Fix common domain setup problems and get your Fourthwall site loading correctly
If your custom domain isn’t loading, showing errors, or stuck verifying, this guide walks through the most common causes and how to fix them quickly.
If you’re setting up a domain for the first time, start here instead: Set Up Your Custom Domain
Quick checks (fix most issues)
Before diving deeper, confirm the following. These resolve the majority of domain problems:
- Your domain is not expired and has been renewed with your provider
- The required DNS records are entered exactly as shown in your Fourthwall dashboard
- You’ve waited at least 15 minutes after saving changes
- If using Cloudflare, records are set to "DNS Only", not "Proxied"
If everything above checks out and your domain still isn’t working, continue below.
I’m not sure who my DNS provider is
Visit nslookup.io, enter your domain, and scroll to the Nameservers section. The listed nameservers indicate your DNS provider.
Can I use a subdomain?
Yes. Many creators use subdomains like shop.creatorname.com or store.brandname.com to keep their main website separate from their storefront.
Which DNS records are required?
Only the following records are required for your Fourthwall site to work:
- A record
- CNAME record for "www"
All other records are optional and only needed for advanced use cases, such as private-label customer support emails.
How to verify your DNS records
To confirm your records were entered correctly:
- Go to nslookup.io
- Enter your domain or record name
- Compare the returned values with what’s shown in your Fourthwall dashboard
If they match, your domain should sync shortly. If they don’t match, it’s usually due to one of these:
- Propagation delay: DNS updates take time. Check the TTL (Time to Live) value on nslookup.io to see how long you’ll need to wait for the record to refresh.
- Incorrect entry: Even small typos or extra spaces can prevent syncing. Cross-check the details on nslookup.io with what’s in your Fourthwall records.
How long does domain syncing take?
Once all required records are verified, domain syncing typically completes within 15 minutes, but may take up to 24 hours depending on your DNS provider.
Can I buy a domain through Fourthwall?
All Fourthwall PRO users can claim a free .store domain.
If you wish to purchase your own domain, it must be purchased through a third-party provider. You can use any provider you prefer. We commonly recommend Porkbun.
Cloudflare users: DNS Only vs Proxied
If you manage DNS through Cloudflare:
- Set all records to “DNS Only”
- Do not enable proxying
Fourthwall already handles caching and DDoS protection internally. Proxied records can prevent your domain from resolving correctly.
How do I migrate my domain from another platform?
Shopify domains
If your domain is currently on Shopify, follow the guide to transfer it to your preferred DNS provider. Once transferred, complete the standard Fourthwall domain setup steps.
Teespring domains
Teespring domains must be released by their support team. After transfer, you can set it up normally on Fourthwall.
My domain is added, but it says "<my domain> was added but requires additional verification"
If you see the status:
<domain name> was added but requires additional verification
and clicking Retry connection shows:
We’re pulling information about the domain. This can take up to 30 seconds.
This typically means your DNS records were updated, but Fourthwall is still waiting for the changes to fully propagate.
What you can do
- Double-check that all DNS records were entered exactly as shown in your Fourthwall dashboard.
- Confirm there are no typos, missing periods, or extra spaces.
- Allow time for DNS propagation. This can take a few minutes up to 24 hours, depending on your DNS provider.
If the records are correct, this status will resolve automatically once propagation completes. No further action is usually required.
My domain still isn’t connecting. What should I do?
If your domain still isn’t connecting after setup, check the following:
Verify record accuracy
Ensure there are no typos and that the IP address or CNAME values exactly match what Fourthwall provides.
Check for conflicting records
Make sure there are no duplicate or conflicting DNS entries, such as:
- Multiple A records pointing to different IP addresses
- Multiple CNAME records assigned to the same hostname
Conflicting records can prevent proper domain resolution.
Confirm propagation
Even if records appear correct, your DNS provider may still be syncing updates across their network. Waiting a short period is often all that’s needed.
Why can’t I set MX records?
MX records are used for email routing. To private-label customer support emails, Fourthwall uses a dedicated subdomain, such as:
support.example.com
Some DNS providers (like Wix or Squarespace) don’t support MX records on subdomains. If that’s the case, we will still power your customer support, but the support emails will be sent from a Fourthwall domain instead and won't be private-labeled.`
Tip: Switching to a DNS provider like Google Domains can enable MX subdomains.
My domain stopped loading
The most common reason is domain expiration.
Domains must be renewed yearly through your DNS provider. If the domain expires, your Fourthwall site will stop loading until it’s renewed.
Still not working?
If your records are correct, the domain is active, and syncing hasn’t completed after waiting, contact us at support@fourthwall.com with:
- Your domain name
- A screenshot of your DNS records
- The DNS provider you’re using
We’ll help you get it resolved!