Use a custom domain

This feature is available on Power, Portfolio, and Pro plans. 

SmugMug will always be there for you, but we don't have to be in your URL. With a few quick steps, you can hook up your custom domain to point right to your site.

Example: Use www.myphotography.com instead of myphotography.smugmug.com.

• Set up your primary domain name:
  • Set up a new domain name using SmugDomains.
  • Set up your GoDaddy domain name.
  • Set up instructions for other domain registrars.
• Set up a subdomain name.
• Transfer a domain name.
• Use multiple domain names.
• Domain not working?

Set up a new domain name using SmugDomains.

No domain? No problem! SmugMug offers an easy domain setup through SmugDomains.

1. Purchase an available domain here.
2. Go to Site Settings > Site > General tab in your SmugMug account.
3. Enter your new domain name (including "www") in the Custom Domain field and click Save.

Note: Once you save your domain or subdomain in your SmugMug Site Settings, SmugMug will generate an SSL security certificate for it. This process can take up to an hour, during which your browser may temporarily display a security error until the certificate is active.

Set up your GoDaddy domain name.

Already have a domain with GoDaddy? 

1. Go to your SmugMug Site Settings > Site > General tab in your SmugMug account.
2. Enter your domain (with the "www") in the Custom Domain field and click the GoDaddy Connect link.
3. Make sure to allow pop-ups in your browser. 

Important: Don't see the pop-up? Check your browser settings. If you're blocking pop-ups, you'll need to temporarily allow them to see the GoDaddy sign-in shown below.

Note: Once you save your domain or subdomain in your SmugMug Site Settings, SmugMug will generate an SSL security certificate for it. This process can take up to an hour, during which your browser may temporarily display a security error until the certificate is active.

Set up instructions for other domain registrars.

If you purchased your domain name from another provider, be sure to check your domain registrar's setup instructions to prevent problems. And make sure you're using your registrar's default nameservers. Then take the following steps to set up the domain to work with your SmugMug account.

1. Point your CNAME www record to domains.smugmug.com
2. Within the domain forwarding/redirect areas, point the version of your domain address without the www to the address with the www: example.com needs to be forwarded to www.example.com. Use 301 Permanent forwarding without masking or framing. 
3. Visit your SmugMug Site Settings > Site > General tab. Enter your new domain name into the Custom Domain field and click Save. That's it!

Note: Once you save your domain or subdomain in your SmugMug Site Settings, SmugMug will generate an SSL security certificate for it. This process can take up to an hour, during which your browser may temporarily display a security error until the certificate is active.

Set up a subdomain name.

If you're using your primary domain name on another website, you can use a subdomain name for your SmugMug site. For example, use photos.myphotography.com for your SmugMug url. To set that up:

1. Create a CNAME record for your subdomain and point it to domains.smugmug.com
2. Visit your SmugMug Site Settings > Site > General tab. Enter your subdomain in the Custom Domain field and click Save.

As long as you don't change the other DNS records, such as the MX records, your domain email and subdomains will continue to work.

Note: Once you save your domain or subdomain in your SmugMug Site Settings, SmugMug will generate an SSL security certificate for it. This process can take up to an hour, during which your browser may temporarily display a security error until the certificate is active.

Transfer your domain name.

SmugMug isn’t a domain registrar, but you can transfer your domain through SmugDomains (a GoDaddy reseller).

1. Visit SmugDomains and click Domains > Domain Transfer to start the process.
2. After transferring, set up a CNAME to point your domain to SmugMug.

Use multiple domain names.

SmugMug supports a single primary domain. However, you can forward additional domains (like .net, .org, or alternate spellings) to your primary domain:

1. Set up your primary domain first.
2. Within in your domain provider account, forward any additional domains to your primary domain—don’t use domain masking, as it causes issues.

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Custom Domain Troubleshooting

Your custom domain needs an HTTPS certificate to keep your site secure. Before we can issue one, your domain's DNS records have to be set up cleanly. Two common misconfigurations will quietly block that certificate, even when your site appears to be working.

First, check for a conflicting redirect.

Your domain should point to SmugMug with a single CNAME record aimed at domains.smugmug.com

The trouble starts when your domain provider also has a URL redirect or forwarding rule set on that same address.

A domain can only point to one place at a time. When your provider adds a redirect, it quietly creates a second, competing record at the same host - and with two conflicting answers for your domain, we can't secure your site.

This one shows up most often on Namecheap, whose DNS panel lets you save a redirect and a CNAME together without flagging the problem. Any provider with a domain forwarding feature can do the same.

How to fix it:

1. Sign in to your domain provider and open your DNS settings. On Namecheap, go to Domain List > Manage > Advanced DNS.
2.  Look for a URL Redirect Record, Forwarding, or A Record using the same host as your SmugMug domain. That's usually www or @.
3. Delete those entries. Your CNAME record pointing to domains.smugmug.com should be the only record for that host.
4. Give your changes a few hours to take effect, then get in touch and we'll recheck your domain.

One quick tell: if you're on Namecheap and spot an A record pointing to 162.255.119.108, that's their redirect service. Removing the redirect clears it.

Keep the CNAME, remove the redirect. Adding or editing an A record won't solve this.

Next, check your DNSSEC settings.

DNSSEC adds a layer of verification to your domain, proving that answers about it are genuine. Set up correctly, it's a good thing. The problem comes when the security keys registered for your domain no longer match your actual DNS setup.

When that happens, the authorities that issue HTTPS certificates can't verify your domain, so they won't issue one. Every certificate provider works this way, so there's no way around it other than correcting the settings.

This usually happens after switching DNS providers or changing nameservers, with DNSSEC left switched on at the old one.

How to fix it:

Your DNSSEC settings live with your registrar, the company you bought your domain from. That may be different from whoever hosts your DNS.

1. Sign in to your registrar and find the DNSSEC section.
2. Turn DNSSEC off, or remove the DS records listed there. This is the simplest fix.
3. Prefer to keep DNSSEC on? Ask your DNS host to sign your zone, then add the DS record they give you at your registrar.
4. These changes can take up to 24 hours to take effect everywhere. You don't have to do anything else, we'll keep rechecking your domain.

Still stuck?

Your photos are always safe, and you can keep sharing your site with your SmugMug nickname while you sort out your domain.

If you've made these changes and your domain still isn't secure, our Support Heroes are available 24/7. Reach out to the Support Heroes at help@smugmug.com, and include your domain name so we can take a look at your records with you.

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