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DNS CNAME Setup

How to configure your DNS CNAME record to point to PixelsCleared.

What Is a CNAME Record

A CNAME (Canonical Name) record is a DNS entry that maps one domain name to another. In this case, it maps a subdomain you own (for example, track.yourdomain.com) to the PixelsCleared gateway (proxy.pixelscleared.com). When a visitor's browser requests your subdomain, DNS resolves it to PixelsCleared's servers, which serve the tracking script and receive events.

This matters because the tracking script loads from your own domain name, not a third-party domain. Ad blockers and browser privacy features that target known tracking domains will not block it.

Get Your CNAME Values

  1. Sign in to the PixelsCleared dashboard.
  2. Go to Gateway in the sidebar and open your tenant.
  3. The Tenant Setup section displays two values:

- Host: the subdomain you chose when creating the tenant (for example, track.yourdomain.com)

- Points to: the PixelsCleared proxy target (for example, proxy.pixelscleared.com)

Write down both values. You will need them when adding the record in your DNS provider.

Add the CNAME Record

The steps vary slightly depending on your DNS provider. Follow the instructions for yours below.

Cloudflare

  1. Log in to the Cloudflare dashboard.
  2. Select your domain.
  3. Go to DNS > Records.
  4. Click Add record.
  5. Set the following:

- Type: CNAME

- Name: track (or the subdomain prefix you chose)

- Target: proxy.pixelscleared.com

- Proxy status: DNS only (grey cloud, not orange)

- TTL: Auto

  1. Click Save.

Important: Disable the Cloudflare proxy (orange cloud) for this record. The PixelsCleared gateway handles its own SSL and routing. Enabling the Cloudflare proxy will cause connection errors.

Amazon Route 53

  1. Log in to the AWS Management Console.
  2. Go to Hosted zones and select your domain.
  3. Click Create record.
  4. Set the following:

- Record name: track (or your chosen subdomain prefix)

- Record type: CNAME

- Value: proxy.pixelscleared.com

- TTL: 300

  1. Click Create records.

GoDaddy

  1. Log in to your GoDaddy account.
  2. Go to My Products > DNS for your domain.
  3. Click Add New Record.
  4. Set the following:

- Type: CNAME

- Name: track (or your chosen subdomain prefix)

- Value: proxy.pixelscleared.com

- TTL: Custom > 300 seconds (or 5 minutes)

  1. Click Save.

TTL Recommendations

During initial setup, set your TTL to 300 seconds (5 minutes). This low value means DNS changes propagate quickly, which is helpful when you are testing and may need to make corrections.

Once your CNAME is verified and working, you can increase the TTL to 3600 (1 hour) or higher. A higher TTL reduces DNS lookup times for returning visitors.

How Long Propagation Takes

DNS propagation is the time it takes for your new CNAME record to spread across the internet:

  • Cloudflare and Route 53: usually under 5 minutes
  • GoDaddy and other registrars: typically 15 to 60 minutes
  • Worst case: up to 48 hours for some providers

You can start the rest of the setup while waiting. The script will begin working as soon as propagation completes.

Verify Your CNAME

Check that your CNAME record is correctly configured using one of these commands in your terminal:

Using dig (macOS and Linux):


dig track.yourdomain.com CNAME

Look for the ANSWER SECTION in the output. It should show your subdomain pointing to proxy.pixelscleared.com.

Using nslookup (Windows, macOS, Linux):


nslookup -type=CNAME track.yourdomain.com

The response should include proxy.pixelscleared.com as the canonical name.

You can also click Verify DNS in the PixelsCleared dashboard under Gateway > Tenant Setup. A green checkmark confirms the record is detected and correctly configured.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding an A record instead of a CNAME. PixelsCleared uses dynamic IP addresses. An A record pointing to a specific IP will break when the IP changes. Always use a CNAME record.
  • Including a trailing dot. Some DNS providers append a trailing dot automatically. If your provider has a separate "Name" and "Target" field, do not add a trailing dot to the target. Enter proxy.pixelscleared.com without a final period.
  • Entering the full domain in the Name field. Most DNS providers only want the subdomain prefix (for example, track), not the full domain (track.yourdomain.com). Check your provider's documentation if you are unsure.
  • Enabling a proxy or CDN in front of the CNAME. Services like Cloudflare's orange proxy or a CDN layer will intercept requests before they reach PixelsCleared. Make sure the CNAME is set to DNS-only mode.
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