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.

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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