What are Shopify’s Nameservers?
Are you looking for Shopify’s Nameservers, but can only find A Records and a CNAME? Read on to find out what to do next.
Shopify doesn’t provide you with nameservers – but don’t worry, you don’t need them!
Instead, it provides you with an A Record and a CNAME.
The A Record is Shopify’s IP address, and must be set for your root domain (e.g. example.org), while the CNAME must be set for the ‘www’ version of your domain (e.g. www.example.org).
However, if you’re setting your shop up on a subdomain (e.g. shop.example.org) then you would just add the CNAME for the subdomain, and you wouldn’t set the root A Record.
It all sounds quite complicated, especially if you’ve used a hosting company in the past where all you’ve had to do is change your nameservers to get your site up and running.
However, it’s actually quite straightforward. There should be somewhere within your domain registrar’s control panel where you can set custom DNS records instead of changing the nameservers.
Most domain registrars allow you to either set custom nameservers, or use their own nameservers. If you’ve previously changed your nameservers (e.g. because your site has been hosted with a company like Bluehost or Dreamhost and now you’re moving to Shopify), you may need to change them back to those of your domain registrar.
Once you’re using their nameservers, you then have full control over your DNS records, allowing you to create A Records, CNAME records, and MX records (which control email delivery).
As of 14th August 2023, Shopify’s DNS records are as follows:
A Record (leave the host blank or enter @): 23.227.38.65 CNAME for www or subdomain: shops.myshopify.com
If you struggle with this, you should contact your domain registrar’s support team and ask them how to change your DNS records.
Just let them know that you’re using Shopify and that they’ve provided you with an A Record and a CNAME – they should know what to do.
My domain provider only lets me set nameservers
If your provider only lets you change the nameservers and doesn’t allow you to set custom DNS records, then you’ll probably need a third-party provider.
This is the case for .pk domains registered with PKNIC. However, rather than use a third party provider, you can contact PKNIC and ask them to point your domain to Shopify.
Otherwise, Cloudflare can host your DNS records for you, and they have a free plan available.
Simply sign up for a Cloudflare account, enter your domain, and it’ll provide you with two nameservers. You change your domain’s nameservers to these, and then set your A Records, CNAME and any other records within Cloudflare.
Adding your domain to Shopify
Once you’ve made the changes – be it directly in your domain registrar’s control panel, or via Cloudflare, you can then add your domain to Shopify.
Go to your Shopify admin, then go to Settings > Domains.
Click Connect existing domain.
Enter your domain name, e.g. example.org, then click Next.
Click Verify connection to double-check that everything has worked.
