You want to replace the default notion.site/yourworkspace URL with a professional domain like docs.yourcompany.com. A custom workspace domain lets you brand your public Notion pages and make them easier for clients or team members to find. This walkthrough explains how to configure the domain in your Notion workspace settings and verify it with your DNS provider. You will learn the exact steps to set up the custom domain and troubleshoot common pitfalls.
Key Takeaways: Notion Custom Workspace Domain Setup
- Settings & Members > Settings > Custom Domain: Opens the configuration page where you enter your domain and copy the DNS verification values.
- DNS provider CNAME record: Points your chosen subdomain (for example, docs.example.com) to
custom-domain.notion.siteto route traffic to Notion. - DNS provider TXT record: Proves domain ownership to Notion and prevents unauthorized usage of your domain.
How Notion Custom Domains Work
A custom workspace domain lets you publish any Notion page to your own web address instead of the default notion.site subdomain. When a visitor goes to docs.yourcompany.com, Notion serves the page content from its servers but the browser shows your custom URL. This feature requires a paid Notion plan: Plus, Business, or Enterprise. You must also own a domain and have access to its DNS management panel. The setup involves adding two DNS records at your domain registrar or hosting provider: a CNAME record for routing and a TXT record for verification.
Notion uses a reverse proxy to map your custom domain to its infrastructure. The CNAME record tells the global DNS system that docs.example.com is an alias for custom-domain.notion.site. The TXT record contains a unique value that Notion generates — this proves you control the domain. After you add both records and click Verify in Notion, the system checks for the TXT record. If the check passes, Notion issues an SSL certificate for your domain and activates it. Propagation can take from a few minutes to 48 hours depending on your DNS provider.
Steps to Set Up a Custom Workspace Domain in Notion
Follow these steps in order. You need Notion workspace admin access and the ability to edit DNS records for your domain.
- Open your workspace settings
In the left sidebar, select Settings & Members. On the Settings tab, scroll to the Custom Domain section and click Add a custom domain. - Enter your chosen subdomain
Type the full subdomain you want to use, for exampledocs.yourcompany.com. Notion requires a subdomain — you cannot use a bare domain likeyourcompany.comwithout a subdomain. Click Continue. - Copy the DNS values from Notion
Notion displays two values: a CNAME target (custom-domain.notion.site) and a TXT record value (a long alphanumeric string). Keep this page open; you will return to it after adding the records. - Add a CNAME record in your DNS provider
Log into your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider (for example, Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or AWS Route 53). Create a new CNAME record. Set the Name or Host field to your subdomain prefix (for example,docs). Set the Target or Value field tocustom-domain.notion.site. Leave the TTL at the default value. - Add a TXT record for domain verification
In the same DNS provider, create a new TXT record. Set the Name or Host field to the same subdomain prefix (docs). Set the Value field to the exact TXT string you copied from Notion. Save the record. - Return to Notion and click Verify
Go back to the Custom Domain page in Notion and click Verify Domain. Notion checks for the TXT record. If the verification succeeds, the domain status changes to Pending. If it fails, wait 10 minutes and try again. DNS changes can take time to propagate. - Wait for SSL certificate provisioning
After verification, Notion provisions an SSL certificate for your domain. This can take up to 30 minutes. When the status changes to Active, your custom domain is ready. Test it by openinghttps://docs.yourcompany.comin a browser.
Common Issues During Custom Domain Setup
Verification Fails Repeatedly
The most common cause is a typo in the TXT record value. Copy the value directly from Notion and paste it into the DNS provider field. Some providers automatically add your domain name to the end of the host field — if that happens, enter only the subdomain prefix. For example, if your domain is yourcompany.com and the provider appends it, set the host to docs instead of docs.yourcompany.com. Also check that you are using the correct TXT record, not the CNAME record, for verification.
Domain Shows a “Not Secure” Warning in the Browser
This means the SSL certificate has not finished provisioning or has failed. Wait at least 30 minutes after verification completes. If the warning persists, remove the custom domain from Notion and add it again. Make sure your DNS provider does not have a proxy or CDN feature enabled for the CNAME record — for example, Cloudflare’s orange cloud (proxy) can interfere with SSL issuance. Set the CNAME record to DNS Only (gray cloud).
Visitors See a Notion 404 Page on the Custom Domain
The custom domain is active but no page is published to it. In Notion, open the page you want to share, click Share in the top-right corner, enable Share to web, and then set the Workspace Domain toggle to your custom domain. If the toggle is grayed out, ensure the page is set to Public access and that your workspace plan supports custom domains.
DNS Propagation Takes Too Long
Some DNS providers cache records for up to 48 hours. Reduce the TTL on both the CNAME and TXT records to 300 seconds (5 minutes) before adding them. After verification, you can increase the TTL back to a higher value. Use an online DNS checker to see if the records have propagated globally.
Custom Domain vs Default Notion Subdomain: Key Differences
| Item | Custom Domain | Default Subdomain |
|---|---|---|
| URL format | docs.yourcompany.com | yourworkspace.notion.site |
| Plan requirement | Plus, Business, or Enterprise | Free and all paid plans |
| Setup effort | DNS configuration required | None — works automatically |
| SSL certificate | Automatic via Notion | Automatic via Notion |
| Branding | Full control over subdomain name | Includes notion.site in URL |
| Multiple domains | One per workspace | One per workspace |
The custom domain option is best for businesses that want a consistent brand experience. The default subdomain is sufficient for personal projects or internal team wikis that do not need a branded public URL.
You can now replace your default Notion subdomain with a custom domain that reflects your brand. After the domain becomes active, remember to publish individual pages using the Workspace Domain toggle in the Share menu. For a more professional setup, consider adding a redirect from your bare domain (for example, yourcompany.com) to the custom subdomain using your DNS provider’s URL forwarding feature.