How To Add a CNAME Record in NameCheap

Directing web traffic from a subdomain to another domain’s IP address requires using a CNAME record. After setting up a CNAME, you won’t have to change your DNS records if the destination hostname changes.

If you’re unsure how to set up a CNAME record using Namecheap hosting, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn how to add a CNAME using your Namecheap account and what to pay attention to.

How to Add a CNAME in NameCheap

Thanks to Namecheap’s clean and intuitive interface, adding a CNAME record won’t take you more than a few minutes.

If you aren’t already, log into your Namecheap account by following these steps.

1. Click on the “Sign In” button in the top-left corner of the page’s header.
   
2. Enter your username and password.
   
3. Hit “Sign In.”
   

After accessing your account, it’s time to create a CNAME record for your domain.

1. Navigate to the “Domain List” tab on the left side menu.
   
2. Locate your domain on the list.
   
3. Press the “Manage” button to the far right of the domain’s name.
   
4. Go to the “Advanced DNS” tab at the top-right corner.
   
5. Scroll down to the “Host Records” section and tap the “Add New Record” button.
   
6. Choose the “CNAME Record” option below the “Type” menu.
   

The host records should be accepted in about 30 minutes.

When it comes to steps 7 and 8, there are a few things you should be mindful of.

• A single host should only have one CNAME, URL Redirect, ALIAS, or A record set. Multiple records set for the same host can conflict with each other. To avoid this, remove any duplicate records.
• When entering the host subdomain, you shouldn’t enter the domain itself. For example, enter only “www.”
• The target value entered in the “Value” field must be a valid domain name. Otherwise, you’ll see an error stating: “Please enter a fully qualified domain name.”
• Avoid setting up a CNAME record for a bare domain, as this can affect the domain’s MX records and the email service.

If Namecheap doesn’t allow you to modify the Host Records section, you should revert your DNS settings to the site’s default DNS settings. Here’s how to do that.

1. Repeat steps 1-3 from above.
2. Tap the “Domain” tab at the top of your page.
   
3. Navigate to the “Nameservers” section.
   
4. Select the “Namecheap BasicDNS” option from the drop-down menu.
   
5. Click on the checkmark on the right to save the changes.
   

It might take up to 48 hours for these changes to be accepted globally, so you’ll need to be patient.

You can set up a CNAME record using your Namecheap account only if your domain is using one of these services.

• FreeDNS
  
• BasicDNS
  
• PremiumDNS
  

If your domain uses Namecheap Web Hosting DNS, you’ll have to add a CNAME via your cPanel.

How to Add a CNAME via cPanel

Before setting up a CNAME record via cPanel, you must connect your domain name to your shared hosting package and log in to your cPanel account. Here’s how.

1. Sign in to your Namecheap account.
   
2. Go to the “Domain List” tab on the left side menu.
   
3. Tap the “Manage” button next to your domain’s name.
   
4. Navigate to the “Domain” tab.
   
5. Find the “Nameservers” section. Select the “Namecheap Web Hosting DNS” option from the drop-down menu.
   
6. Tap the checkmark next to the drop-down menu to save the changes.
   

After the changes have been implemented, you can move on to adding the CNAME record.

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
   
2. Navigate to the “Domains” section in the cPanel main menu.
   
3. Click on the “Zone Editor” icon.
   
4. Find your domain and tap the “Manage” beside the “Mix Record” button.
   
5. Press the blue “Add Record” button on the right.
   
6. Enter the source domain into the “Name” field.
   
7. Select “CNAME” from the “Type” drop-down menu.
   
8. Type the destination domain in the “Record” field.
   
9. Tap the “Add Record” button on the right.
   

Your CNAME record should become publically available in about 30 minutes.

CNAME Is the Name of the Game

Whether you need to verify a domain to obtain an SSL certificate or make your domain display another domain’s content, a CNAME record is the key. Adding a CNAME is simple, regardless of whether you’re taking the Namecheap or the cPanel route. As a result, you can set up this valuable record in just a few clicks.

Have you ever created a CNAME record? Why did you need the CNAME? Let us know in the comments section below.