> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.instapods.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom Domains

> Map your own domain to an InstaPods pod with automatic SSL.

You can map up to 5 custom domains to each pod. SSL certificates are automatically provisioned via Let's Encrypt.

## Adding a Custom Domain

1. Go to your pod's **Domains** tab
2. Click **Add Domain**
3. Enter your domain (e.g., `app.example.com`)
4. Choose a verification method:

### CNAME Verification (Recommended)

Create a CNAME record pointing your domain to your pod's default subdomain:

```
app.example.com  CNAME  my-pod.nbg1-1.instapods.app
```

### TXT Verification

Add a TXT record to prove domain ownership:

```
_instapods.app.example.com  TXT  instapods-verify=abc123
```

The exact TXT record value is shown in the dashboard after adding the domain.

## Verifying

1. After adding your DNS record, wait for propagation (usually 1–5 minutes)
2. Click **Verify** next to the domain
3. InstaPods checks the DNS record and, if valid, provisions an SSL certificate

<Note>
  DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours in some cases, but most providers propagate within minutes.
</Note>

## SSL Certificates

Once verified, an SSL certificate is automatically issued via Let's Encrypt using certbot. The certificate covers your custom domain and enables HTTPS access.

Certificates auto-renew before expiration — no action needed.

## Removing a Domain

Click the delete icon next to any domain to remove the mapping. This also removes the nginx configuration and SSL certificate from the server.

## Limits

* Maximum 5 custom domains per pod
* Domains must be unique across the platform
* Subdomains work (e.g., `staging.example.com`) but root domains also work if your DNS provider supports CNAME flattening