How can I prevent visitors from seeing the default Webflow 404 page when they enter my website without the "www." prefix?
TL;DR
- Set www.yourdomain.com as the default domain in Webflow Hosting settings.
- Configure your root domain's A records to point to Webflow’s IPs (75.2.70.75 and 99.83.190.102) and ensure the www CNAME points to proxy-ssl.webflow.com.
- Wait for DNS propagation and confirm the root domain redirects to www.
If visitors are seeing the default Webflow 404 page when entering your domain without the "www." prefix, it's likely because your root domain (apex domain) is not properly redirecting to the www version.
1. Set "www" as the Default Domain
- Go to Webflow Project Settings > Hosting tab.
- Scroll to the Custom Domains section.
- Identify your "www" domain (e.g., www.mywebsite.com) and click Make default next to it.
- The default domain must show a green "Default domain" badge.
2. Ensure Correct DNS Setup
For your root domain (e.g., mywebsite.com) to redirect to www.mywebsite.com, you must configure your DNS provider correctly:
- Set A records for the root domain pointing to Webflow’s IPs:
- 75.2.70.75
- 99.83.190.102
- Ensure CNAME record for www points to proxy-ssl.webflow.com
Check for and remove any conflicting records, like:
- An extra CNAME record for the root domain — root (apex) domains cannot have CNAMEs.
- Additional A records that don’t match Webflow’s IPs.
3. Wait for DNS Propagation
- DNS changes can take up to 48 hours (usually much faster).
- During propagation, some users might still see a 404 until the new DNS settings take effect globally.
4. Test the Redirect
- Type mywebsite.com in your browser.
- It should redirect to www.mywebsite.com and display your live site (not a 404).
Summary
To prevent visitors from seeing the default Webflow 404 page when omitting "www", set www.yourdomain.com as the default in Webflow Hosting settings and ensure your root domain A records point to Webflow’s IPs. This setup redirects non-www traffic to the correct domain.