What connecting your domain does
When you publish, Theo puts your site online at a temporary address. Connecting your domain puts that same site at yourbusiness.com and www.yourbusiness.com, with a security certificate so browsers show it as secure.
The domain stays registered where it is; Theo only needs it pointed at the site. Your old website stays live until you change the domain's DNS records, so you get the new site ready first. Theo guides the connection and certificate setup, and a person on the team is there if you need a hand.
How to connect a domain you already own
Theo shows the exact settings inside the Publish panel while you work; these are the steps.
Moving from another builder or host works the same way; moving your website to Theo covers the content, the redirects and the old hosting kept until the new site works.
- Open your site and click Connect in the Publish panel.
- Type the domain you own. Theo walks you through pointing it at your site at GoDaddy, Namecheap or whichever registrar holds it.
- Connect both versions: the root domain, yourbusiness.com, and the www version. Connecting only one leaves the other showing an old page or a security message.
- Turn off domain forwarding and parking at your registrar; those settings show a parked page instead of your site.
- Leave your email records alone. Removing them stops your email.
- Give the registrar's records time to update, usually a few hours; the domain connects when they do, and the old site stays live until then. A full-page "Your connection is not private" message during that wait clears once the security certificate is ready.
Buy a domain inside Theo
If you do not have a domain yet, choose Buy a domain in the Publish panel; it connects automatically, root and www included, with nothing to point.
The domain is a separate purchase, not part of the plan. If you already own a domain, connect that one instead.
Why a new connection shows a parked page or a security message
When a new connection does not go live, the cause is nearly always one of the three settings in the table below; the last row is what to protect while you change them.
If Theo already tried and could not finish, or you are still stuck, message the team with the domain and what happened; keep your email records and old hosting in place in the meantime.
| What you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A parked page or the registrar's own page | Forwarding or parking is still on | Turn it off at the registrar. |
| "Your connection is not private" or "Not Secure" | The certificate is still being issued | Give the registrar's records a few hours to update; the certificate follows. |
| One address works, the other does not | Only root or only www was connected | Connect both versions in the Publish panel. |
| Email stopped arriving | Email records were removed during the change | Keep them in place; message the team with the domain. |
What switches on once your domain is live
The domain is the first of three connections. Google Analytics and Search Console connect only once the domain is active, and on Starter and Pro the ongoing growth work starts after the domain and both Google connections are in place. Basic, at $29.99 a month, is the site and hosting without that work; pricing lists what each plan includes. Connect the domain early in the 30-day Starter trial so the trial shows that work.
Whether visitors land on www or the bare domain is explained in Should my website use www; Theo serves the site on both once both are pointed at it.
To see the site before you connect anything, give Theo your current site's address so it can match the look; the first preview is usually ready in minutes. Build the site free and see it, then connect the domain.
Frequently asked questions
Does connecting my domain cost extra?
No. It is included on every plan: Basic at $29.99 a month, Starter at $69.99 with the first 30 days free, Pro at $129.99. A domain bought through Theo is a separate purchase, not part of the plan.
How long does it take for my domain to go live?
Once the settings are in place at your registrar, the domain connects when its records update, usually within a few hours. Your old website stays live until the new one answers.
Who owns the domain, and can it stay at GoDaddy or Namecheap?
You own it, and it stays registered where it is; Theo only needs it pointed at the site, nothing is transferred. The site, its pages, posts and images are yours too.
What happens to my domain if I cancel?
Canceling stops the next charge, and the confirmation shows when the subscription ends. Your domain stays yours to point anywhere, and you can copy the site and images to move elsewhere first.
Will connecting my domain affect my email?
Not when the email records are left in place. Connecting changes only your website records; keep the email records as they are while you connect, and the team is there if you need a hand.
Why didn't my site go live?
If Theo already tried and could not finish, message the team with the domain and what happened. For a new connection showing a parked page, "Your connection is not private" or "Not Secure", check the three settings above: both versions connected, forwarding and parking off, and a few hours allowed for the registrar's records to update; leave your email records untouched throughout.
Do I need my domain connected before the growth work starts?
Yes. Analytics and Search Console connect only once the domain is active, and the growth work on Starter and Pro starts after the domain and both Google connections. Connect it early in the trial.