---
title: Domain Issues
description: Fix custom domain issues -- stuck on "Pending," SSL certificate errors, CNAME misconfigurations, and domains loading the wrong site.
---

Custom domains need a correctly configured CNAME record and a valid SSL certificate.

## Domain Not Verifying

If your domain shows as "Pending" or "Not verified":

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check DNS records">
    Verify your CNAME record points to your Jamdesk URL:
    ```text
    docs.example.com  CNAME  your-project.jamdesk.app
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Wait for propagation">
    DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Test DNS">
    Use a tool like `dig` or [dnschecker.org](https://dnschecker.org) to verify your records.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## SSL Certificate Errors

### Certificate not provisioning

Jamdesk uses Let's Encrypt for automatic SSL. If provisioning fails:

1. Verify DNS is correctly configured
2. Wait 15 minutes for provisioning
3. Check that your domain isn't blocked by firewall rules

### Certificate expired

Certificates auto-renew. If yours expired:

1. Go to **Settings** → **Domains**
2. Click **Refresh Certificate**
3. If it fails, contact support

### Mixed content warnings

Your domain works but shows security warnings:

- Check for `http://` links in your content
- Update all asset URLs to use `https://`

## Domain Not Loading

### "Site can't be reached"

1. Verify DNS records are correct
2. Check domain wasn't deleted in Jamdesk
3. Clear your browser DNS cache

### Wrong site showing

Your DNS may be pointing to an old server:

1. Update CNAME to your Jamdesk URL
2. Remove any conflicting A records
3. Wait for DNS propagation

## Common DNS Mistakes

<Accordion title="Using an A record instead of CNAME">
  Jamdesk requires a CNAME record, not an A record. CNAME allows us to route traffic correctly.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Including the protocol">
  Don't include `https://` in your CNAME value. Use just the domain:

  ✓ `your-project.jamdesk.app`
  ✗ `https://your-project.jamdesk.app`
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Conflicting records">
  If you have both A and CNAME records for the same subdomain, remove the A record.
</Accordion>

## Subpath Domains

For domains at a subpath (e.g., `example.com/docs`):

1. Configure a reverse proxy (Cloudflare, nginx, etc.)
2. See [Subpath Hosting](/deploy/subpath-hosting) for setup instructions

<Warning>
Subpath configuration requires additional setup outside of Jamdesk.
</Warning>

## Still Having Issues?

<Card title="Contact Support" icon="headset" href="/help/support/contact">
  Include your domain name and current DNS configuration
</Card>

## Related Articles

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="DNS Troubleshooting" icon="server" href="/help/troubleshooting/dns-issues">
    Propagation checks, CNAME conflicts, and provider-specific fixes
  </Card>
  <Card title="Custom Domains Setup" icon="globe" href="/deploy/custom-domains">
    Full setup walkthrough from the dashboard
  </Card>
  <Card title="Error Reference" icon="book" href="/help/troubleshooting/error-reference">
    Full error code list
  </Card>
  <Card title="Contact Support" icon="headset" href="/help/support/contact">
    Escalate unresolved issues
  </Card>
</Columns>