both your store and your domain name. While a domain name transfer is possible, it is a process that requires time and money.

Keeping your services separate is a best practice and gives you flexibility. For example, you can configure other services, subdomains, and DNS rules without impacting your Shopify store. If you lose access to your Shopify account or want to migrate away from Shopify, you could quickly point your domain name to a different ecommerce platform within minutes.

Better pricing on domain names

Shopify domain names are more expensive compared to third-party providers. Shopify charges $15 for a .com domain name. Namecheap and GoDaddy often sell .com domain names for less than $10.

You’ll also get better pricing and support on other services through a third-party domain name registrar. For example, Namecheap provides free WHOIS protection to keep your personal information hidden in the WHOIS database.

Finally, when you register your domain name through Shopify, they register the domain through a third-party provider on your behalf and add a small fee to make a profit.

I highly recommend buying a domain name from a third-party domain name registrar like Namecheap. However, if you want the convenience and simplicity of buying a domain name through Shopify, read on to learn how.

How to buy a domain name using Shopify

Follow the steps below to buy a domain name directly from Shopify.

• Log in to your Shopify admin and click Settings.

• On the Settings page, click on Domains.

• Next, click on the Buy new domain button.

• Enter the domain name you want to buy in the text box.
• If the domain name is available, click the Buy button next to the domain name you want. If the domain name isn’t available, continue trying other domain names until you find one that is available.

• If you haven’t added a payment method to your Shopify account yet, you’ll be prompted to add a payment method before continuing.
• Next, you’re directed to the domain summary page to review the purchase details.
• If everything looks good, click the Buy Domain button.

• Shopify may send you an email with instructions to verify your domain registration. Follow the instructions to complete the verification process.
• And that’s it! You’ve successfully purchased a domain name from Shopify.

When you buy a domain name from Shopify, your domain name is automatically set up for you and connected to your Shopify store. Note that sometimes it can take up to 48 hours before your new domain name is fully set up.

How to add an external third-party domain to Shopify

If you purchase a domain name from a third-party registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy, follow the steps below to connect your domain name to your Shopify store.

• Log in to your Shopify Admin and click Settings.

• On the Settings page, click Domains.

• Next, click the Connect existing domain button.

• Enter the domain name you want to connect in the text box and click Next.

• If you purchased your domain name from GoDaddy, Google Domains, or 1&1 IONOS, click the Connect automatically button. Log in to your GoDaddy, Google Domains, or 1&1 IONOS account if necessary. Click Connect, and then click Close. Your domain should now be connected!
• If you purchased your domain name from another registrar, you’ll have to connect your domain name manually.
• Open a new tab and log in to your domain name registrar account.
• Find the DNS settings for the domain you want to connect.
• Point the A record to Shopify’s IP address: 23.227.38.65 and change the Host name to the @ symbol. (NOTE: Although I try to keep this article updated, sometimes Shopify changes the IP address used for connecting domains. Double check the IP address in Shopify’s official documentation if you are connecting a third-party domain.)
• Point the CNAME record with the name www to shops.myshopify.com
• Save your changes.
• Return to your Shopify Admin and click Verify connection.

That’s it! You’ve successfully connected your third-party domain to your Shopify store!

It’s important to note that it may take up to 48 hours for your domain name to be verified and connected to your Shopify store. After your domain is verified, you’ll see it listed in the Third-Party Domains section of the Domains page with a Connected status. If it’s been more than 48 hours and your domain isn’t connected, contact your domain name provider for help.

How to change your domain name on Shopify

Changing your custom domain name on Shopify is simple. First, make sure the domain name you want to switch to is listed on your Shopify Admin’s Domains page (Settings, then Domains).

If the domain you want isn’t listed, purchase the domain name using Shopify or add the domain to your Shopify account.

Once the domain name is listed on the Domains page, click on the domain name you want to use. Next, click Set as Primary.

That’s it! Your Shopify store will now use the new domain you selected as the store’s primary domain.

You can also change your store’s myshopify.com URL once for free.

Can you delete a domain name on Shopify?

You can delete external third-party domain names from your Shopify Admin if you no longer want to associate them with your Shopify store.

Follow these steps to delete a domain:

• Log in to your Shopify Admin and click Settings, then Domains
• In the Third-party domains section, click the domain you want to remove
• Click Remove (or Manage, then Remove on some Shopify plans)
• Click Remove again to confirm you want to remove the domain

After you remove a third-party domain, you can change your DNS settings in your domain provider account to point it to another website. If you want to use your domain name for your Shopify store again after you remove it, then you can reconnect it in your Shopify admin

After removing your third-party domain, you can change your domain’s DNS settings to point it to a different website. If you want to use the domain name for your Shopify store again in the future, you can always connect it in your Shopify Admin.

Final Thoughts

And there you go, your custom domain name is now connected to your Shopify store! When customers enter your domain name into their browsers, they’ll arrive at your store ready to browse your products and make a purchase!

How to Change Your Shopify Domain Name – FAQ

Can I rename my Shopify store?

Yes, you can rename your Shopify store. Follow these steps to change your store name:

• Log in to your Shopify Admin, click Settings, then Store details
• Next to the Basic information section, click Edit
• Enter your new store name in the Store name textbox
• Click Save

Does Shopify give you a domain name?

When you first create your Shopify store, Shopify uses your store name to generate a URL for your store on their myshopify.com domain. Your URL will be yourstorename.myshopify.com.

Shopify does not give you a free custom .com domain. However, you can buy a domain name using Shopify or connect an external domain name.

Can I change my store’s myshopify.com URL?

You are allowed to change your store’s myshopify.com URL once, it is free to make this change. Your original myshopify.com name will still be visible in your Shopify admin.

To change your myshopify.com URL, log in to your Shopify Admin, click Settings, then Domains. Underneath your current myshopify.com URL, click the Change to a new myshopify.com domain link. From here, enter your new myshopify.com domain and click Add domain.

After changing the myshopify.com URL once, the only way to change your myshopify.com URL again is to create a new Shopify store.

How do I add a custom domain name to a Shopify store?

If you buy your custom domain name through Shopify, you’re all set. Shopify will automatically connect your custom domain name to your store.

If you buy your custom domain name through a third-party domain provider, follow these steps to add your custom domain name to your Shopify store:

• Log in to your Shopify Admin and click Settings, then Domains
• Click the Connect existing domain button
• Enter the domain name you want to connect in the text box and click Next
• If you purchased your domain name from GoDaddy, Google Domains, or 1&1 IONOS, click the Connect automatically button. Log in to your GoDaddy, Google Domains, or 1&1 IONOS account. Click Connect, and then click Close.
• If you purchased your domain name from another registrar, you’ll have to connect your domain name manually.
• Open a new tab and log in to your domain name registrar account.
• Find the DNS settings for the domain you want to connect.
• Point the A record to Shopify’s IP address: 23.227.38.65 and change the Host name to the @ symbol. (NOTE: Although I try to keep this article updated, sometimes Shopify changes the IP address used for connecting domains. Double check the IP address in Shopify’s official documentation if you are connecting a third-party domain.)
• Point the CNAME record with the name www to shops.myshopify.com
• Save your changes.
• Return to your Shopify Admin and click Verify connection
• That’s it! You’ve successfully connected your third-party domain to your Shopify store!

Should I buy a domain name from Shopify or use a third-party provider?

No, I do not recommend you buy a domain name from Shopify.

The main advantage of buying a domain name from Shopify is that you can manage your store and domain name in the same place and automate connecting the domain name to your store.

The downside is you are placing all your eggs in one basket. If you lose access to your Shopify account, you lose access to both your store and domain name. Shopify domain names are also slightly more expensive than domain names from third-party providers like Namecheap or GoDaddy. For these reasons, many merchants and I prefer not to buy a domain name from Shopify.

How much does a Shopify domain name cost?

Shopify currently charges $15 per year for a .com domain name. The price of domain names using an extension other than .com varies based on the domain extension.

How do you transfer an external domain name to Shopify?

If your external custom domain name meets specific requirements, you can transfer the domain to Shopify following these instructions. Transferring your domain name allows you to manage your domain settings from your Shopify Admin. Essentially, it will be as if you bought the domain name from Shopify instead of a third-party domain provider.