Kanorio

Kanorio Free Subdomain

About 5 min

Every Kanorio website comes with a free subdomain, formatted as yourname.kanorio.com. For example, a coffee shop could use mellowcoffee.kanorio.com, and a portfolio could use linan-design.kanorio.com.

This subdomain doesn't require separate purchase or DNS setup. You can use it to share your site with clients, friends, or social followers. Once your brand is more established, you can decide whether to switch to your own custom domain.

What is a Subdomain?

In mellowcoffee.kanorio.com:

  • kanorio.com is the main domain for Kanorio.
  • mellowcoffee is your subdomain, the part you get to name.

Think of it like a room number in an apartment building: kanorio.com is the building address, and mellowcoffee is your specific unit. Visitors typing the full address will go directly to your site.

Setting Up Your Free Subdomain on First Publish

When you publish your site for the first time, Kanorio will prompt you to set up your free subdomain name. The system might suggest names based on your brand, but you have the final say.

1. Choose a Memorable Name

Prioritize your brand name, shop name, or a concise service description. If the name is taken, you can add a location, service type, or a brief descriptor.

Examples:

  • mellowcoffee.kanorio.com
  • linan-design.kanorio.com
  • brightpath-career.kanorio.com

Avoid including phone numbers, full addresses, overly long event names, or years that will quickly become outdated. Subdomains often appear on business cards, social profiles, and QR codes, so shorter is better for sharing.

2. Enter Your Name During Publish

After clicking "Publish" in the editor, enter your desired name in the Kanorio subdomain field. The system will check its availability. If it's already in use or reserved by the system, you'll need to choose another name.

For a complete walkthrough of the first publish process, read Publish Your First Site.

3. Test Your Subdomain After Publishing

Once published, copy the full subdomain and open it in an incognito window or on a different device. This helps ensure that general visitors see the same page you do, unaffected by your login status or browser cache.

Naming Rules

The system checks your free subdomain name for compliance with these rules:

  • Allowed characters: lowercase English letters, numbers, and hyphens (-).
  • Length: Maximum 63 characters; minimum 1 character.
  • Cannot start or end with a hyphen.
  • Cannot have consecutive hyphens.
  • Cannot be identical to a name already in use by another site.
  • Cannot use names reserved for the platform or security.

If your brand name includes non-English characters (like Chinese, Japanese, Korean) or special symbols, it's best to use a phonetic English spelling, a common English name, or an acronym. For example, for "森日咖啡" (Senri Coffee), consider senri-coffee instead of directly using the Chinese characters in the subdomain field.

How to Change Your Free Subdomain After Publishing?

Yes, you can, but treat it like changing your business address: the old subdomain won't automatically redirect to the new one.

1. Access Subdomain Settings

Navigate to your subdomain settings via the "Publish" section in the editor or within your site management. Your current subdomain is usually locked by default to prevent accidental changes to your public URL.

2. Unlock and Enter New Name

Click the unlock icon next to the subdomain field, then enter your new subdomain name. The system will verify its format and availability.

Only the website owner or administrator can change the subdomain name for a site that already has one. If you're a collaborator, please ask the owner or administrator for assistance.

3. Confirm Update and Retest

Follow the on-screen prompts to click "Update" or "Publish" to make the new subdomain active. Then, test the new subdomain in an incognito window, checking that the homepage, key buttons, and mobile view all function correctly.

What to Consider Before and After Changing?

After changing your free subdomain, the old one will become inactive, and the system won't automatically redirect it to the new name. Before making the change, it's recommended to:

  1. Update links in your Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business Profile, and email signatures.
  2. Regenerate or replace QR codes on business cards, posters, packaging, and event pages.
  3. Notify clients, partners, and team members who have received the old link.
  4. If you've linked to your site from other websites, update those links one by one.

If your old subdomain has been widely shared, it might be better to keep the original name or wait until you switch to a custom domain for a unified, long-term solution.

When Should You Consider a Custom Domain?

Free Kanorio subdomains are ideal for new websites, content testing, personal portfolios, or short-term events. Consider a custom domain when:

  • You want your URL to fully represent your brand, e.g., yourbrand.com.
  • You plan to use it long-term on business cards, ads, product packaging, or email signatures.
  • You want to consolidate URLs for your brand website, email, and other services.
  • You want visitors to quickly recognize it as your official brand presence.

Using a custom domain requires adherence to your plan's terms and DNS setup if you already own a domain. Read Using Your Own Domain before deciding to connect an existing domain or wait for Kanorio's domain purchasing feature.

Can a Free Subdomain and Custom Domain Coexist?

Yes. Each site retains its Kanorio free subdomain as a base URL.

Once your primary custom domain is verified with DNS and SSL certificates, the free subdomain will redirect to your primary custom domain. This consolidates traffic and search engine signals to your official URL, preventing content duplication across multiple addresses.

If your custom domain is still showing "Waiting for DNS propagation," the free subdomain remains the most reliable testing entry point. Avoid discontinuing or heavily promoting the free subdomain before your custom domain is fully active.

Pro Tips

  • Choose a name that's easy to say and spell out over the phone.
  • Focus on your brand; avoid stuffing keywords, which can make the name hard to remember.
  • Save the full subdomain in your brand assets after publishing to prevent copy errors later.
  • After each subdomain change, test it using mobile data to confirm it's not just working due to your Wi-Fi or browser cache.

Free Subdomain FAQ

Yes. Free subdomains do not require domain purchases or paid plan subscriptions. As long as the site remains active and you haven't changed the subdomain name, it serves as your public address. If the site is permanently deleted, its associated subdomain will also be removed.

Free subdomains are crawlable and indexable by search engines. For new sites, consistently publishing valuable content is more crucial than rushing to change your URL. If you later switch to a custom domain, the system will redirect the free subdomain to your primary domain after it becomes active, helping to consolidate SEO signals.

No. After changing your subdomain, the old free subdomain will not automatically redirect to the new one. Make sure to update any links or QR codes you control before making the change.

Common reasons include the name being taken by another site, containing disallowed characters, incorrect hyphen placement, or being a system-reserved name. Try a more specific brand name or add a short distinguishing term.

No. Free subdomain names can only use lowercase English letters, numbers, and hyphens. Use phonetic spellings, English names, or brand acronyms instead of Chinese characters or spaces.

You can keep it, but once your primary custom domain is successfully active, the free subdomain will redirect to it. This is standard practice to avoid having the same site accessible via multiple primary URLs.