How do I use my own domain for short links?

Before you start

• Use a subdomain, not a bare domain. go.yourbrand.com or link.yourbrand.com, never yourbrand.com — the setup needs a CNAME record, which most DNS providers only allow on subdomains.
• Pick something short. The point of a branded domain is a link that fits in a text message and reads as yours.
• You need access to the domain's DNS. Adding records is the only step we cannot do for you.
• Plan: Pro includes 1 branded domain, Business includes 5. Starter and the free trial include none.
• Role: editor or above in the workspace.

Steps: connect the domain

1. Open Custom Domains from the sidebar.
2. In Branded short-link domains, type the hostname into Domain and click Add domain.
3. The card now lists the records to add. If we recognise your DNS host, a One-click setup panel appears first — authorise it once and the records are written for you. Otherwise add them by hand.
4. Add the records at your DNS provider, then click Verify DNS.
5. Watch the status badge. It moves Waiting for DNS to Issuing certificate to Active. The card re-checks by itself every 12 seconds while a certificate is pending.
6. When it reads Active, create a link and pick the new domain from Short link domain.

The DNS records for a short-link domain

The first two are always required. The CAA row is only needed if your root domain already publishes CAA records — if it does, keep the existing values and add this one alongside them, or the HTTPS certificate can never be issued. Every value has a Copy button next to it.

After the domain goes active

• The domain appears in the Short link domain dropdown for every new link. Existing links keep the domain they were created on.
• Back-halves are unique per domain, so /spring can exist on both qstak.co and your domain at the same time.
• GoLinks never use a branded domain — they always resolve at qrcodestack.com/go/….
• Remove disconnects the domain. Links created on it stop resolving, so only remove a domain whose links are out of circulation.

Common problems

The status is stuck on Waiting for DNS

Verification needs three things at once: the TXT record matching, the CNAME pointing at links.qrcodestack.com, and the record having propagated. DNS changes can take minutes to hours. Check you did not add a trailing dot or duplicate the domain in the record name — some providers append the zone for you, so entering go.yourbrand.com can become go.yourbrand.com.yourbrand.com. Enter just go in that case.

It says Issuing certificate and stays there

DNS is right and HTTPS is being set up. If it does not clear, look for CAA records on your root domain — if any exist and none of them allow ssl.com, add the CAA row from the card.

"That domain is already connected to an account"

A hostname can only be attached once across all accounts. If it was yours before, remove it from the old workspace first.

"Your plan allows up to 1 custom domain"

Pro includes one. Remove the existing domain or move to Business for five.

My existing links still say qstak.co

A link’s domain is fixed when it is created, so nothing already shared moves across. Everything printed on qstak.co keeps working there. Create new links on the branded domain from now on and retire the old ones once they are out of circulation.

Frequently asked questions