Fix a custom domain that isn't working

Most custom domains go live within an hour of adding the DNS records. When one doesn't, it's nearly always a small mistake in a DNS record, and the message in your control panel tells you which one.

This article lists every status and message you might see on the Domain, SEO & links page, and how to fix each one. If you haven't added your domain yet, start with Use your own domain name.

Where to look#

1. Open your control panel.
2. In the sidebar, under Modules, click Community Site, then Domain, SEO & links.

Each domain you've added has a status tag:

While a domain is waiting for DNS, the last problem we found is shown under the records table, with when we last checked.

Messages when adding a domain#

"Enter a domain like sunnysiderp.com or play.sunnysiderp.com." What you typed isn't a domain name. Type only the domain, with no spaces. If you paste a full web address, the https:// and anything after the domain are taken off for you.

"That domain is already in use." Another community has added it, or you've added it already. Each domain can only belong to one community. If you think it's yours and you didn't add it, message us in the LonexLabs Discord.

"Use your own domain. Your lonexone.com address is already set up." You typed a lonexone.com address. Those are set up for you. This box is for a domain you've bought yourself.

"You can add up to 3 domains. Remove one first." You already have three domains of your own. Remove one you don't need, then add the new one.

Messages when checking DNS#

"The TXT record on _lonexone.yourdomain isn't there yet." We can't find the TXT record, or its value doesn't match. Check that:

• The record's type is TXT.
• The name is _lonexone followed by your domain, exactly as shown in the table.
• The value is copied in full, including lonexone-verify= at the start, with no spaces or quote marks added.

"The CNAME on yourdomain doesn't point at customers.lonexone.com yet." We can't see the CNAME record. Check that:

• The record's type is CNAME, and the value is the address shown in the table.
• On Cloudflare, the record is set to DNS only (grey cloud), not Proxied (orange cloud).
• There isn't an old A, AAAA or CNAME record on the same name. Delete any you find, since they get in the way.
• For a root domain like yourdomain.com, your DNS provider supports CNAME flattening. If it doesn't, use a subdomain like www or play instead.

Both messages at once. Usually the records haven't spread yet. New records can take up to an hour to show. Wait, then click Check DNS again.

Other problems#

The domain has been "Waiting for DNS" for over a week. We check by ourselves every 15 minutes for the first week after you add a domain, then stop. Fix the records using the messages above, then click Check DNS to check again.

It says "Failed" and "We couldn't set up the certificate." The reason is shown under the records table. We try again every 15 minutes for the first week after you add the domain. To try again now, click Check DNS. If it keeps failing with the same reason, message us in the LonexLabs Discord with your domain name and the message.

It's stuck on "Setting up SSL". Read the box under the domain. It usually takes a few minutes, and we keep checking every 15 minutes. If it says our team will finish the setup, that's usually within a day. If it's been longer than that, message us in the LonexLabs Discord with your domain name.

Visitors see a security warning on my domain. The certificate isn't ready yet, so the domain is still Setting up SSL. Once it shows Live, the warning goes away.

My domain shows "Page not found". The domain hasn't passed the DNS check yet. Until it does, it isn't linked to your community. Fix the records and click Check DNS.

My lonexone.com address doesn't redirect to my domain. Your domain isn't the main address. Once it's Live, click Make main address under it.

I changed my DNS and my site stopped working on the domain. The CNAME record has to stay in place for as long as you use the domain. Add it back, or remove the domain from your control panel so your lonexone.com address is used again.

I don't see the Domain, SEO & links page. It needs the Edit the community site: pages, navigation and branding permission. Ask your community owner to add it to your role.