Quick answer
Point the website records to Shopify at the provider that actually hosts your DNS. A website connection does not require replacing working email records or buying the domain again.
Applies to
For the owner or authorized staff of the selected Shopify store, with the permissions needed for this task. Shopify hosts the store separately from a cPanel hosting account. Features and workflows depend on the current Shopify plan, theme and apps.
Before you begin
Confirm domain ownership and the authoritative DNS provider. Export or record existing DNS, especially MX and mail-authentication records. Identify the current website so a change is not made at the wrong provider.
What to do
- In Shopify, open Settings > Domains and choose the option to connect the existing domain.
- At the authoritative DNS provider, apply the website records Shopify currently displays. Check conflicting records for the same website names instead of deleting unrelated DNS.
- Preserve the email provider's MX, TXT, and relevant CNAME records. If Cloudflare hosts DNS, follow Shopify's specific Cloudflare guidance rather than assuming registrar DNS is active.
- Return to Shopify and verify the connection. Wait for DNS and certificate status to settle before making additional changes or selecting the intended primary domain.
Check the result
Test the root and www website addresses over HTTPS, then check inbound and outbound business email. Confirm any other important subdomains still reach their intended service.
If the problem continues
If the connection remains pending, give support the domain, DNS provider, changed record names, Shopify's exact status, and change time. Never send the registrar password or change nameservers merely to troubleshoot one website record.
Related help
- Find where your domain's DNS is managed before changing records
- Change nameservers without losing email and verification records
- Authenticate the sender email used by Shopify notifications
Official Shopify references
Reviewed October 31, 2026. This is an original merchant support guide based on the official references above. Shopify interfaces, rollout availability, permissions, and plan features can change.
