DNS and domain troubleshooting

Most domain and DNS issues come up during setup, when connecting a service like email or MailChimp, or when verifying your store with a third party. This guide covers the most common scenarios.

I need to add a DNS record (TXT, MX, CNAME, SPF, DKIM)

You can add DNS records yourself in your account. There is no separate control panel and you do not need to contact support.

1. Go to Domains in your account.
2. Find your domain and click DNS. You can also click Manage and open the DNS Records tab.
3. Click Add Record.
4. Choose the Type (A, AAAA, CNAME, TXT, MX or SRV).
5. Enter the Name. Use @ for the domain itself, or a subdomain like mail. SRV records use _service._tcp.
6. Paste the value the other service gave you into Content.
7. Leave the TTL as it is unless you were told otherwise. MX and SRV records also ask for a priority.
8. Click Add record.

You can edit or delete your own records from the same table at any time.

Why can't I see the DNS button?

The DNS editor is only available for custom domains that we host the DNS for. Free FreshStore addresses and subdomains do not have one, because their DNS belongs to the parent domain.

Other limits

• Each domain can hold up to 100 DNS records. Contact support if you need more.
• Wildcard records are managed by FreshStore and cannot be added by hand.
• You cannot point your store's own hostnames somewhere else with an A, AAAA or CNAME record. Those are reserved so your store keeps working.

I'm seeing an "invalid name server" error

This usually means the nameservers on your domain aren't set correctly. For a custom domain to work with FreshStore, your nameservers must be exactly:

ns1.freshstore.app

ns2.freshstore.app

Log in to the registrar where you bought the domain (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains) and set the nameservers to the two above. Delete any others. After saving, it can take a few hours for the change to propagate across the internet before your store loads on the domain.

Can I use Cloudflare or another DNS provider?

If you have already moved your domain to Cloudflare or another provider, just go back to the registrar where you originally bought the domain and set the nameservers to ns1.freshstore.app and ns2.freshstore.app. Allow a few hours for the change to propagate.

You don't need a separate DNS provider. Any record you need, you can add yourself under Domains.

Where do I buy a domain?

You can register a domain directly inside your FreshStore account. Go to Domains and follow the steps to register a new domain. It's registered in your name and billed through your FreshStore account.

You can also buy a domain from any external registrar and connect it to FreshStore by changing the nameservers (see above).

Does setting up DNS affect my store's SSL certificate?

No. Your SSL is generated automatically once your domain is pointed at FreshStore. You don't need to do anything for SSL.

Does my domain include an email address?

Domain registration and email hosting are separate. If you want an email address on your custom domain (e.g. hello@yourstore.com), see the email setup guide linked below.

How do I connect my domain to another service (MailChimp, Google Workspace, etc.)?

Most third-party services will ask you to add a DNS record (TXT, MX, CNAME) to prove ownership or route email. Add it yourself using the steps at the top of this guide, exactly as the service gave it to you.

If a record is rejected or the other service still can't see it after an hour, contact support and we will take a look.