Setting Up a Custom Domain

Serve your docs from a domain you own — like help.yoursite.com — instead of the default yourproject.clayo.app. You point your DNS at Clayo, and we issue and renew the SSL certificate automatically. The whole setup takes just a few minutes.

Add your domain

In the Clayo web app, go to Settings and find the Custom domain section. Enter your domain (for example, docs.yoursite.com) and save.

You'll need to be a project owner or admin to manage custom domains.

We recommend using a subdomain like help. or docs. rather than your root domain — your main site stays where it is, and subdomains are simpler to set up.

Add the DNS records

After you save, Clayo shows the exact records to add at your DNS provider. Copy the values from your settings page — they look like this:

Add a CNAME record pointing your subdomain at Clayo, plus a TXT record that proves you own the domain:

Type	Host	Value
CNAME	`docs.yoursite.com`	shown in your settings
TXT	`_clayo.docs.yoursite.com`	`clayo-domain-verify=...`

Root domains (like yoursite.com with no subdomain) can't use a CNAME, so Clayo gives you A record values instead, plus the same TXT record:

Type	Host	Value
A	`yoursite.com`	shown in your settings
TXT	`_clayo.yoursite.com`	`clayo-domain-verify=...`

The TXT record's value is unique to your project — it's how Clayo confirms the domain is really yours before connecting it.

DNS changes usually take effect within a few minutes, but can take up to a few hours depending on your provider.

Verify and go live

Once the records are in place, click Recheck in your settings. Your domain moves through these statuses:

Pending DNS — Clayo is waiting for your DNS records to resolve
Needs verification — extra ownership records are required (Clayo shows them when this applies)
Active — your docs are live on your domain, with SSL

There's nothing else to configure. As soon as the status turns Active, your docs site, search, and AI answers are all served from your domain.

Your clayo.app URL keeps working

Adding a custom domain doesn't remove your default yourproject.clayo.app address — both continue to work, so any links you've already shared stay valid.

Removing a custom domain

You can remove your custom domain at any time from the same settings section. Your docs immediately fall back to your clayo.app address.

After removing a domain from Clayo, also delete the DNS records at your provider. A dangling record pointed at a host you no longer use could be claimed by someone else.