# Connect a domain you own

Point a domain from another registrar at your published UOVA site: add it in the dashboard, copy the DNS records to your registrar, then check the result.

## Before you start

- A paid plan. A Free account is refused (the Connect dialog itself says "It's free", but the plan requirement still applies).
- A published site to attach the domain to.
- Access to the DNS settings where your domain is managed.
- A name that is not on `uova.io` and has not already been added to UOVA. A name that is already added is refused with "Domain already registered".

## Connect the domain

1. **Open Domains** In the dashboard choose **Domains** then **Connect a domain you own**. From Site settings > **Domain** the **Connect a domain** button opens the same dialog with your site chosen.
2. **Enter the domain and pick the site** Type the name in **Domain** (a pasted `https://` and any path are removed) and choose the site under **Site it opens**, then press **Connect**. UOVA adds the domain as unverified. Connecting itself charges nothing.
3. **Copy the records to your registrar** Step 2, "Add these records where you bought <domain>.", lists each record with its host and value and a **Copy** button. Add them where your DNS is managed.
4. **Check the result** Each record shows **Found** or **Not found yet**. When the domain points at UOVA's hosting, a **Connected** badge appears. Press **Check again** to re-run the check, then **Done**.
5. **Make it primary if you want** **Make primary** appears once the domain shows **Connected**. It makes your uova.io address redirect to the new domain.

The dialog says DNS changes can take a few minutes to an hour. They can take longer: UOVA's own message says up to 48 hours.

## The records

| Type | Host | Value | Use |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A | `@` | `76.76.21.21` | The bare domain, such as `yourbusiness.com`. Shown when the name has two parts. |
| CNAME | The subdomain, such as `www` | `cname.uova.io` | A subdomain, such as `www.yourbusiness.com`. Shown when the name has more than two parts. |
| TXT | `_uova-verify.<your domain>` | `uova-site-verification=<domain id>` | Proves ownership. Shown on the dashboard screens. |

> **Copy the values on your screen:** Always use the values the Domains page shows for your domain. The public connect flow and the in-editor panel show only an A record for the bare domain and a CNAME for `www`, without the TXT row. UOVA treats a name with exactly two parts as a bare domain, so a name such as `example.co.uk` is shown the CNAME row, not the A row.

## How UOVA reads the result

| What UOVA finds | Message and label |
| --- | --- |
| Records point at UOVA's hosting | "DNS is correctly pointed at UOVA." The row shows **Connected**. |
| Only the TXT record matches | "Ownership verified", followed by a prompt to point the domain at UOVA to go live. The row shows **Needs DNS**. |
| DNS found, but it does not point at UOVA | "DNS found, but it doesn't point at UOVA yet. Changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate." The row shows **Needs DNS**. |
| No records found at all | "No DNS records found yet. Add the records below at your registrar." The row shows **DNS error**. |
| The lookup itself fails | UOVA says it could not reach DNS to check the record, that the problem is on the lookup side and not with your domain, and that nothing has been changed. The row keeps its old label. Try again in a moment. |

## More than one name

UOVA matches the exact name you add. To serve both `yourbusiness.com` and `www.yourbusiness.com`, add both. Once you make one of them primary, the other is redirected to the same page on the primary with a 308 redirect. A name you have not added shows "Site not found". UOVA does not offer domain forwarding to another address.

## Limits

- One domain belongs to one site. There is no action to move it to another site; remove it and connect it again.
- There is no DNS editor in UOVA. You edit records at your registrar or DNS host.
- Records can take up to 48 hours to propagate.

**My domain still shows Needs DNS.**

Either UOVA has not checked yet, or the records do not match. Compare each row with your registrar's settings, then press **Check again**. Details on timing are in [DNS records and SSL](https://www.uova.com/help/build/domains/dns-and-ssl).

**It says Domain already registered.**

That exact name has already been added to a UOVA account, possibly yours. Check the list on the Domains page.

**Does connecting a domain change my uova.io address?**

No. The uova.io address keeps working, and is redirected to your domain only when the domain is primary.

**I unpublished my site. What happens to the domain?**

It stays in your list and shows "Site not found" until a site is published again under the same address.

Source: https://www.uova.com/help/build/domains/connect-your-own-domain