| Objective | Point your domain to a Shopify store while keeping the registration with AEserver. |
| Why customers use this | Launches your store on your own branded domain; Improves trust compared with using a platform subdomain |
| Records to expect | Typically an A record for the root domain pointing to Shopify and a CNAME record for www pointing to shops.myshopify.com. |
Before you start
Have access to both your AEserver Client Area and your account at Shopify.
Know whether you are connecting the root domain (example.com), a subdomain (such as www.example.com or shop.example.com), or both.
Take a quick screenshot or copy of any current DNS records before editing them, especially if the domain already has a live website or email service.
Step 1 – Get the DNS records from Shopify
1. Log in to Shopify Admin.
2. Go to Settings > Domains.
3. Click Connect existing domain and enter your domain name without https://.
4. Shopify will show the DNS values it expects. Copy them before moving to AEserver.
Step 2 – Add the records in the AEserver Client Area
1. Sign in to your AEserver Client Area.
2. Open Domains and choose the domain.
3. Open DNS Management or Manage DNS.
4. Update the root A record to the IP address required by Shopify and set the www CNAME to the host Shopify provides.
5. Remove any conflicting A or CNAME records for the same hosts, then save.
Step 3 – Verify and finish
1. Return to Shopify and complete the domain connection. Shopify will check the DNS automatically.
2. Allow time for DNS propagation. Many changes appear within a few minutes or hours, but full propagation can take up to 24-48 hours.
3. Once the service shows as connected, test the live result. Open the website, send a test email, or visit the exact subdomain you connected.
Benefits to highlight in the KB article
Launches your store on your own branded domain
Improves trust compared with using a platform subdomain
Keeps domain renewal and ownership management centralized at AEserver
Quick tips
Do not point www to an IP address if Shopify asks for a CNAME
Keep MX records if your email is hosted elsewhere
SSL may take additional time after the domain first connects
Common issues and solutions
| Common issues | What it usually means / what to do |
| Store is not loading over HTTPS | Give Shopify extra time to issue the SSL certificate after DNS starts resolving correctly |
| Domain redirects incorrectly | Check which domain is set as primary in Shopify |
| Connection fails | Look for extra old A records on @ or an incorrect www record |
If you are not sure which record to edit, or if the domain already has a working website or email service, contact AEserver Support before making changes so we can help you avoid downtime.
