# Setting up the DNS record of your custom domain with Namecheap

_Category: Build your help center_

Before we can issue an SSL certificate for your help center's custom domain and serve it there, you need to set up it up with your DNS provide.

If that's Namechep, the following guide will show you how to properly set up the DNS records of your custom domain before attaching it to your help center.

It might take up to few hours for the new DNS changes to take effect and propagate across the Internet's DNS system. Typically, though, your custom domain should be up and ready in not more than 30 minutes.

1. Go to [Namecheap](https://www.namecheap.com/myaccount/login/) and log in to your account.

![Log In to your Namecheap account](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/Xi294EmUoV3mspRXqb9iipItZRJwIcBtwWBJctzL-image.png)
Log In to your Namecheap account

Complete the 2-step verification if enabled for your account and continue with the next step.

2. Navigate to the **Domain List** page of your account: **Account -> Domain List**.

![Find the Domain List link under the Account menu](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/yFglaiLYJnLax5f7ZuZ0Cksx0enY4o3fWEa5s1jn-domain_list_link.png)
Find the Domain List link under the Account menu

3. On the **Domain List** page, find the domain you would like to use for your custom domain with HelpCenter.io. Click on the **Manage**button that appears on the righmost.

![Click on the Manage button](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/EEZuE9wyBDmAgnQZazLtsO3sSPSy0jaAyhAYDVDu-domain_list.png)
Click on the Manage button

4. Open the Advanced DNS tab then click on the "Add new record" button below the current records listing.

![Advanced DNS settings in Namecheap](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/XmKhKj28N1GsFhYfHLuJqwkcbOAAB2GT4LwdgVl8-image.png)
Advanced DNS settings in Namecheap

5. Clicking on the red "**Add new record**" button will add a new row to the table ready to be filled in.

![](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/r0Hpf0Sxa4Aqdf3nc5xxMfqtBxqTaEGEqhXP2YPO-namecheap_cname_record.png)

Under ***Type***, select **CNAME Record**. For ***Host,*** type the subdomain you would like to use to serve your help center (*e.g. help for help.mywebsite.com, support for support.mywebsite.com, etc.*). Finally, for ***Value*** type the default subdomain that you got with your help center from HelpCenter.io (*e.g. mycompany.helpcenter.io*).

![](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/Jk3MHe0px0Cl4Cyhi8lAhiBxQ3zpG04P6OTrUbfn-save_dns_changes_namecheap.png)

When you are ready, click on the green tick at the end of the row to confirm and save the changes.

That's all you need to do to set up the DNS records of your custom domain with Namecheap.

You can now continue with [attaching your custom domain to your help center on HelpCenter.io](https://self.helpcenter.io/en/content/adding-a-custom-domain-to-your-help-center-ToLPi#attach-your-domain-to-your-help-center).

In your help center setting you should type what you've entered in the **Key**column of the DNS record on Namecheap together with your top-level domain like `help.mywebsite.com`.