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title description services author ms.service ms.topic ms.date ms.author
Set up an apex domain in Azure Static Web Apps
Configure the root domain in Azure Static Web Apps
static-web-apps
craigshoemaker
static-web-apps
how-to
02/11/2022
cshoe

Set up an apex domain in Azure Static Web Apps

Domain names without a subdomain are known as apex or root domains. For example, the domain www.example.com is the www subdomain joined with the example.com apex domain.

Some domain registrars (like Google and GoDaddy) don't allow you to point the apex domain to an existing URL. If your registrar doesn't support ALIAS or ANAME records, or doesn't allow CNAME flattening, then you can't point your apex domain to the generated URL for your static web app.

If your registrar doesn't allow you to redirect the apex domain, consider the following options:

  • Configure your domain with Azure DNS
  • Forward the apex domain to the www subdomain

This guide demonstrates two options for configuring an apex domain.

  • Use the steps to set up with an ALIAS record if your domain registrar supports the ALIAS DNS record.

    If your registrar doesn't support ALIAS records, but does support ANAME records or CNAME flattening, see their documentation for configuration settings.

  • Use the steps in forward to www subdomain if your domain registrar doesn't support the ALIAS DNS record.

Set up with an ALIAS record

Before you create the ALIAS record, you first need to validate that you own the domain.

Validate ownership

  1. Open the Azure portal.

  2. Navigate to your static web app.

  3. From the Overview window, copy the generated URL of your site and set it aside in a text editor for future use.

  4. Under Settings, select Custom domains.

  5. Select the + Add button.

  6. In the Enter domain tab, enter your apex domain name.

    For instance, if your domain name is example.com, enter example.com into this box (without any subdomains).

  7. Select the Next button.

  8. In the Validate + Configure tab, enter the following values.

    Setting Value
    Domain name This value should match the domain name you entered in the previous step.
    Hostname record type Select TXT.

  9. Select the Generate code button.

    Wait as the code is generated. It make take a minute or so to complete.

  10. Once the TXT record value is generated, select the copy button (next to the generated value) to copy the code to the clipboard.

  11. Select the Close button.

  12. Open a new browser tab and sign in to your domain registrar account.

  13. Navigate to your domain name's DNS configuration settings.

  14. Add a new TXT record with the following values.

    Setting Value
    Type TXT
    Host Enter @
    Value Paste the generated code value you copied from the Azure portal.
    TTL (if applicable) Leave as default value.

  15. Save changes to your DNS record.

Set up an ALIAS record

  1. Return to your domain name's DNS configuration settings.

  2. Add a new ALIAS record with the following values.

    Setting Value
    Type ALIAS
    Host Enter @
    Value Paste the generated URL you copied from the Azure portal. Make sure to remove the https:// prefix from your URL.
    TTL (if applicable) Leave as default value.

  3. Save changes to your DNS record.

    Since DNS settings need to propagate, this process can take some time to complete.

  4. Open a new browser tab and navigate to your apex domain.

    After the DNS records are updated, you should see your static web app in the browser. Also, inspect the location to verify that your site is served securely using https.

Forward to www subdomain

Each domain registrar has a different process for managing domain names. Once you sign in to your account with your registrar, look for domain forwarding options. Some registrars have this functionality listed under DNS options, while others have them associated with Website options.

Make sure as you set up forwarding that you only configure the apex domain to forward to the www subdomain.

See your registrar's documentation for details.

Next steps

[!div class="nextstepaction"] Manage the default domain