Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To deploy a website on Vercel with a custom domain, connect your GitHub repository to a Vercel project, confirm the production branch, add your domain under Project Settings > Domains, and configure the DNS records Vercel displays. Vercel can issue HTTPS certificates automatically, but certificate provisioning follows successful DNS validation; it is not guaranteed to be immediate.
How GitHub deployments work on Vercel
Import your GitHub repository into Vercel to create a project. During setup, confirm the branch designated for production. Vercel’s Git integration can create preview deployments from branch pushes and pull requests; merging to the configured production branch starts a production deployment. Each deployment receives a Vercel URL, so you can check a preview before merging changes.
![Computer Networking Bible: [3 in 1] The Complete Crash Course to Effectively Design, Implement and Manage Networks. Including Sections on Security, Performance and Scalability](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41H4YJnxKgL._SL160_.jpg)
Vercel describes automatic deployments for branch pushes and merges to the production branch in its Git deployment guide. Its GitHub projects guide covers connecting a repository. CLI and API-based deployment options also exist, but Git integration is the straightforward choice when you want branch previews and production deployments tied to merges.
- In Vercel, create a project by importing the GitHub repository and complete the framework and build configuration prompts.
- Check which branch is selected as the production branch in the project’s Git settings.
- Push a change or open a pull request to generate a preview deployment, then review its Vercel URL and deployment status.
- Merge to the configured production branch when the change is ready. Confirm that the production deployment succeeds before directing visitors to it.
Choose the domain visitors should use
A Vercel project works at its assigned Vercel URL, and you can also attach a domain you own. A domain may be registered through Vercel or a third party. Decide whether the public address should be an apex domain such as example.com, a subdomain such as www.example.com, or both.
#1 Best Overall
If both apex and www should work, choose one as the canonical address and configure the other to redirect to it. This gives visitors and search engines a consistent destination. Vercel’s domain overview explains domain use, while its domain configuration guide describes adding a domain and configuring redirects.
Keep your existing DNS provider or move DNS to Vercel?
| Choice | Where DNS records are managed | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Keep external DNS | Your current DNS provider or registrar | Add the domain to Vercel, copy the project-specific records it requests into the existing provider, then check Vercel’s domain status again. This preserves DNS management where it already lives. |
| Use Vercel nameservers | Vercel DNS | Change the domain’s nameservers as directed by Vercel. Recreate any existing records you still need, such as records for other services, so they continue to resolve. |
Both approaches are supported. The relevant choice is who manages DNS, not whether the site can use a custom domain. Vercel’s DNS guide explains the distinction. If you keep external DNS, Vercel’s DNS CLI applies only when the domain’s nameservers point to Vercel; otherwise, make DNS changes at the external provider.
Add the domain and enter the DNS records
- Open the Vercel project and go to Settings > Domains. Add the apex domain, the subdomain, or both, according to your chosen public address.
- Inspect the DNS instructions Vercel shows for that project and domain. Use those values rather than copying a generic example: project-specific configuration can call for different records.
- At the current DNS provider, create or update the requested records. In a typical setup, the apex uses an A record and a subdomain such as
wwwuses a CNAME. The target values must come from Vercel’s displayed instructions. - Return to the project’s Domains page and inspect the domain status again. Allow time for DNS changes to propagate; Vercel cannot verify a record that is not yet visible to its checks.
- If Vercel requests a TXT record to verify a domain already assigned elsewhere, follow the verification flow only if you can establish control of that domain.
The record type is only a general pattern, not a complete DNS recipe. Vercel’s custom-domain setup guide and domain instructions explain how to inspect the required settings. Existing records at the DNS provider may also affect the result, so remove or change conflicting entries only after confirming what they serve.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhy HTTPS waits for DNS validation
Vercel attempts to provision an SSL certificate automatically after DNS verification succeeds. For non-wildcard domains, Vercel documents certificates from Let’s Encrypt using HTTP-01 validation. Because issuance depends on the domain resolving and validation succeeding, there is no universal guaranteed time from adding a DNS record to an active certificate.
Check the domain and certificate status in Vercel rather than treating a pending HTTPS certificate as a Git deployment failure. Vercel’s SSL certificate documentation describes issuance and validation. The custom-domain guide also states that Vercel automatically provisions an SSL certificate after DNS verification succeeds.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a domain that does not resolve or show HTTPS
- Vercel says the domain is not verified: Compare the records at the active DNS provider with the exact values shown for the project. Check that you edited the provider currently authoritative for the domain, then allow for propagation and inspect the status again.
- The certificate is pending: First confirm that DNS verification has completed. Certificate validation follows DNS validation, so changing Git settings will not correct a DNS or certificate-status issue.
- The domain opens the wrong deployment: Confirm the project’s production branch and the domain’s project or branch assignment. Vercel notes that a domain assigned to another branch needs a deployment from that branch to resolve as intended.
- You moved nameservers and other services stopped working: Recreate the required records from the former DNS provider in Vercel DNS, then verify those services as well as the website.
- The domain is already attached to another Vercel account or project: Complete the ownership verification Vercel requests, such as a TXT check. Do not bypass a domain-access check without confirming control.
Once Vercel shows the domain verified and the certificate active, open the production domain over HTTPS and confirm it serves the intended site. If you configured both apex and www, test the canonical address and the redirect separately.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Used Book in Good Condition
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
