Store address and custom domains
On this page
Every store gets a free address on Kartlo, such as yourstore.kartlo.app. You can change that address, and you can also connect a domain you already own, such as shop.yourdomain.com, so shoppers use your own address instead.
Both are managed from Online Store in your desk.
Change your Kartlo address#
To change your free Kartlo address:
- Open Online Store from your desk.
- In the Storefront card, click Change address.
- Make sure the Kartlo subdomain tab is selected.
- Type the new name in Subdomain. Kartlo checks it as you type and shows Available when you can use it.
- Check the full address under Your store will be at.
- Click Review change, then Change address to confirm.
An address uses 3 to 32 letters, numbers or single hyphens, and must start and end with a letter or number. Some addresses are reserved by Kartlo and cannot be used.
What happens to the old address#
- Your old address keeps working. Visitors are forwarded to the new one automatically.
- Nobody else can claim your old address, so the forwarding cannot be taken over.
- Shoppers who already have items in their cart keep them.
- Links you placed elsewhere still show the old address. Update your social profiles, printed material and ad campaigns yourself.
Connect your own domain#
Before you start, you need a domain you have bought from a domain registrar, and access to the place where its DNS records are managed. That is usually the registrar itself.
To connect a domain:
- Open Online Store from your desk.
- In the Custom domains card, type your domain, for example
shop.yourdomain.com. Kartlo shows how it will connect under This connects as. - Click Connect.
- Kartlo shows the DNS records to add. Copy each value with the copy button next to it.
- Add the records where your domain's DNS is managed, then come back and click Check again.
You can also connect a domain from Change address by choosing the Your own domain tab.
Which records to add#
Kartlo works out the exact records for your domain. They depend on the kind of domain you connect:
| You connect | Main record | Example name |
|---|---|---|
| A subdomain, such as shop.yourdomain.com | CNAME | shop |
| A root domain, such as yourdomain.com | A | @ |
For a root domain, Kartlo may also show a CNAME you can use instead of the A record, but only if your DNS provider supports ALIAS, ANAME or CNAME flattening at the root.
You may also see a TXT record. It proves you own the domain and is needed only until the domain verifies. You can remove it afterwards.
Step-by-step help for your DNS provider#
Under the records, Kartlo tells you who manages your DNS when it can recognise them, for example GoDaddy, Cloudflare or Namecheap, and links to their dashboard with Open dashboard. It then lists the steps for that provider. If it cannot tell, it shows general steps that work with most providers.
Domain status#
Each connected domain shows its status:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Waiting for DNS | Kartlo has not seen your records yet. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to take effect. |
| DNS is not fully configured yet | Some records are missing or wrong. Compare them with the records shown and click Check again. |
| This domain needs to be reconnected | Something went wrong with the connection. Disconnect the domain, then connect it again. |
| Connected and serving your storefront | The domain is verified and secure, and shoppers can use it. |
Click Check again at any time to re-check a domain after you change its records.
Make a domain your primary address#
Once a domain shows Connected and serving your storefront, you can make it your primary address. Your Kartlo address then forwards visitors to your own domain automatically, so shoppers and search engines land on one address.
- Find the connected domain in the Custom domains card.
- Click Make this my primary address.
The domain now carries a Primary badge. To stop forwarding, click Clear primary address; your Kartlo address then answers on its own again.
Disconnect a domain#
To remove a domain:
- Click Disconnect on the domain.
- Confirm with Disconnect, or click Keep it connected to cancel.
Your store stays reachable at its Kartlo address. You can remove the DNS records at your provider afterwards.
If custom domains are not available#
| You see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Custom domains are on the Growth plan | Your plan does not include custom domains. Upgrade to Growth or higher in SettingsPlan & billing. |
| Custom domains are not available yet | This appears only when the domain service itself is not switched on. The problem is not on your side, and your storefront keeps working at its Kartlo address. Contact support, and click Try again later. |