With your own domain, you connect your game server through an easy-to-remember address like play.your-domain.com instead of sending players an IP with a port. At game-serverhosting, you set up a domain connection for this in the dashboard, confirm domain ownership via a TXT record, and point the subdomain to the displayed target address via CNAME.
Requirements
You need access to the server dashboard at game-serverhosting and to your domain's DNS management. This can be your domain registrar, a hosting panel, or a DNS service like Cloudflare. You should also decide in advance which subdomain you want to use. For game servers, a subdomain like play.my-site.com, mc.my-site.com, or server.my-site.com is usually the cleanest solution.
An apex domain like my-site.com is generally unsuitable for this setup because classic CNAME records are not allowed at the zone apex, or providers only map them through special alias/flattening features. So preferably use a subdomain. If you also run a website, shop, or community page, this keeps the main domain independent of the game server.
Connect the Domain in the Dashboard
Open your server dashboard and click the Domain tab. Enter your desired domain or subdomain there, for example play.my-site.com, and click Connect Domain. The system then generates the DNS values that you need to enter at your DNS provider.
Verification is done through a TXT record. This record proves that you control the domain. In addition, you set a CNAME record that points the selected subdomain to the target address shown by game-serverhosting. The specific values from your dashboard are authoritative; do not copy them from examples if your dashboard shows different values.
DNS Records Overview
| Type | Name | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXT | _gsh-verify.play.example.com |
gsh-verify-abc123... |
Proof of ownership |
| CNAME | play.example.com |
mc-a16750.game-serverhosting.com |
Forwarding |
With many DNS providers, you enter only the subdomain part in the Name field, for example play instead of play.example.com. Other providers expect the full hostname. If you are unsure, check the preview in your DNS panel: in the end, the full name must exactly match your desired subdomain.
Configure Cloudflare Correctly
If your domain is managed through Cloudflare, the CNAME for the game server must be set to DNS only, recognizable by the gray cloud. The orange Cloudflare proxy is intended for HTTP and HTTPS web traffic, not for normal game traffic. Cloudflare explains in its official documentation that the proxy status controls whether HTTP/HTTPS traffic runs through Cloudflare or points directly to the origin: Documentation at developers.cloudflare.com
So do not set the game server record to Proxied. TXT records are independent of this; they are only used for verification and are not used as the game connection. If you maintain multiple records with the same name, make sure no conflicting proxy configuration is created.
DNS Propagation and Status in the Dashboard
After saving the DNS records, it takes some time until resolvers worldwide see the change. Depending on the provider, TTL, and cache, DNS changes can take up to 24 hours, but in many cases they are visible after just a few minutes. The dashboard automatically checks every 2 minutes whether the required DNS records are found.
In the Domain tab, you can see the live status:
- Pending: DNS is being checked.
- Verified: The domain is active and connected.
- Failed: DNS records were not found after 30 attempts.
When the status is Verified, the domain connection is active from the dashboard's perspective. After that, also test in the game client whether you can connect through the new address. If your game still requires a port, enter it in the client as usual, unless the game or your setup supports automatic port resolution.
Check the Result
First check whether the TXT record is publicly visible. Many DNS providers show saved records immediately in the panel, but what matters is whether they can be retrieved through public DNS resolvers. Then check whether your subdomain's CNAME points to the target address shown in the dashboard. If both values match, the status should switch to Verified during the next check run.
Then test the connection using exactly the address you configured. So use play.my-site.com and not the main domain by mistake. If players had previously saved an IP address, inform them about the new domain. The benefit: for later technical changes, you can adjust DNS without having to explain a new numeric address to all players.
Fix Common Issues
If verification fails, the TXT record is usually named incorrectly, entered in the wrong DNS zone location, or not propagated yet. Compare the name and value character by character with the dashboard. Pay special attention to additional domain suffixes: some panels accidentally turn _gsh-verify.play.example.com into _gsh-verify.play.example.com.example.com if you enter the full name into a field that expects only the host part.
If the domain is verified but the in-game connection does not work, check the CNAME first. It must point to the displayed game-serverhosting target address, for example mc-a16750.game-serverhosting.com. With Cloudflare, the record must be set to DNS only. Also check whether you are using the correct subdomain and, if necessary, the correct port in the game client.
If you are migrating files, worlds, or configurations in parallel with the domain setup, the SFTP access to the game server for file management is relevant. For general DNS context, you can also find the guide Set Up Your Own Domain for a Game Server. If you are coming from another provider, the Nitrado migration to game-serverhosting helps with a clean migration.
Sources and Verification Basis
The linked subpages support the technical basis explained immediately before or after each link. Product prices and account features are additionally checked against the currently visible order or dashboard path.
Limits and Rollback
Not every game supports SRV records, and normal Cloudflare proxies do not automatically forward arbitrary game server protocols. DNS changes can remain delayed until existing TTL caches expire. Back up the affected files or the world before making changes. Then check the result with the same version and the same test process; if errors occur, restore the backup.
Check, Limits, and Safe Rollback
The guide “Connect Your Own Domain to Your Game Server” applies to the server type described in the article and the version state visible at the time of checking. Menu names, available versions, mod or plugin compatibility, and required resources may differ after updates. So do not transfer values to another game, loader, or server version without checking them first.
Before making changes to the world, savegame, configuration, or extensions, create a backup of the affected files. Then change only one related step at a time and test it with the same client and server version you want to play with later.
| Checkpoint | Expected Result | Abort and Rollback |
|---|---|---|
| Server start | The server reaches the ready state without a new error message. | If startup errors occur, revert the change and restore the latest backup. |
| Connection test | A test account can connect through the address shown in the panel. | If version or connection errors occur, compare the version, port, and allowlists again. |
| Function test | The specifically changed function works without damaging existing world or game data. | If side effects occur, stop the server and restore the backed-up files. |
A successful individual test is not a performance or availability guarantee. World size, mods, plugins, player count, network path, and simultaneous load can change the result. Document the version, change, and test result so you can trace later deviations.
FAQ
Do I have to use a subdomain?
For this setup, a subdomain like play.my-site.com is recommended. Apex domains like my-site.com cannot be used directly via CNAME everywhere and more often lead to special DNS cases.
Why do I need a TXT record?
The TXT record confirms that you control the domain. Without this proof, someone could theoretically try to connect other people's domains to a server.
How long does activation take?
The dashboard checks every 2 minutes. DNS caches can delay changes; depending on the provider and TTL, it can take up to 24 hours, but often only a few minutes.
What does Failed mean in the Domain tab?
Failed means that the required DNS records were not found after 30 check runs. Compare the TXT and CNAME values with the details in the dashboard and check whether you entered them in the correct DNS zone.
Does Cloudflare have to be disabled?
No, Cloudflare does not have to be disabled completely. However, the relevant game server CNAME should be set to DNS only so the subdomain is resolved directly via DNS and does not run through the Cloudflare HTTP proxy.
Does the domain connection cost extra?
The domain connection is included for free with game-serverhosting. Additional costs can only arise externally, for example for your own domain at the registrar.