Title: Prepare the domain
Author: WordPress VIP Documentation
Published: November 25, 2024
Last modified: July 23, 2026

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 1. [Guidebooks](https://docs.wpvip.com/guidebooks/)
 2. [Prepare for a site launch](https://docs.wpvip.com/guidebooks/prepare-for-launch/)
 3. Prepare the domain

#  Prepare the domain

A custom domain can and should be prepared several days before a planned launch 
date. To be available for your site launch, the domain must be added to the VIP 
Dashboard and ownership of the domain must be verified.

## Add the domain to the VIP Dashboard

The custom domain for your upcoming site launch must be added to the **Domains &
TLS** panel of the VIP Dashboard. Domains have specific environment associations,
so make sure that you add the domain to the **Domains & TLS** panel for the production
environment.

[Read more about adding a domain to the VIP Dashboard](https://docs.wpvip.com/domains/map-a-domain/)

When you add the domain, add the `www` or the non-`www` variant that you want to
be the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for the launched site.

For example, if you want your launched site to be reachable at `example.com`, and
for requests to `www.example.com` to redirect to `example.com`, add `example.com`(
the non-`www` variant) to the **Domains & TLS** panel. 

[Read more about FQDNs](https://docs.wpvip.com/domains/fqdn/)

If you are launching a WordPress single site, redirects between the `www` or non-`
www` variants of a domain will be handled automatically. If you are launching a 
network site on a WordPress multisite, the redirects between the `www` or non-`www`
variants must be configured in code.

[Read more about redirects on WordPress multisites](https://docs.wpvip.com/redirects/domain-redirects-in-vip-config-php/)

## Verify the domain

A domain that has been added to the VIP Dashboard must be verified before you can
have access to DNS instructions or install a Let’s Encrypt certificate. Domain verification
proves that you own the domain and that you have the necessary credentials to access
the domain’s DNS settings.

Only a verified domain can be used for launching a site.

Instructions for verifying the domain can be accessed in the **Domains & TLS** panel
of the environment’s VIP Dashboard.

[Read more about verifying a domain](https://docs.wpvip.com/domains/verification/)

## Lower the domain’s Time To Live (TTL)

In preparation for the site launch, **the domain’s TTL should be lowered to 300 (
seconds, or 5 minutes) or less**. Lowering the domain’s TTL ensures that a DNS change
from the previous hosting provider’s address to VIP’s address is recognized as quickly
as possible.

Updating the domain’s TTL should be completed at least 24 hours before the site 
launch is planned to occur. Check with the domain’s DNS provider for specific instructions
on how to update a domain’s TTL on their system.

[Read more about checking DNS TTL for a domain](https://docs.wpvip.com/domains/check-dns-record-time-to-live/)

## Install a TLS certificate

A site must have a TLS certificate installed in order to complete the launch process.
TLS certificates can be procured and installed as a self-service feature of the 
VIP Dashboard.

 * Let’s Encrypt certificates are available by default for all domains and can only
   be installed after a domain’s DNS is pointed to VIP and fully propagated. You
   will be prompted to install a Let’s Encrypt certificate by the VIP Dashboard 
   launch tools during the launch process.
 * Custom TLS certificates can be installed at any time prior to a launch, even 
   _before_ a domain’s DNS is pointed to VIP. Pre-installed custom TLS certificates
   will be available and working immediately when a site is launched.

[Read more about TLS certificates](https://docs.wpvip.com/tls/)

Last updated: July 23, 2026

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## Post navigation

 *  [ Previous Prepare user accounts and site access ](https://docs.wpvip.com/guidebooks/prepare-for-launch/accounts-and-access/)
 *  [ Next Migrate site content ](https://docs.wpvip.com/guidebooks/prepare-for-launch/migrate-content/)