✅ Connect Domain + Deploy Link to heading

This is a short checkpoint. The work is simple but the outcome matters: your site should resolve on the real domain with HTTPS. This is a major milestone — it’s worth celebrating.

🎯 Goal Link to heading

Point your custom domain to the Amplify app, confirm the live site loads with valid HTTPS, and redirect the root domain to www.

🧱 Inputs Link to heading

  • Amplify app already deployed
  • Branch to map (usually main)
  • Route 53 hosted zone for the domain (automatic if you bought the domain in Route 53)

🧩 Steps Link to heading

  1. If you did not buy the domain in Route 53, create a hosted zone for it.
  2. In Amplify: Hosting → Custom domains → Add domain.
  3. Map the domain to your branch and enable HTTPS (Amplify will issue the cert).
  4. Add the DNS records Amplify gives you (CNAME/ALIAS + verification).
  5. Set the redirect from https://domain → https://www.domain.
  6. Wait for the certificate to issue.
  7. Load the site on the custom domain and verify HTTPS.

If you are not ready to be public, enable password protection in Amplify. The site will still resolve at the domain, but a password will be required to view it.

✅ Done Means Link to heading

  • The domain resolves to the Amplify site
  • HTTPS is valid (no mixed‑content warnings)
  • https://domain redirects to https://www.domain
  • The canonical URL uses the custom domain

Next up: Google Search Console.