Use your own domain name for GitHub Pages

To point your own domain name like one from GoDaddy, Spaceship, or Webhostingpad to a GitHub Pages site, you need to use the A records in DNS settings. Specifically, you need to configure the DNS settings with the domain registrar (GoDaddy, Webhostingpad, etc.) and update your GitHub Pages settings. You will need to create A records, i.e., Address Records, pointing to the GitHub Pages IP addresses and verify the custom domain in GitHub. 

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Configure GitHub Pages Settings:

• Go to your GitHub repository settings and navigate to the “Pages” section.

• Verify your domain for GitHub Pages. This is verify that you do own the domain name, so that GitHub can apply HTTPS to it.

• There are three types of customization

  • www domain

  • sub-domain

  • apex domain

• Under “Custom domain,” enter your domain or sub-domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com or blog.mysite.com).

• GitHub will perform a DNS check and provide further instructions.

• Consider verifying your custom domain in GitHub Pages for added security. 

Configure DNS Records in Domain Registrar (Use Webhostingpad as an example):

• Log in: Log into to your Webhostingpad account and access the DNS management area for your domain. 

• Add A (IPv4) and AAAA (IPv6) records: You’ll need to add four A records with the following GitHub Pages IP addresses: 185.199.108.153, 185.199.109.153, 185.199.110.153, and 185.199.111.153. Add four AAAA records as well if you want to use IPv6.

• Record Type: Select “A” or “AAAA” for each record.

• Name: For the root domain (e.g., yourdomain.com), use @ in the name field. It is also fine to leave it blank, particularly in those web-based configuration systems where it adds the root domain automatically. 

• Value: Enter the corresponding GitHub Pages IP address like 185.199.108.153 and 2606:50c0:8000::153for each record. 

• TTL (Time to Live): Set the TTL to a reasonable value (e.g., 1 hour or less). 

• For sub-domain and www-domain, add CNAME record. For Name, it should be “www” or the sub-domain name like blog or map.

Verify DNS Changes:

• It can take some time (up to 24 hours) for DNS changes to propagate.

• Use tools like dig (on Linux/macOS) or Resolve-DnsName (PowerShell) to check if the A records are resolving correctly.

  • Resolve-DnsName -Name mywebiste.com -Server ds5.wehostingpad.com

  • Change the domain name and server address as needed.

• Alternatively, use a website like whatsmydns.net to check the DNS propagation. 

Important Notes:

• CNAME Record (for www subdomain):

  While A records are used for the root domain, it’s recommended to also create a CNAME record for the www subdomain, pointing it to your GitHub Pages site’s default URL (e.g., your-github-username.github.io). 

• ALIAS records:

  Some DNS providers offer ALIAS records, which can simplify the process. If available, you can use an ALIAS record instead of multiple A records for the root domain. 

• Security:

  Verifying your domain with GitHub Pages is crucial for security and to prevent potential domain takeover attacks. 

• Troubleshooting:

  If you encounter issues, double-check your DNS settings, ensure the domain is correctly added in your GitHub Pages settings, and allow sufficient time for DNS propagation.