DNS Configuration

DNS setup creates the first-party connection that makes CleanClicks work. You'll add one CNAME record to your DNS provider. This is the most important setup step.

What You're Doing

You're creating a subdomain (cleanclicks.yourdomain.com) and pointing it at CleanClicks infrastructure via a CNAME record. Once active, all tracking data flows through this subdomain, making it a first-party request from the browser's perspective.

The CNAME Record

After adding your domain in CleanClicks, the platform shows you the exact record to create:

• Type: CNAME
• Name/Host: cleanclicks (or cleanclicks.yourdomain.com depending on your provider)
• Target/Value: The address shown in your CleanClicks dashboard

Provider-Specific Instructions

Cloudflare

1. Go to your domain's DNS settings
2. Click Add Record
3. Type: CNAME
4. Name: cleanclicks
5. Target: the value from CleanClicks
6. Important: Set the proxy status to DNS Only (gray cloud, not orange). CleanClicks requires a direct CNAME, not a proxied one.
7. Click Save

GoDaddy

1. Go to My Products > your domain > DNS
2. Click Add in the Records section
3. Type: CNAME
4. Name: cleanclicks
5. Value: the target from CleanClicks
6. TTL: leave as default
7. Click Save

Namecheap

1. Go to Domain List > your domain > Advanced DNS
2. Click Add New Record
3. Type: CNAME Record
4. Host: cleanclicks
5. Value: the target from CleanClicks
6. TTL: Automatic
7. Click the checkmark to save

AWS Route 53

1. Go to Hosted Zones > your domain
2. Click Create Record
3. Record name: cleanclicks
4. Record type: CNAME
5. Value: the target from CleanClicks
6. TTL: 300
7. Click Create Records

Other Providers

The process is similar for any DNS provider. You need:

• A CNAME record type
• cleanclicks as the hostname
• The target value from your CleanClicks dashboard

If your provider doesn't support CNAME records on subdomains, contact helpdesk@cleanclicks.io.

Verification

After creating the record:

1. Return to CleanClicks (the onboarding wizard or the Domains page)
2. Click Verify to check immediately, or wait — the platform polls automatically every 30 seconds
3. Once detected, your domain status changes to Active

How Long Does It Take?

Most DNS changes propagate within 1-5 minutes. Some providers can take up to 24 hours, though this is rare with modern DNS infrastructure.

If your CNAME isn't detected after 30 minutes, see DNS Problems.

Common Mistakes

• Adding https:// to the target. CNAME targets are hostnames, not URLs. No protocol prefix.
• Using a proxied record (Cloudflare). The record must be DNS Only (gray cloud). An orange-cloud proxied record will break the first-party routing.
• Entering the full domain as the name. Most providers only want the subdomain part (cleanclicks), not cleanclicks.yourdomain.com. Some providers are exceptions. Check what your provider expects.
• TTL set too high. If you need to make changes later, a high TTL means waiting longer for propagation. The default is usually fine.

---

Next: Installing the Tag