Connect a domain you already own (like myapp.com) to your Hercules app for a professional branded experience.
How do I connect an existing domain?
Go to the Domains tab, click Add Domain under the "Connect an existing domain" section, then enter your domain name.
What are DNS records? Where/How do I add them?
You purchase your domain at a domain registrar (like GoDaddy, or Name.com). You build and host your app with Hercules. You use DNS records to connect your domain to Hercules so the internet knows where to find your website.
You must set up your DNS records following the instructions we give you:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 104.18.220.38 |
| CNAME | www | cname.onhercules.app |
| CNAME | _acme-challenge | <your-unique-acme-challenge-value> |
| TXT | _cf-custom-hostname | <your-unique-custom-hostname-value> |
Will this work for www too?
Yes. When setting up your domain, you can choose to have all subdomains redirect to your root domain (e.g. www.myapp.com would redirect to myapp.com).
My domain isn't working, what do I do?
Click Having trouble connecting a domain? to open the diagnostics tool. This will check your DNS configuration and show you exactly what's wrong. The diagnostics will identify common issues like incorrect DNS record types, missing DNS records, or DNS propagation delays.
If your domain still isn't working even when all checks are green, click "Support & feedback" inside of Hercules and a member of the Hercules team will help.
My domain says "Not connected", what happened?
Hercules disconnects a domain from its network in two cases:
- The domain went 7 days without a working connection (for example, the DNS records were never added or the SSL certificate could not be issued).
- Your plan no longer includes custom domains.
Your DNS records are untouched either way. Fix them if the diagnostics tool reports a problem, then click Reconnect on the domain card. If the domain was disconnected because of your plan, upgrade first; the Reconnect button appears once your plan includes custom domains.
Can I connect multiple domains to the same app?
Yes. You can connect as many domains as you'd like to a single app. All domains will show the same content.
Additional FAQ
How to delete/remove a domain from my app
Go to the Domains tab, click the three dots on the domain, then click Delete. This option is only available for domains you connected yourself. Purchased domains registered through Hercules can't be deleted from the app; you can transfer them to another app instead.
Want to buy a new domain instead?
You can purchase and register a domain directly inside Hercules with no DNS setup required. See Buy a domain in Hercules.
Where do I enter a transfer code from another registrar?
Hercules can't receive domain transfers. Keep the domain at your registrar and connect it in Domains → Add Domain, then add the records shown. Connecting a domain you own needs a paid plan.
How long will it take for my domain to start working?
Usually within minutes, but DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate. If your domain isn't working after a few hours, use the diagnostics tool to check your configuration.
Can I host on a subdomain while keeping root website?
Yes. Add a CNAME record for the subdomain pointing to Hercules. Do not change the root A record. Add the subdomain in the Domains tab.
Can I set up wildcard routing for custom subdomains?
No. Hercules does not currently support wildcard subdomains. You'll need to add each subdomain individually.
My domain isn't work on my device but works on someone else's?
This is usually a DNS caching issue. Try clearing your browser cache, flushing your DNS cache, or waiting a few hours. Different ISPs and devices cache DNS records for different amounts of time.
I'm getting a Cloudflare 1016 error
This error happens when your domain is connected to Hercules and also has a Cloudflare Zone set
up. It usually affects the www. subdomain, not the root domain. For example, if abc.com
works but www.abc.com shows a 1016 error, you probably have a Cloudflare Zone for abc.com.
To fix this, either remove the Cloudflare Zone for abc.com or don't set up the www. redirect
in Hercules. You can't put your own Cloudflare proxy, CDN, or Worker in front of a custom
domain. Custom domains connect through Hercules's Cloudflare setup, and DNS must point at
Hercules. A proxied zone or Worker in front causes errors like 1016 and can break SSL. You can't
forward a domain path to the backend. In public/_redirects, use 301 or 308 for a permanent
redirect, 302 (the default) or 307 for a temporary one, 303 to continue as GET, or 200 to serve
another path at the same address. 307 and 308 keep a POST as POST. If Cloudflare manages your
DNS, set the Hercules records, including the auth CNAME, to DNS only.
Can my app connect or buy domains from code?
You can't connect a domain you already own from code. Use Domains → Add Domain. You can also ask the Agent to buy a domain. It confirms the purchase before it runs. Don't add domain purchase calls to your app's own code.
Chrome shows "Deceptive site ahead" or "Dangerous site" on my domain
This is a Google Safe Browsing warning, most commonly triggered on brand-new domains. The flag is on your registered domain and clears once you submit a review request through Google Search Console. See Google Safe Browsing warnings on your domain.