Adding Subdomain Aliases with CNAME Records

This article explains how to add CNAME records to create subdomain aliases that point to external services like Shopify stores or email providers.

What are CNAME records?

A CNAME record creates an alias for a subdomain. It tells visitors that when they visit shop.yoursite.com, they should actually go to shops.myshopify.com instead. The subdomain acts like a redirect, but handled by DNS.

CNAME records are commonly used for:

shop.yoursite.com → Shopify store
mail.yoursite.com → Email provider login
docs.yoursite.com → Documentation site
Verification subdomains for third-party services

Adding CNAME records in Web60

Sign in to your Web60 dashboard and go to your site settings
Click on Domain Management in the left menu
Find the DNS Records section and click "Add Record"
Select CNAME from the record type dropdown
Fill in the Name field with just the subdomain part (like "shop", not "shop.yoursite.com")
Fill in the Value field with the full target hostname (like "shops.myshopify.com")
Click Save to create the record

The changes will take effect within a few minutes, though it may take up to 48 hours for the changes to fully propagate worldwide due to DNS propagation.

Important rules and limitations

Cannot use www: The www subdomain is already managed by Web60. You cannot add a CNAME record for www.

No loops allowed: You cannot create a CNAME where the target equals the name (this would create an endless loop).

Maximum 20 records: You can add up to 20 CNAME records per domain.

Cannot mix with A records: If you have a CNAME record for a subdomain, you cannot also have an A record for the same subdomain name.

Path A customers

If you're using Path A (keeping your domain with your current provider), you'll need to add CNAME records at your domain registrar or DNS provider instead of in the Web60 dashboard. The same rules apply - use just the subdomain name and point to the full target hostname.

If you're having trouble determining whether you need to add records in Web60 or with your domain provider, check how to connect your own domain to Web60.

If you're still stuck, raise a support ticket and we'll help you set up your CNAME records correctly.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I add a CNAME record for www?

The www subdomain is automatically managed by Web60 and points to your website. You cannot override this with a custom CNAME record.

How long do CNAME changes take to work?

Changes are usually active within a few minutes, but can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide due to DNS caching.

Can I have both a CNAME and A record for the same subdomain?

No, DNS rules prevent having both record types for the same name. You must choose either a CNAME or an A record.

What's the difference between the Name and Value fields?

The Name field is just the subdomain part (like "shop"). The Value field is the complete hostname you want to point to (like "shops.myshopify.com").

I'm getting a loop error when adding my CNAME record. What does this mean?

This means you're trying to point a subdomain to itself, which creates an endless loop. Make sure your target hostname is different from your subdomain name.

Can I use CNAME records for email?

CNAME records are often used for email login pages (like mail.yoursite.com), but you cannot use CNAME records for the root domain's email routing. Email MX records must point to A records, not CNAME records.