How to connect a custom domain with IONOS

Add the ScaleEdges DNS records in the IONOS Domains & SSL area, remove the default IONOS records that conflict, and activate HTTPS on your domain.

4 min read
IONOS domain management interface showing DNS settings with A and CNAME record fields, illustrating where to add ScaleEdges DNS records for custom domain connection

Use this guide when your domain is registered with IONOS and still uses the IONOS nameservers, which end with ui-dns.com, ui-dns.de, ui-dns.org or ui-dns.biz. If your nameservers belong to another company, add the records there instead. See Find where your DNS is managed.

IONOS domains often come with default records that point to an IONOS parking page or website, including an AAAA (IPv6) record on the root domain. These must be removed for the host you connect to ScaleEdges.

Step 1: Get your records in ScaleEdges

  1. In your ScaleEdges dashboard, open Settings and select the Storefront tab.
  2. In the Custom domain card, enter your domain in Domain you own, for example shop.yourbrand.com or yourbrand.com.
  3. Select Connect domain and wait for the DNS records to add table.
  4. Keep this tab open. You will copy the Type, Name / host and Value of each row.

ScaleEdges shows a CNAME record for a subdomain, an A record for a root domain, and sometimes a TXT verification record.

Step 2: Open the DNS settings in IONOS

  1. Sign in to your IONOS account.
  2. Open Menu, then Domains & SSL.
  3. Next to your domain, select the menu under Actions, then select DNS.

You now see every DNS record of your domain. Records are active at IONOS as soon as you save them, and usually visible everywhere within an hour.

Step 3: Add the records

For a subdomain (CNAME)

  1. If the subdomain does not exist yet in IONOS, go back to Domains & SSL, open the Actions menu of your domain, select Manage subdomains, then Create subdomain. Enter the subdomain, for example shop, and save.
  2. In the DNS settings of your domain, check whether an A, AAAA or CNAME record already exists with the same host name, for example shop. Delete it with the trash icon.
  3. Select Add record, then choose CNAME.
  4. In Host name, enter only the subdomain, for example shop. IONOS adds your domain automatically.
  5. In Points to, paste the Value shown in ScaleEdges, without http:// or https://.
  6. Keep the default TTL and select Save.

For a root domain (A)

  1. In the DNS settings, find the A record whose host name is @. If it points to an IONOS parking page or website, delete it, or select the pencil icon to edit it.
  2. Find the AAAA record whose host name is @, and delete it. ScaleEdges uses IPv4 only, and this record would send IPv6 visitors to IONOS.
  3. If you deleted the A record, select Add record, then choose A.
  4. In Host name, enter @ or leave the field empty.
  5. In Points to, paste the IPv4 address shown in ScaleEdges.
  6. Keep the default TTL and select Save.

At the end, the root domain must have exactly one A record, with the address shown in ScaleEdges, and no AAAA record.

If ScaleEdges shows a TXT record

  1. Select Add record, then choose TXT.
  2. In Host name, enter the part of the name before your domain, usually _vercel.
  3. In Value, paste the value shown in ScaleEdges. It starts with vc-domain-verify=.
  4. Select Save. Keep your other TXT records, such as SPF.

If IONOS will not let you change a record

When a record belongs to an IONOS product, such as a website, a web hosting package or the parking page, IONOS may prevent you from editing it or tell you that the record will be replaced. Check which product uses the domain in Domains & SSL, then disconnect the domain or subdomain from that product before editing the record. Only confirm a replacement when it concerns A, AAAA or CNAME records of the host you are connecting. Never remove the MX records of your IONOS mailboxes.

Step 4: Check the configuration

  1. Return to Settings → Storefront → Custom domain in ScaleEdges.
  2. Select Check DNS configuration.
  3. When the status changes to Configuring HTTPS, wait a few minutes, then check again.
  4. When the status shows Active, select Open domain to view your store.

You do not need to buy or activate an SSL certificate at IONOS for your store: ScaleEdges creates and renews it automatically.

Troubleshooting

  • The status stays on Waiting for DNS: make sure no old A, AAAA or CNAME record remains on the same host, and that the host name is not duplicated, such as shop.yourbrand.com.yourbrand.com.
  • The status stays on Configuring HTTPS: check that the AAAA record on the host is gone. If your domain has CAA records, one of them must allow letsencrypt.org.
  • Redirecting www: a store uses one custom domain. To send www.yourbrand.com to your store connected on yourbrand.com, or the reverse, set up a domain forwarding at IONOS to https:// followed by your connected domain, then test it with http:// and https://.

For every other situation, read Custom domain troubleshooting.

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