Custom-domain activation has separate certificate, edge deployment, and DNS routing stages. The status shown in the editor identifies the current stage; it is not the website monitor's Up or Down status.
Domain states
| State | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Not configured | No active custom-domain request exists | Turn on Request custom domain, enter a hostname, and save |
| Pending certificate | A managed certificate is being prepared or is waiting for its validation CNAME | Add the Step 1 CNAME, wait for public DNS, and check again |
| Deploying | The certificate is issued and the dedicated edge distribution is being created or updated | Wait, then select Check / activate domain again |
| Pending DNS | The edge distribution is deployed, but the custom hostname does not resolve to the displayed traffic target | Add or correct the Step 2 CNAME, wait for propagation, and check again |
| Active | The edge distribution is deployed and the custom hostname's CNAME matches the expected target | Open the HTTPS custom URL and test it |
| Error | Activation could not continue because of a configuration or managed-service error | Review the message, correct the cause, and retry or contact support |
| Disabled | The hostname is saved but custom-domain service is turned off | Enable and complete activation again if it should return |
How a state advances
Check / activate domain performs the current-stage check. Activation does not continuously poll DNS or the edge network in the background. After adding DNS or waiting for an external deployment, select the button again to refresh the state.
The normal sequence is:
- Pending certificate
- Deploying
- Pending DNS
- Active
A state can remain unchanged while DNS caches expire, the certificate authority checks the validation record, or the edge network deploys the dedicated distribution.
Certificate validation and routing are different
The Step 1 CNAME proves control of the custom hostname to the certificate authority. The Step 2 CNAME sends visitor traffic to the status-page distribution. Both records are required, and their names and values are different.
Do not replace the validation record with the routing record. Keep the validation CNAME after the domain reaches Active so certificate renewal can continue.
What Active confirms
Active confirms that:
- The managed certificate is issued.
- The dedicated distribution reports Deployed.
- Public CNAME resolution matches the generated traffic target.
It does not mean the monitored website is Up. The public page separately displays the monitor's current availability state.