Troubleshooting Custom Domain Setup Errors

Setting up a custom domain for your Magic Pages site is usually straightforward, but sometimes things don't go as planned. If your custom domain isn't working after following the setup guide, this quick post covers common issues and how to resolve them.

Common Pitfalls

Before diving deeper, double-check these frequent sources of error:

1. Typos in DNS Records: This is the most common issue! Carefully compare the DNS records shown in your Magic Pages customer portal (under Domain -> Edit Domain) with the records you entered at your domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.).
   • Check for extra spaces, incorrect characters, or misspellings in both the Name/Host field (e.g., www or @) and the Value/Target field (e.g., the specific IP address or proxy.magicpages.co).
   • Ensure you haven't accidentally swapped the Name and Value fields.
2. Incorrect Record Type: Make sure you've created the correct type of DNS record.
   • If the Magic Pages customer portal asks for an A record, ensure you created an A record, not a CNAME or TXT record.
   • If the Magic Pages customer portal asks for a CNAME record (common for www subdomains), ensure you created a CNAME record, not an A record.
3. WWW vs. Root Domain Confusion:
   • Root Domain: This is your domain without www (e.g., yourdomain.com). It typically requires an A record pointing to the IP address provided by Magic Pages. Some registrars use @ in the Name/Host field to represent the root domain. And asterisk (*) is NOT a substitute for @. Instead of the root domain, this will forward ALL subdomains but not the root domain itself.
   • WWW Subdomain: This is your domain with www (e.g., www.yourdomain.com). It usually requires a CNAME record pointing to proxy.magicpages.co. The Name/Host field should typically be www.

Verifying Your Setup

If you've checked for common pitfalls, here's how to investigate further:

1. Verify the Correct Magic Pages Records: Log back into your Magic Pages customer portal (Domain -> Edit Domain) and confirm the exact DNS records (Type, Name/Host, Value/Target) required for your specific domain. These are the values you need to match at your registrar.
2. Check DNS Propagation: When you change DNS records, it takes time for those changes to spread across the internet. This is called propagation. You can check the status using online tools:
   • dnschecker.org: Enter your domain name (e.g., www.yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com) and select the record type (A or CNAME) you are checking. This tool shows if DNS servers worldwide see your updated records. If many locations show the correct record, propagation is likely happening. If they show old records or no records, there might be an issue with your input at the registrar, or you need to wait longer.
   • dig command (Advanced): If you're comfortable with the command line, you can use dig yourdomain.com A or dig www.yourdomain.com CNAME to query DNS servers directly.
3. Check for Conflicting DNS Records: Ensure you don't have old or conflicting DNS records for the same Name/Host. For example:
   • You should generally only have one A record for your root domain (@ or yourdomain.com) pointing to the Magic Pages IP address. Delete any old A records pointing elsewhere.
   • You should generally only have one CNAME record for www. Delete any old A records or CNAME records for www pointing elsewhere.
   • Exception: You will have multiple TXT records for things like email verification (SPF, DKIM via Mailgun). These usually don't conflict with A or CNAME records needed for the website itself.
4. Understand Propagation Delays: DNS changes aren't instant. While they often update within an hour or two, they can sometimes take up to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide. If you've double-checked everything and only recently made changes, patience might be required. Wait a few hours and check propagation again before assuming something is broken.

Still Not Working?

If you've gone through these steps and waited for propagation, but your domain still isn't activating or pointing correctly, please take screenshots of your DNS settings at your domain registrar. Send them my way via email (help@magicpages.co) or live chat with, and we can have a look at it together.