How to Connect a Custom Domain to Vercel
Your app already has a free Vercel address. Here is how to point your own domain at it instead.
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Find the Project URL field below and click the copy icon. We will use this in Lovable’s environment settings.
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Open Project Settings, then Domains
Inside your Vercel project, the Domains tab is where every custom domain for that project gets added and tracked.
Type in your domain and click Add
Enter the domain exactly as you own it. Vercel checks whether it is already configured somewhere else before showing you what to do next.
Add the DNS record Vercel shows you
For a root domain that is typically an A record pointing at Vercel's IP address. For a subdomain like www it is a CNAME record instead. This gets added wherever the domain is registered, not inside Vercel itself.
Changing nameservers instead of adding one record can break email
Switching your domain's nameservers over to Vercel replaces all existing DNS records, including the ones that route your email. Adding just the single record Vercel asks for is the safer choice for most people.
Wait for it to verify
Once DNS points correctly, Vercel automatically issues an SSL certificate and marks the domain ready. There is no separate step needed for HTTPS.
No domain yet? Skip this
The free vercel.app address works perfectly on its own. This step is entirely optional and can be done anytime later without redoing the deploy.
DNS is a settings change, not a code change
None of this touches your Lovable project or your GitHub repo. You are only telling the wider internet where your domain should point.
Where this fits in your $0 build
A custom domain is the one optional cost in the whole mission. Most registrars charge roughly ten to fifteen dollars a year, everything else in the stack stays free.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a domain from Vercel?
No. You can register a domain anywhere, a registrar like GoDaddy works the same way, you just add the DNS record Vercel gives you from wherever you bought it.
How long does DNS take to update?
Usually within an hour. It can occasionally take longer, so check back before assuming something is broken.
What DNS record do I add for a root domain versus www?
A root domain like yourdomain.com typically needs an A record. A subdomain like www needs a CNAME record instead. Vercel shows the exact value once you add the domain.
Does adding a custom domain remove my free vercel.app link?
No. Both keep working. The vercel.app address stays live as a backup even after a custom domain is connected.
My app shows a 404 on the vercel.app link, should I still add a domain?
Fix that first. See our guide on fixing a Vercel 404 not_found error, since a custom domain just points at the same broken deploy otherwise.
Add the DNS record before you expect it to work
Propagation is not instant. Add the record Vercel gives you and expect anywhere from a few minutes to about an hour before it resolves.
Keep your free Vercel address as a backup
If something is misconfigured on the domain side, the .vercel.app link still works while you fix DNS.
Change one DNS record at a time
Only add the specific record Vercel asks for. Moving your domain's nameservers entirely can wipe out unrelated records, including the one that routes your email.
Recheck the domain status after saving DNS changes
Vercel does not always refresh automatically. Go back to the Domains screen to confirm it is now marked verified.
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