# Domains

> Your free yourhandle.facia.chat address, and connecting your own domain like chat.yourbrand.com with one DNS record.

# Domains

Every business can be reached at three kinds of address. On all of them, clients see only your business.

| Address | Setup |
| --- | --- |
| `https://yourhandle.facia.chat` | Automatic. Free for every business |
| `https://facia.chat/@yourhandle` | Automatic |
| `https://chat.yourbrand.com` | Your own domain: one DNS record (below) |

Your handle comes from your [business settings](https://docs.facia.chat/business/settings). If you change your handle, your `facia.chat` address changes with it.

## Use your own domain

Most businesses use a **subdomain** such as `chat.yourbrand.com`, `support.yourbrand.com` or `club.yourbrand.com`. Your main website stays where it is.

### 1. Ask for the address

Message Facia support from your business with the address you want, e.g. "Please connect chat.yourbrand.com". Facia adds it to your server and tells you the exact records.

### 2. Add the DNS record

At your domain's DNS provider (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google/Squarespace, Route 53…), add:

| Type | Name | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `CNAME` | `chat` (the part before your domain) | `customers.facia.chat` |

Sometimes Facia also gives you a `TXT` record to prove the domain is yours. It's optional, but it makes the address go live faster.

> [!WARNING]
> **On Cloudflare**, set the CNAME to **DNS only** (grey cloud), not Proxied, unless Facia support tells you otherwise.

### 3. Wait for it to go live

Facia checks the record in the background for about a day and a half, and issues the security certificate (https) automatically. Most domains are live within minutes to an hour. Facia can make it your **primary** address, so links and emails use it.

### Check it yourself

```bash
dig +short chat.yourbrand.com CNAME
```

It should print `customers.facia.chat.`. If it prints nothing, the record isn't there yet or the name is wrong.

## Common problems

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| "Waiting for DNS" for hours | Check the record name. Many providers add your domain automatically, so the name should be `chat`, not `chat.yourbrand.com` |
| Certificate error | Wait a little longer. If it's on Cloudflare, switch the record to DNS only |
| Root domain (`yourbrand.com`) | Use a subdomain. Most providers can't put a CNAME on the root domain |
| Old site still shows | Remove any old `A` or `CNAME` record with the same name |

## Embedding instead

If you'd rather keep clients on your own website, embed the chat there. See [Embed Facia](https://docs.facia.chat/setup/embed).

> [!AI]
> Your AI can guide you through your exact registrar's screens. See the domain prompt in [Set it up with AI](https://docs.facia.chat/start/setup-with-ai#set-up-your-own-domain).