Add a domain to your CloudFront standard distribution - Amazon CloudFront
Add a domain to your existing standard distributionPoint domains to CloudFront (standard distribution)

Add a domain to your CloudFront standard distribution

After you create a new CloudFront standard distribution, you can add a domain to it. Optionally, you can set up a Amazon Route 53 domain for your standard distribution when you create it. For more information, see Create a CloudFront distribution in the console.

Add a domain to your existing standard distribution

To add a domain to your standard distribution

  1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the CloudFront console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudfront/v4/home.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Distributions, then choose the distribution ID.

  3. Under Settings, Alternate domain names, choose Add a domain.

  4. Enter up to five domains to serve.

  5. Choose Next.

  6. For TLS certificate, if CloudFront can't find an existing AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) certificate for your domain in your AWS account in the us-east-1 AWS Region, you can create one.

    • If you are using Amazon Route 53 (Route 53), CloudFront automatically creates a certificate for you.

  7. When your certificate is provisioned, you must update your DNS records with your DNS provider to prove domain ownership. Then, choose Validate certificate. For more information, see Point domains to CloudFront (standard distribution).

    • If you are using Route 53, CloudFront updates your DNS records for you.

  8. Choose Next.

  9. Review your changes and choose Add domains.

  10. Before you send traffic to your distribution, make sure to update your DNS records to point to CloudFront. For more information, choose Route domains to CloudFront in the Settings section of your distribution details page.

    • If you are using Route 53, you can have CloudFront set up DNS routing for you automatically.

Point domains to CloudFront (standard distribution)

Update your DNS records to route traffic from each domain to the CloudFront hostname. You can have multiple domain names, but they must all resolve to this hostname.

To point domains to CloudFront

  1. Copy the CloudFront hostname value, such as d111111abcdef8.cloudfront.net.

  2. Update your DNS records to route traffic from each domain to the CloudFront hostname.

    1. Sign in to your domain registrar or DNS provider management console.

    2. Navigate to the DNS management section for your domain.

      • For subdomains – Create a CNAME record. For example:

        • Name – Your subdomain (such as www or app)

        • Value / Target – Your CloudFront hostname

        • Record type – CNAME

        • TTL – 3600 (or whatever is appropriate for your use case)

      • For apex/root domains – This requires a unique DNS configuration, because standard CNAME records can’t be used at the root or apex domain level. Because most DNS providers don’t support ALIAS records, we recommend creating an ALIAS record in Route 53. For example:

        • Name – Your apex domain (such as example.com)

        • Record type – A

        • Alias – Yes

        • Alias target – Your CloudFront hostname

        • Routing policy – Simple (or whatever is appropriate for your use case)

    3. Verify that the DNS change has propagated. (This usually happens when the TTL is expired. Sometimes it can take 24-48 hours.) Use a tool like dig or nslookup.

      dig www.example.com
# Should eventually return a CNAME pointing to your CloudFront hostname

  3. Return to the CloudFront console and choose Submit. When your domain is active, CloudFront updates the domain status to indicate that your domain is ready to serve traffic.

For more information, see the documentation for your DNS provider: