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Connecting Your 123-Reg.co.uk Domain to Format

This article will show you how to connect your 123-reg.co.uk domain name to your Format site.

Before you start

We can connect your domain for you. If you would like us to connect your domain please send us a Domain Help Request here.

Also, if you are having trouble with this you should read our guide: Connecting your Domain: The Basics.

Throughout this document mysite, mysite.format.com and yourdomain.com are EXAMPLES ONLY you will replace these with your own unique names and domain name.

Ready to do it yourself? Let's begin!

Format Domain Settings

Log in to your Format account.

  1. Click Settings
  2. Click Domain
  3. Under Format Address enter your unique site domain name and then click Save
  4. Under Add your own domain enter your existing registered domain name (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name) then click Save

The CNAME record from your registrar sends a request for www.yourdomain.com to Format. Format searches for the account that has mysite.format.com and loads your site for the visitor.

Connecting Domain Name - Pending

1. After clicking Save the request is submitted to check if the domain name is legitimate, unique and available.

Connecting Domain Name - Failed

1. Once the domain name has been checked it may fail due to a configuration issue.

Please re-check and Save.

If this still fails it would be best to send us a Domain Help Request so we can have a look (you will need to be logged in for the link to work).

Connecting Domain Name - Already Taken

1. Another possibility is that the domain name you have tried to connect has already been taken.

Make sure you are the registered owner of the domain name.

Please re-check and Save.

If this still fails it would be best to send us a Domain Help Request so we can have a look (you will need to be logged in for the link to work).

Connecting Domain Name - Connected

1. When the submitted domain name is verified you will receive a green 'tick' and the message 'Connected'.

123-Reg.co.uk: Log In

Log in to your 123-Reg.co.uk Control Panel.

Under Domain names make sure that your domain name is selected.

Then click Web Forwarding

Click Add (or Edit)

  1. Stay in the tab Permanent forwarding (301 redirect)
  2. Foward to 'http://www.' followed by your domain name
  3. Click Confirm
Back

The Web Forwarding has been added.

Click Back

Manage DNS

Under Advanced Domain Settings click Manage DNS

Advanced DNS

Click Advanced DNS

Confirm the @ A Record

Confirm that the @ A record is pointing to IP address 94.136.40.82

(If there is a different value here you may not be on default nameservers and your connection will not work. If you are not sure how to set your nameservers to default nameservers you can send us a Domain Help Request from this link - you need to be logged in for the link to work.)

Delete the www A Record

Delete the www A record.

Add a CNAME record

Add a CNAME record using the blank fields near the bottom:

  1. Hostname: www
  2. Type: CNAME
  3. Destination CNAME: mysite.format.com (replace mysite with your unique Format Address)
  4. Click Add
CNAME Record Added

The CNAME record has been added.

You can log out of your 123-Reg.co.uk

Check Your Domain Connection

Changes to your registrar's site are not instant! These changes can take up to 48 hours to take full effect (however, it usually takes a few hours).

It's best to check your connection after one day.

You will know that your domain connection is working when you enter yourdomain.com and your Format site loads with www.yourdomain.com in the address bar. (Be sure to check that www comes up in the address bar.)

Still not working?

You may have done everything correctly, just as this guide says, but your domain is still not working. What's going on?

There are many reasons why a connection may not work. At this point it would be best to send us a Domain Help Request so we can have a look (you will need to be logged in for the link to work).