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Linking your Own Domain

Updated
Updated 2025-12-24 18:12:28 UTC
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Connect your custom domain to HugoFox

Want your HugoFox site to appear at www.yourdomain.co.uk instead of the default hugofox.com address? You have two simple choices: update two DNS records yourself (a CNAME and an A record) or let us manage everything for you through our free Cloudflare proxy—both routes include an SSL certificate at no extra cost once you tell us to activate it.
Note: This guide is not for Parish Councils using a .gov.uk address—please see the dedicated Parish Council article instead.

1. Before you start

Connecting a custom domain is a two-step job: you update a CNAME and an A record with your registrar, then we point the domain at your new site. Make sure you have:

  • Login details for your domain registrar (123 Reg, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Names.co.uk or Fasthosts).

  • Ten minutes to edit two DNS records.

  • Patience—Important: the web can take 24–72 hours to publish DNS changes, so your new site may not appear immediately.

Important: SSL certificates are not created automatically. Once you add the DNS records, contact us so we can finish the setup and issue your free, included SSL certificate.

Tip: If you’d prefer us to manage DNS for you (recommended if you want HugoFox email hosting), email team@hugofox.com and we’ll proxy your domain through Cloudflare at no extra cost.

2. Update DNS in 123 Reg

  1. Sign in and open Control Panel → Manage next to Domains.

  2. Choose your domain and click Manage DNS → Advanced DNS.

  3. CNAME record

    • Hostname: www

    • Type: CNAME

    • Destination: cname-customsite.hugofox.com

    • Click Add, then Save.

  4. A record

    • Hostname: @ (or leave blank if @ is not shown)

    • Type: A

    • Value: 217.194.215.179

    • Click Add, then Save.

Note: 123 Reg support is on 0345 504 8540 (09:00–17:30, Mon–Fri).

3. Update DNS in GoDaddy

  1. Log in and open My Products → Manage for your domain.

  2. Select Manage DNS → Add Record.

  3. CNAME record

    • Type: CNAME

    • Host: www

    • Points to: cname-customsite.hugofox.com

    • Click Save.

  4. A record

    • Type: A

    • Host: @

    • Points to: 217.194.215.179

    • Click Save.

Tip: GoDaddy’s 24-hour support: 020 7084 0810.

4. Update DNS in Namecheap

  1. Log in, open Dashboard → Domain List → Manage.

  2. Click Advanced DNS → Add New Record.

  3. CNAME record

    • Type: CNAME Record

    • Host: www

    • Value: cname-customsite.hugofox.com

    • Click Save.

  4. A record

    • Type: A Record

    • Host: @

    • Value: 217.194.215.179

    • Click Save.

5. Update DNS in Names.co.uk

  1. Sign in and open Control Panel → DNS Administration.

  2. Select your domain and tick Activate advanced DNS.

  3. Click Add A/CNAME Records.

  4. CNAME record

    • Host name: www

    • Type: CNAME

    • Result: cname-customsite.hugofox.com

    • Click Save.

  5. A record

    • Host name: @

    • Type: A

    • Result: 217.194.215.179

    • Click Save.

6. Update DNS in Fasthosts

  1. Log in via Login → Control Panel Login.

  2. Open Domain Names, find your domain and click the DNS icon.

  3. Scroll to CNAME Records → Add CNAME Record.

  4. CNAME record

    • Host Name: www

    • Points To: cname-customsite.hugofox.com

    • Click Save.

  5. A record

    • Host Name: @

    • Points To: 217.194.215.179

    • Click Save.

7. Let HugoFox switch you over

Once both records are saved, tell us—reply to your onboarding email or use the contact page. We’ll connect the dots, activate your SSL certificate and email you when the domain is live.

Important: Don’t worry if you can’t see the site straight away. DNS propagation is invisible but inevitable; checking with a different device or mobile data often shows the new site sooner.

8. Deactivate old hosting

Search engines dislike duplicates. After the new domain loads your HugoFox site, disable any legacy hosting so search engines index the right version. Each provider offers a simple cancellation path:

  • 123 Reg: Call 0345 504 8540 and ask to cancel hosting.

  • GoDaddy: In Account Manager → Payments → Product Billing, tick the hosting plan > Cancel Item → Confirm.

  • Names.co.uk: In Domain Names → Modify Hosting Package, click the Delete icon.

  • Fasthosts: In Domain Names → Hosting, remove the hosting package.

Tip: If you’re unsure, raise a support ticket and we can guide you.

9. Use HugoFox-managed DNS via Cloudflare

Prefer to let us handle everything? We can proxy your domain through Cloudflare free of charge: you still own and renew the domain, but we maintain the DNS, SSL and (optionally) email settings.

  1. Email team@hugofox.com with your domain name.

  2. Our technical team will add it to Cloudflare and send you two custom nameservers.

  3. Update your domain to use the new nameservers, then reply to confirm.

  4. We complete the setup—your website and any HugoFox-hosted email now work without further action.

Tip: If you plan to use HugoFox email, choosing the Cloudflare option keeps all records in one place and makes future changes painless.

Conclusion

Adding a CNAME and A record—or letting us manage DNS through Cloudflare—puts your HugoFox site on a branded domain, complete with a free SSL certificate, at no extra cost.
Need a hand? Our support team is here 24/7:

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