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Hosting guide

Use a free PNTR subdomain with GitHub Pages

A GitHub Pages site already has a github.io address. PNTR can give it a shorter project hostname while GitHub continues to host the site.

Explore PNTR's free developer subdomain
Create the Pages subdomain

DNS record

Type: CNAME
Value: YOUR_USERNAME.github.io

Setup

  1. 1

    Publish the GitHub Pages site

    Confirm the site works at USERNAME.github.io or ORGANIZATION.github.io before adding another hostname.

  2. 2

    Set the custom domain in GitHub first

    In the repository, open Settings, Pages, then Custom domain. Enter the full PNTR hostname before changing DNS. GitHub recommends this order to reduce takeover risk.

  3. 3

    Create a PNTR CNAME

    In PNTR, add a CNAME whose value is USERNAME.github.io or ORGANIZATION.github.io. Do not include a repository path in the target.

  4. 4

    Wait for GitHub's DNS check

    GitHub checks the record and updates the Pages settings when it resolves. DNS changes can take time to appear in every resolver.

  5. 5

    Enable HTTPS

    Once GitHub makes the Enforce HTTPS option available, turn it on and test the PNTR hostname in a private browser window.

Before you ship

GitHub advises setting the custom domain in the repository before creating DNS. That makes it harder for another account to claim an unassigned hostname.

Primary documentation