# Custom domains

You can connect a custom domain to your site instead of using the default `*.capable-sites.com` subdomain.

![Capable Sites Custom Domain](https://help.gocapable.com/images/95589994-9969-4f88-8ab6-1ae1da5a5131.webp)

### [#](#adding-a-custom-domain)Adding a custom domain

1. Go to the **Domains** tab in your site settings
2. Enter your custom domain (e.g., `docs.yourcompany.com`)
3. The system will begin provisioning an SSL certificate and provide you with a **CNAME record** for DNS validation

### [#](#dns-configuration)DNS configuration

After adding a domain, you need to create two DNS records with your DNS provider:

1. **Validation CNAME**: Points the validation hostname to the ACM validation target. This proves you own the domain and allows the SSL certificate to be issued.
2. **Domain CNAME**: Points your custom domain to the CloudFront distribution domain provided in the domain details.

![Flowchart](https://help.gocapable.com/images/att1084358756.svg)

### [#](#provisioning-status)Provisioning status

Domain provisioning goes through several stages:

| Status                 | Description                                                  |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Pending validation** | Waiting for you to add the DNS validation CNAME record       |
| **Validating**         | DNS record detected, certificate is being validated          |
| **Provisioning**       | Certificate issued, CloudFront distribution is being created |
| **Active**             | Domain is fully configured and serving your site             |
| **Failed**             | Provisioning failed — check the failure reason for details   |

### [#](#setting-a-primary-domain)Setting a primary domain

If you have a custom domain, you can set it as the **primary domain**. The primary domain is used in canonical URLs and is the preferred URL for your site. Only domains with `active` status can be set as primary.

### [#](#removing-a-domain)Removing a domain

Removing a custom domain cleans up the associated SSL certificate and CloudFront distribution. Your site remains accessible via the default `*.capable-sites.com` subdomain.

### [#](#domain-restrictions)Domain restrictions

* Maximum **1 custom domain** per site
* Domains must be valid DNS hostnames (lowercase, alphanumeric, dots, hyphens)
* Platform domains (e.g., `*.capable-sites.com`), infrastructure domains (e.g., `*.amazonaws.com`, `*.cloudfront.net`), and other PaaS provider domains are blocked
* IP addresses and `localhost` variants are not allowed
* Reserved TLDs (`.test`, `.local`, `.internal`, `.example`) are not allowed