Manage your Tracy address and custom domain, with DNS ownership checks and HTTPS verification. A custom domain is added alongside the site’s Tracy address.
Who can manage my site’s address and DNS?
Only an Owner can change the Tracy site address or add, check or remove a custom domain.
An Editor can publish the site, but cannot use the Owner’s address and DNS controls. A Viewer cannot publish or use those controls.
If this does not work: Check that you are using the intended site and account, and ask a site Owner to make the change.
How do I change my Tracy site address?
An Owner can rename the site’s Tracy address from the “Publish” tab.
- Open “My Sites”, open the site’s “More” menu, and select “Publish”.
- Under “Site address”, select “Change”.
- Enter the new Tracy hostname in “New site address”, without https:// or a path.
- Select “Check availability”, then select “Save” if the address is available.
- Check the current address after the change.
Use “Connect domain” for a domain you own, rather than the Tracy address change form.
If this does not work: Read the displayed message. An address can be invalid, already taken, or blocked by another operation or unfinished site setup. If the result is unclear, reload and check the current address before retrying. A WordPress site with address settings fixed in WP_HOME or WP_SITEURL may need those settings changed before Tracy can rename it.
Does my site need to be live before I connect a domain?
Your site must be live before you connect a custom domain.
An Owner or Editor can publish the site; only an Owner can add the domain. See Publish and go live for publishing steps.
Taking the site back to draft stops visitors reaching the site through its custom domain until it is published again. Wait for the completed result: a failed return to draft can leave domain removal incomplete, so a draft label alone does not prove the domain has stopped opening the site.
If this does not work: Follow the publishing message before starting domain setup. If the domain controls are missing or a server configuration error appears, share the exact message through Tracy Discord.
Which domain name can I connect?
Connect a subdomain such as www.example.com or shop.example.com, rather than the root domain example.com.
Each site can hold one custom domain, including a domain still being connected. Remove the existing domain before adding another.
Enter the hostname alone, without https://, a port or a path. To make example.com work as well as www.example.com, configure a redirect from example.com to www.example.com with your domain provider.
If this does not work: Follow the suggested subdomain if Tracy rejects a root domain. If the name is already in use, choose another or resolve its existing connection before trying again.
How do I connect my domain and add its DNS records?
An Owner connects a domain by saving its subdomain and adding the exact DNS records displayed by Tracy at the domain’s DNS provider.
DNS records tell domain services how to verify ownership and where to send visitors. Tracy displays an ownership TXT record, a routing CNAME record, and any additional records required to issue the HTTPS certificate.
- Open the site’s “Publish” tab and select “Connect domain”.
- Enter your subdomain in “Domain”.
- Select “Check availability”, then select “Save” if the domain is available.
- In “DNS records”, copy each displayed record name and value into the matching record type at your DNS provider. Include any certificate validation records shown. Do not substitute an example value or guess an IP address.
- Select “Check again” in Tracy and read the result for each record.
- Check both the domain’s connection status and the actual website before treating setup as complete.
The TXT record proves that the domain is yours. The CNAME record points it at this site. Certificate validation records, when shown, let the HTTPS certificate be issued.
If this does not work: Use the values currently shown in Tracy. If Tracy says the routing target changed, select “Check again” and use the current target. If it cannot provide a routing target, report the displayed message through Tracy Discord.
Should I use Cloudflare’s proxy?
On Cloudflare, set the CNAME to DNS only, shown as a grey cloud.
A DNS provider that proxies or flattens a CNAME can prevent Tracy from reading that record. If Tracy confirms that the domain opens the site and says the record needs no change, follow that result rather than treating an unreadable CNAME alone as a failed connection.
If this does not work: Check the CNAME setting at your DNS provider, then have an Owner select “Check again”.
Why does DNS still need checking or fixing?
A missing or incorrect DNS record differs from a lookup that Tracy could not read.
“DNS needs fixing” means a record was found with a different value. Correct it at your DNS provider, then have an Owner select “Check again”. If the records point back at each other, correct that loop.
“DNS not checked” or a message that the lookup got no usable answer does not prove that the record is missing. Try the check again rather than replacing values based only on an unreadable lookup.
DNS changes can take up to an hour. Tracy rechecks automatically once the site is live, and “Check again” requests a check immediately.
If this does not work: Compare each displayed record name, type and value with your DNS provider’s settings, then share the exact result and domain through Tracy Discord.
Why did my reservation lapse?
Tracy releases an unproven domain reservation if it does not find the ownership TXT record within 72 hours.
The domain card shows the reservation deadline. A lapsed reservation does not establish ownership or connect the domain.
- As an Owner, select “Reserve again” if the domain is still available.
- Copy the new TXT record shown by Tracy to your DNS provider.
- Select “Check again” before the new deadline.
If this does not work: Check for an unavailable or recently released name. Read the refusal before trying again; a new reservation requires the current record, not the previous record’s value.
How do I know HTTPS and the domain are working?
Treat setup as complete only after Tracy confirms the domain opens this site and you verify the website at its HTTPS address.
Ownership verification alone does not prove that the domain serves the site. Tracy checks the domain over HTTPS and checks that the intended site returns its page.
“Checking the domain” means the verification is still running. “Not opening the site” includes a reason, such as missing DNS, an invalid or pending HTTPS certificate, no response, another site answering, or a redirect to another address.
- Read the domain card’s current status and reason.
- If another site answers, check where the DNS record points. If the certificate check fails, check the displayed records and select “Check again” as an Owner.
- Open your domain using https:// and check that it shows the intended site and pages.
Tracy continues checking automatically. Certificate setup can take a few minutes after the records are in place, but a waiting message is not proof of success.
If this does not work: Share the domain and exact message through Tracy Discord. Do not treat a verified TXT record or a saved DNS form as proof that HTTPS and the website work.
Does removing a domain delete my site?
Removing a custom domain keeps the site and its Tracy address.
After removal completes, the custom domain stops opening the site.
- As an Owner, open the site’s “Publish” tab.
- Select “Remove domain” on the domain card.
- Read the confirmation and select “Remove domain” again.
- Check that removal finished and open the site at its Tracy address.
If this does not work: “Removal not finished” or a removal error means the domain may still open the site. Read the message and retry the removal when offered, or share the error through Tracy Discord.
Frequently asked questions
Who can manage my site’s address and DNS?Only an Owner can change the Tracy site address or add, check or remove a custom domain.
Does my site need to be live before I connect a domain?Your site must be live before you connect a custom domain.
Can I connect example.com directly?Connect a subdomain such as www.example.com or shop.example.com, rather than the root domain example.com.
How many custom domains can one site have?Each site can hold one custom domain, including a domain still being connected.
Should I use Cloudflare’s proxy?On Cloudflare, set the CNAME to DNS only, shown as a grey cloud.
Why did my domain reservation lapse?Tracy releases an unproven domain reservation if it does not find the ownership TXT record within 72 hours.
Does removing a custom domain delete my site?Removing a custom domain keeps the site and its Tracy address.