Use a custom domain for a Confluence site

Updated
View as text
Open in Confluence
Open in ChatGPT Open in Claude

To use a custom domain for a Confluence site published with Capable Sites, a Confluence admin opens the site's Settings, chooses Custom domains, selects Add domain and enters a full hostname such as docs.example.com. Then add the two DNS records the card shows: a validation CNAME for the certificate, and a CNAME that points your domain at the site.

#Before you start

  • You need to be a Confluence admin.

  • You need access to your domain's DNS records. A subdomain such as docs.example.com is easiest. A bare example.com needs a DNS provider that supports ALIAS or CNAME flattening.

  • A site can have one custom domain. Its original address keeps working.

#Steps

  1. Open Capable, choose Sites, open your site, and select Settings, then the Custom domains card.

  2. Select Add domain, type the full hostname in Domain name and select Add.

  3. Optionally add the TXT record shown to prove ownership. The claim lasts 48 hours.

  4. Select Continue setup.

  5. Copy the Name and Value under DNS Validation Required into a CNAME record at your DNS provider. Wait while the card shows Validating....

  6. When the card shows DNS Configuration, add the CNAME record it gives you to point your domain at the site.

  7. Wait for the domain to show as Active, then open it in a browser.

#If it does not work

  • Stuck on Validating... The validation CNAME is missing or behind a proxy. Checks run every 5 minutes for up to 48 hours.

  • Domain is already in use on another CloudFront distribution. Remove the domain from the other distribution, wait about 5 minutes, then select Retry.

  • Google or Microsoft sign-in on the new domain. It works without changes. Visitors sign in on your domain as before.

Setting up a custom domain covers every stage and error.

Your domain, two DNS records, one site.