# How to connect my Hostgator domain with Short.io

Copy for LLM[View as Markdown](/articles/domain-setup-guides/domain-setup-guides/how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io.md)

If you have acquired a domain from Hostgator, you should follow some activation steps in order to connect the domain with **Short.io** and use it for link shortening.

**Important note**

If you use it as the main domain for your website - please [configure a subdomain](/articles/domain-setup-guides/subdomain-setup-guides/how-to-connect-my-hostgator-subdomain-with-short.io.md) instead.

## Hostgator **configurations**[​](#hostgator-configurations "Direct link to hostgator-configurations")

***

1. Sign in to your [Hostgator](https://www.hostgator.com/) account.

2. In the Dashboard click on **Domains**:

   ![HostGator dashboard with Domains section highlighted](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-screenshotfrom2024-09-1915-05-57-3dd61d3d-d4c181c2690aa94d6709afae08326d43.png)

3. Navigate to the **Advanced Tools** panel and click on **Manage** next to **Advanced DNS Records**:

   ![HostGator Advanced Tools with Manage DNS Records button](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-screenshotfrom2024-09-1915-10-43-869a71a3-6b8250eaaa95fd3cad8f144bd02b356b.png)

4. In the **Mange Advanced DNS Records** screen click on **Add Record**:

   ![HostGator Manage Advanced DNS Records with Add Record button](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-screenshotfrom2024-09-1915-18-14-e7b7c474-57e053226a03eb0e797bcd648e91091e.png)

5. In the records settings provide the following information:

   * **Type**: A

   * **Refers to**: @

   * IP address: 207.174.61.1

   * **TTL**: *select a period based on your preferences*

   ![HostGator Add Advanced DNS Record form with A record for Short.io](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-screenshotfrom2024-09-1915-19-19-460988cd-d5a029339a1b6fe785937db0b0b344a8.png)

6. Click on **Add**.

The DNS record is added to your domain settings:

![HostGator DNS records showing configured A record for Short.io](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-untitled2-e05a81a1-089525772793f58d03d986c13bf1bcb6.png)

## Short.io configurations[​](#shortio-configurations "Direct link to Short.io configurations")

***

1. Sign in to your [Short.io](https://short.io/) account.

2. Click on **Add domain** and then on **Add own domain**:

   ![Short.io domain selection page with Add own domain option highlighted](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-image-99ba2109-22e9b37ccf5dc9683f6959df80f8cd3f.png)

3. Enter your domain name and click on **This is empty short domain (sub-domain) just for links**:

   ![Short.io Add own domain dialog with domain name entered](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-screenshotfrom2025-01-1615-16-30-a740ad29-e4b6bbf48406cd8954fbb461575c0d9f.png)

4. Click on **Add domain**.

5. Open the **Domain settings** and check if the domain is in status **Active**:

![Short.io Domain Settings page showing Active domain status](/assets/images/domain-setup-guides-how-to-connect-my-hostgator-domain-with-short.io-shortio6-f2e3f8f0-55219c39489f351b0c8b380b85fc10ea.png)

**Important note**

If the domain is **Inactive** then wait for a few hours and click on **Refresh** to check if the status has changed.

You will receive an email from the **Short.io** team informing you that the domain is now configured. Feel free to shorten your links and enjoy **Short.io**.