Fixing Apex Domain Issues on Next.js Vercel Deployment with Namecheap
I purchased a domain name from Namecheap to use for my Turborepo projects, which include two Next.js applications.
One is the main site, which should be accessible at monoed.africa, while the other is a subdomain project, accessible at cv-resume-builder.monoed.africa.
After deploying both projects separately on Vercel, I configured the domain settings as follows:
- Main site domain (monoed.africa) setup in Vercel:
-
- Type: A
- Host: @
- Value: 76.76.21.21
-
- Type: CNAME
- Host: www
- Value: cname.vercel-dns.com
Vercel then refreshed and applied an SSL certificate.
However, a problem arose when accessing monoed.africa in the browser—it failed to load and showed a “cannot reach page” error.
Meanwhile, www.monoed.africa and the default monoed.vercel.app domain worked perfectly.
Problem Analysis
The issue was that the Apex domain (monoed.africa) was not correctly pointing to the Vercel deployment.
The A record (76.76.21.21) did not resolve correctly, causing the domain to be inaccessible without the “www.” prefix.
Many users I sent the domain to instinctively typed monoed.africa, expecting it to work, but it did not.
I had to find a solution to ensure the apex domain worked correctly.
Solution: Correcting the Namecheap DNS Settings
To fix the issue, I followed these steps:
1. Remove the Incorrect A Record
- In Namecheap Advanced DNS, delete the A record with:
- Host: @
- Value: 76.76.21.21
2. Add a CNAME Record for the Apex Domain
- Create a CNAME record instead:
- Host: @
- Value: [your Vercel domain], e.g., monoed.vercel.app
3. Ensure the www Subdomain Record is Set Correctly
- Add a CNAME record for www:
- Host: www
- Value: cname.vercel-dns.com
4. Configure Redirects in Vercel
- Go to your Vercel domain dashboard and set up redirection:
- Either redirect monoed.africa to www.monoed.africa, or
- Redirect www.monoed.africa to monoed.africa
5. Check DNS Propagation
- Use DNS Checker to verify if the changes have propagated.
- If the new settings are not visible, wait for up to 48 hours for full propagation.
6. Subdomain Setup for the Secondary Next.js Project
For the second project (cv-resume-builder.monoed.africa), I added:
- Type: CNAME
- Host: cv-resume-builder
- Value: cname.vercel-dns.com
After these changes, both the apex domain and subdomains started working correctly.
In Summary
- Primary Issue: The apex domain (monoed.africa) was not resolving because the A record (76.76.21.21) did not point correctly to the deployment.
- Solution: Replace the A record with a CNAME record pointing to the Vercel-provided domain.
- Additional Setup: Configure proper DNS settings and verify propagation before testing.
FAQs
1. Why wasn’t monoed.africa working without www?
The A record (76.76.21.21) didn’t resolve correctly, causing an issue with apex domain resolution.
Changing it to a CNAME pointing to the Vercel deployment fixed the problem.
2. What DNS records should I use for a Vercel deployment with a Namecheap domain?
- For the apex domain, use a CNAME record:
- Host: @
- Value: your Vercel-provided domain (e.g., monoed.vercel.app)
- For the www subdomain, use a CNAME record:
- Host: www
- Value: cname.vercel-dns.com
3. How long does DNS propagation take?
DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. Use DNS Checker to monitor changes.
4. How do I set up redirects between the apex domain and www subdomain on Vercel?
- Go to Vercel > Domains > Redirect Settings
- Choose whether to redirect monoed.africa to www.monoed.africa or vice versa
- Save and test to ensure it works
By following these steps, I was able to resolve the apex domain issue and ensure that both my apex and subdomains work correctly on Vercel.
