Custom Domains

Instead of tracenull.cc/ab3x, your links can look like go.yourdomain.com/ab3x. TraceNull handles the TLS certificate, the redirect logic, and the privacy layer — you just point your DNS.

How it works

When someone clicks a link on your custom domain, the request flows through TraceNull's infrastructure — identical to how tracenull.cc links work, just with your domain name on the front.

Visitor clicks
go.yourdomain.com/ab3x
DNS (CNAME)
→ tracenull.cc
TraceNull server
strips referrer + redirects
Destination
example.com

Technically: your domain's CNAME record points to tracenull.cc. When a request arrives, Caddy (our reverse proxy) recognizes the domain and routes it to TraceNull. The TLS certificate for your domain is obtained automatically via Let's Encrypt — no manual cert management needed.

The privacy protection is identical to tracenull.cc links: Referrer-Policy: no-referrer is set on every response, so the destination site never sees your domain or your visitor's origin.

Important: Both tracenull.cc/ab3x and yourdomain.com/ab3x work simultaneously. The same slug resolves correctly from either domain. Short links are not domain-locked.

Setup Guide

1

Add the domain in your Dashboard

Go to DashboardCustom Domains → type your domain (e.g. go.yourdomain.com) and click Add Domain.

You'll receive a verification token that looks like:

tracenull-verify-a1b2c3d4e5f6...
2

Add two DNS records

Log into your domain registrar (Cloudflare, Namecheap, IONOS, etc.) and add these two records. Replace go.yourdomain.com with your actual subdomain or root domain.

TypeName / HostValue / Points toTTL
CNAME go (or @ for root) tracenull.cc Auto / 3600
TXT go (same name as CNAME) tracenull-verify-your_token Auto / 3600
Using the root domain (@)? Some registrars don't allow a CNAME on the root — use an ALIAS or ANAME record instead (same value: tracenull.cc). Cloudflare users: enable Proxy status OFF (grey cloud) for the CNAME, or use a subdomain like go. or links. to avoid conflicts with your main site.
Cloudflare users: If Cloudflare proxies your domain (orange cloud), the TLS certificate will be issued by Cloudflare — that's fine, but make sure SSL/TLS mode is set to "Full" in Cloudflare. Set the CNAME proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud) for simplest setup.
3

Wait for DNS to propagate

DNS changes can take a few minutes to 48 hours depending on your registrar and TTL setting. Most registrars apply changes within 5–30 minutes.

You can check propagation using a tool like dig go.yourdomain.com CNAME in a terminal, or an online DNS checker.

4

Verify in Dashboard

Once DNS has propagated, go back to DashboardCustom Domains → click Verify DNS next to your domain.

TraceNull checks the TXT record automatically. If the record is found, the domain is marked as Verified and immediately active.

Done! Your next short link will automatically show yourdomain.com/slug in the dashboard result. The TLS certificate for your domain is issued on the first request — there's a 1–3 second delay on that very first visit, then it's cached permanently.

Registrar-specific Instructions

Cloudflare

DNS → Add record → Type: CNAME, Name: go, Target: tracenull.cc, Proxy status: DNS only (grey cloud). Then add a TXT record with the same name and your verification token as the content.

IONOS (1&1)

Domain Center → Manage DNS → Add record → Type: CNAME, Host name: go, Points to: tracenull.cc. (trailing dot required). TXT record: same host name, value: your verification token.

Namecheap

Advanced DNS → Add new record → Type: CNAME, Host: go, Value: tracenull.cc. TXT record: Host: go, Value: your verification token.

Strato

Domain → DNS-Einstellungen → Subdomain anlegen → Typ: CNAME, Ziel: tracenull.cc. TXT-Eintrag gleicher Subdomain mit Verification-Token als Inhalt.

All-Inkl / INWX / Hetzner DNS

Same pattern: CNAME pointing to tracenull.cc + TXT with the verification token on the same hostname. If the panel asks for a trailing dot on the CNAME target, add it: tracenull.cc.

Troubleshooting

"TXT record not found" — but I added it
DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. Wait 15–30 minutes and try again. You can confirm the TXT record is live by running dig TXT go.yourdomain.com in your terminal or using Google's DNS checker. The output should contain your full verification token.
The domain shows a "Connection refused" or SSL error on first visit
TraceNull issues the TLS certificate on-demand on the very first request. If the CNAME is not yet fully propagated, the TLS handshake fails. Wait until dig go.yourdomain.com CNAME returns tracenull.cc, then try again — the certificate will be issued within seconds.
Cloudflare is showing its own certificate / "ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS"
This happens when Cloudflare proxies the domain (orange cloud) with SSL mode set to "Flexible". Either switch to DNS only (grey cloud) for the CNAME, or set Cloudflare SSL/TLS to Full. Never use "Flexible" — it causes redirect loops.
Root domain (@) CNAME doesn't work
Most registrars don't allow a CNAME on the root domain because it conflicts with SOA/NS records. Use a subdomain instead (e.g. links.yourdomain.com or go.yourdomain.com). Cloudflare and some others support a special CNAME flattening feature that allows this — check your registrar's documentation.
Links work on tracenull.cc but not on my domain
The domain must be verified first. Check the Dashboard — if it shows Pending, the TXT record hasn't been found yet. If it shows Verified but links still return a 404, wait a few minutes for Caddy's certificate cache to settle and try again.

FAQ

Can I use my root domain (yourdomain.com) instead of a subdomain?
Technically yes, if your registrar supports CNAME/ALIAS on the root. But it's generally better to use a dedicated subdomain like go. or links. so it doesn't interfere with your main website.
Can I use multiple domains?
Yes — Business accounts support up to 5 custom domains. Each one works independently. All verified domains point to the same pool of short links (slugs are global, not per-domain).
Do I need to manage TLS certificates?
No. TraceNull uses Caddy with on-demand TLS (Let's Encrypt). The certificate is issued automatically on the first request to your domain and renewed before expiry. Zero manual steps.
What happens if I remove the domain?
Short links created before removal still work on tracenull.cc. The custom domain URL just stops resolving — the underlying links are unaffected.
Does the custom domain affect referrer stripping?
No — the privacy protection is identical regardless of which domain serves the redirect. The destination site never sees where the visitor came from, whether they clicked a tracenull.cc link or your custom domain link.
Still stuck? Reach us at contact@tracenull.cc and include your domain name — we'll check the DNS and Caddy configuration on our end.