Point your domain to hosting with web.apncloud.net

This guide shows which DNS records to add so that your domain opens your website on APNCloud hosting. It is for domains whose DNS is managed at Cloudflare or at another DNS provider. If APNCloud manages the DNS of your domain, follow Connect a domain to hosting instead.

Before you begin

• The domain added to your hosting account. See Domains and subdomains.
• Access to the DNS editor of the provider that manages your DNS. If you are not sure which one it is, read Find your DNS provider.
• Your current DNS records written down, so you can keep the ones you still need.

Which method should I use?

CNAME to web.apncloud.net is the recommended method. If your DNS provider cannot use a CNAME (apex domain), use the hosting IP shown in your account or ask support.

Steps

1. Open the DNS editor of your DNS provider.

2. Delete the old website records for the names you are changing. These are the A, AAAA and CNAME records for www and for the root domain (@). Do not delete MX or TXT records. They carry your email and your domain checks.

3. Add the record for www:

   Type	Name	Target
   CNAME	www	web.apncloud.net

   Type only www in the Name field. Most providers add the domain name for you.

4. Add the record for the root domain (example.com, also written @). Many providers do not allow a CNAME on the root domain. Choose the case that matches your provider:

   • Cloudflare: add a CNAME for @ with the target web.apncloud.net. Cloudflare supports CNAME flattening, so it works on the root domain.
   • A provider with ALIAS or ANAME records: add an ALIAS (or ANAME) record for @ with the target web.apncloud.net.
   • A provider with neither: add an A record for @ with the current IP address of web.apncloud.net. Use the hosting IP shown in your account, or ask [SUPPORT_CONTACT] for the current IP. Do not copy an IP from the internet. An A record does not follow later changes, so check it again if your site stops opening.

5. If you use Cloudflare for a new domain, set Proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud) now. Turn the proxy on later, as described in Cloudflare settings for APNCloud hosting.

6. Save the changes and wait. A change can take from a few minutes to several hours to reach everyone.

7. Check the records from your computer:

   dig CNAME www.example.com +short
   dig A example.com +short

   The first command should show web.apncloud.net.. The second shows the IP address of the server. On Windows you can use nslookup -type=CNAME www.example.com.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the old A record for www next to the new CNAME. Remove the old record first.
• Typing www.example.com in the Name field when the provider already adds the domain. The result is www.example.com.example.com.
• Deleting the MX or TXT records together with the old website records.
• Adding the CNAME but forgetting the root domain, or the other way round.
• Turning the Cloudflare proxy on before the free SSL certificate is issued.

Need help?

Open a support ticket in the Client Area or contact [SUPPORT_CONTACT]. Send us the domain name and the output of the commands above.

Related articles

• Connect a domain to hosting
• DNS records at other providers
• CNAME records
• Website works without www but not with www
• DNS not resolving

Last reviewed

2026-10-29