Adding a custom domain

Connect your own domain (like acme.com or www.acme.com) to your PlayCode project. Your website will be accessible at your custom domain instead of projectname.playcode.io.

Note: Custom domains is a Pro feature. You'll see a purple "PRO" badge next to the custom domains section. Free users will be prompted to upgrade.

Requirements

• Pro account (paid subscription required)
• Your project must be published
• You must own a domain from a domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.)

Step 1: Configure DNS Settings (Do This First!)

⚠️ Important: Configure DNS BEFORE adding the domain in PlayCode. This allows immediate validation and faster SSL generation.

Go to your domain registrar (where you bought the domain) and configure DNS. The configuration is different for root domains vs subdomains:

For Root Domain (e.g., acme.com)

For Subdomain (e.g., www.acme.com, blog.acme.com)

Provider-Specific Instructions

Step 2: Add Domain in PlayCode

After configuring DNS (and waiting 5-10 minutes for propagation), add the domain in PlayCode:

1. Open your project in the PlayCode editor
2. Click the Publish button at the top right
3. Scroll down to the Custom Domains section
4. Click Add custom domain
5. Enter your domain name (exactly as you configured in DNS):
   • If you configured root: acme.com
   • If you configured subdomain: www.acme.com, blog.acme.com, etc.
6. Click Add

⚠️ Common Mistake: Do NOT enter your project name! Only enter the domain name.

• ✅ Correct: acme.com, www.acme.com
• ❌ Wrong: my-project, 3w, https://acme.com

What Happens After Adding Domain

1. Validation (Within 1 minute)

PlayCode automatically validates that your DNS is configured correctly by checking if your domain returns the validation file. This happens immediately after adding the domain.

2. HTTP Access (Immediate)

If DNS was configured correctly, your website will be accessible via HTTP right away:

• http://acme.com ✅ Works immediately
• You can test your website right away using HTTP

3. HTTPS/SSL Generation (1-2 hours)

PlayCode automatically generates a free SSL certificate from Let's Encrypt:

• Happens automatically - no action needed from you
• Takes 1-2 hours on average (sometimes up to 24 hours)
• Once complete: https://acme.com ✅ Works with secure SSL
• You'll be able to access your site securely

Tip: If HTTPS isn't working after 2 hours, double-check:

• DNS is pointing to app.playcode.io (not an IP address)
• Cloudflare proxy is disabled (gray cloud, not orange)
• HTTP version (http://yourdomain.com) works first

Common Issues & Solutions

❌ "Domain not valid" error

• Make sure you're entering just the domain: acme.com
• Don't enter your project name or any other text
• Correct: mysite.com, www.mysite.com
• Wrong: my-project, https://mysite.com

❌ HTTPS not working after 2+ hours

• If using Cloudflare: Turn OFF proxy (orange cloud → gray cloud)
• Check DNS: CNAME must point to app.playcode.io, not an IP address
• Verify HTTP works first: Test http://yourdomain.com

❌ HTTP isn't working

• Wait 30 minutes for DNS propagation
• Verify CNAME points to app.playcode.io
• For root domain (acme.com): Name field must be @

DNS Propagation Time (Important!)

After configuring DNS in Step 1, you should wait 5-10 minutes before adding the domain in PlayCode (Step 2). DNS changes need time to propagate:

• Usually: 5-30 minutes
• Sometimes: 1-2 hours
• Rarely: Up to 24 hours (depends on DNS provider)

You can add the domain in PlayCode before full propagation completes, but validation will be faster if you wait 5-10 minutes first.