Connect a custom domain
A domain is your store's web address. Every store gets a free default address on zid.store, and you can link your own custom domain, such as yourstore.com. Manage domains in Settings > Store > Domains list.
To open the domains list, a staff member needs the permission to manage the store domain. Linking a domain bought outside Zid and activating domains depend on your plan: when your plan does not include them, the buttons open an upgrade dialog.
The domains list
You can connect more than one domain, but only one can be active at a time.
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Domain | The domain's address. Select it to open its details. |
| Domain type | Default for your free zid.store address, Custom for your own domain. |
| Status | The domain's status (see below). |
| Connected at | The date the domain was linked. |
Select View in a row to open the domain's details.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Active | Customers reach your store at this address. |
| Ready for activation | The domain is connected and you can activate it. |
| Under verification | Zid is waiting for your domain's nameservers to point to Zid. |
| Verification failed | Zid could not verify the domain. Check its nameservers and verify again. |
A domain stays Under verification until its nameservers point to Zid, so check the DNS settings at your domain provider if it doesn't move on.
Link a domain you own
If you don't have a domain yet, buy one from a domain registrar (see Buy a domain from a registrar), or request one from Zid (see Request a domain from Zid). If another e-commerce platform registered your domain for you, ask it to transfer the domain to your name before you link it.
Select Link existing domain at the top of the domains list.
Enter the Domain address. Enter the root domain, such as example.com, not a subdomain such as shop.example.com.
Sample data from a demo store. Select Create. The domain's details page opens.
In the Nameservers card, copy the Primary nameserver and Secondary nameserver.
Sign in to the control panel of the company you bought the domain from, and replace the domain's nameservers with these two.
Back on the domain's page, select Verify.
Once verified, the domain becomes Ready for activation. Updating nameservers can take up to 72 hours to reach everywhere, so verify again later if it does not work right away.
Activate a domain
Open the domain's details from the list.
Select Activate.
Activating a domain makes it your store's address. To stop using the active domain, select Deactivate: a dialog lists your domains that are ready for activation, and you select Activate next to the one that replaces it. The active domain cannot simply be turned off without a replacement.
You can switch back to your free default domain at any time, even after linking your own.
Customize your free zid.store address
Your default domain's details page has a Customize your Zid domain card.
Type the name you want before .zid.store, such as papermoon or paper-moon.
Wait for the check mark that shows the name is available.
Select Confirm.
You can customize your zid.store address only once. After you confirm, you cannot change it again.
Manage DNS records
Connected and active domains show a DNS settings table, where you can point your domain's email and other services elsewhere, or link it to social media platforms for campaigns.
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Record | The record's name and type. |
| Target | Where the record points. |
| Proxied | Yes or No. |
| TTL | How long the record is cached. |
To add a record:
Select Add new record at the top of the domain's page.
Fill in the fields below. The fields change with the record Type.
Select Add.
| Field | Rules |
|---|---|
| Type | MX, CNAME, A, TXT, AAAA, PTR or SRV. |
| Name | Required, up to 63 characters, such as xxxx, xxxx.xxxx.xx, * or @. It cannot be the same as the target. |
| Target | Required. A domain for MX, CNAME, PTR and SRV, an IPv4 address for A, an IPv6 address for AAAA, and any text for TXT. |
| TTL | From Auto to 1 day. Not needed when the record is proxied. |
| Proxied | For A, AAAA and CNAME records. |
| Priority | For MX and SRV records, from 0 to 65535. |
| Service | For SRV records. Starts with an underscore and contains only letters and numbers, such as _servicename. |
| Protocol | For SRV records: TCP, UDP or TLS. |
| Weight and Port | For SRV records, from 0 to 65535. |
To delete a record, select the delete icon in its row and confirm.
Delete a domain
You can delete a custom domain that is not active. Open its details, select the delete button at the top and confirm.
Request a domain from Zid
The Request a free domain from Zid card on the domains list lets you get a new domain through Zid:
Next to Make sure that the required domain isn't reserved by using the following search engine, select Search to check whether the name you want is free.
Next to Fill out the form, select Create to open the domain request form.
Fill in the form and send it. Zid's team reviews your request, which usually takes 24 to 72 hours. The Growth and Professional plans include a free domain, and you can request one free domain only.
Requesting a domain depends on your plan. On plans without it, the card shows You have to upgrade your plan to use this feature with a See packages button, or Create opens an upgrade dialog.
Zid doesn't register domains that end in .sa. To use one, register it yourself with the Saudi Network Information Center (SaudiNIC), then link it with Link existing domain.
Renew or change a domain from Zid
A domain that Zid registered for you renews through Zid:
Before the domain expires, Zid sends you a payment link to renew it.
On a plan without a free domain, such as Zid Lite, you renew the domain by buying it as an add-on and paying right away.
To replace a domain Zid registered with another one, request the change from the domain add-ons.
Domain add-ons are on the Add-ons page: open Manage subscription from the account menu, select Browse add-ons, then open the domain change tab and select Add to cart. See Buy add-ons.
Buy a domain from a registrar
You can buy a domain from any domain registrar, such as Name.com, then link it to your store. Each registrar's site looks different, but the steps are much the same:
Choose a name that is short, easy to spell and remember, and close to your brand or what you sell. Avoid names that use someone else's trademark.
Search for the name on the registrar's site. If it is taken, try another ending, such as .com or .store, or one of the names the site suggests.
Create an account with the registrar, add the domain to your cart, choose a package and pay.
Turn on automatic renewal with the registrar, so the domain doesn't expire and become available to others.
Link the domain to your store. See Link a domain you own.
Example: buy a domain on Name.com
Name.com's site is in English, and its labels below are quoted as it shows them.
Open Name.com's sign-up page, fill in the registration form and click Create My Account.
Personal details are covered. Search for your domain in the search box that appears on the page after you sign in. You can also reach the search from My Domains at the top right.
Personal details are covered. Pick a domain from the results. The search may suggest a top choice or bundles of several endings. Click Add To Cart next to the one you want, then choose a package, such as the domain alone or the domain with a security certificate.
Personal details are covered. Open the cart from the top right of the page and review your order, then click Next Step: Payment.
Personal details are covered. Enter your payment details, agree to the registration agreement and privacy policy, and click Complete Order.
Personal details are covered. After the purchase is confirmed, the domain appears under My Domains. Link it to your store as described in Link a domain you own.
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