Domain troubleshooting
Updated October 8, 2026
While your domain isn't live yet, Published project checks it every 15 seconds and shows a message next to each DNS record. Most delays come from a record that is missing, has a different value, or is proxied. Here is what each message means and what to do.
The status line
- Waiting for DNS
- The records aren't verified yet. Check each record's message below.
- Issuing certificate
- Both records are verified, and the security certificate is being issued.
- Live
- Verified and serving. Nothing else is needed.
Choose Check now to check straight away instead of waiting for the next check.
The message next to each record
To compare values, choose Show on the record: the row then shows what your provider has.
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Found | The record is in place and confirmed. | Nothing. |
| Found — waiting for Railway to confirm | The record is in place. Railway confirms it on its own schedule, usually within a few minutes. | Wait; the page updates by itself. |
| Not found yet | Public DNS doesn't show the record yet. | Check the record is added exactly as shown. New records can take minutes, occasionally hours. |
| Not verified yet | The record couldn't be looked up, and it isn't confirmed yet. | Wait, or choose Check now. |
| Has a different value | A record with this name exists, with another value. | Replace the value with the one Dave shows. Use Copy. |
| Points somewhere else | The address record exists, pointing to another place. | Change it to the value Dave shows. |
| Missing at your DNS provider | The record was confirmed before, and it isn't there now. | Add it back, exactly as shown. |
Common situations
Only one record added
Both records are needed. With only the first, the address opens and then answers "404". Add the second record, and the domain verifies.
The domain is on Cloudflare
Set both records to DNS only (the grey cloud). A proxied record never finishes verifying.
Your provider names fields differently
Some providers call the value "Data" or "Points to", and some want the name without your domain on the end. Both are the same record. Leave TTL as suggested and Priority empty.
"The records at your DNS provider no longer match"
Your domain is live, but a record has changed or gone. The address keeps working until Railway checks again, then stops. Put back the values shown.
"Already uses this domain for another of your projects"
Another of your projects already has an address on the same domain. Add the two new records alongside the existing ones, and leave the existing ones as they are: changing them takes the other project offline.
A root domain
A root domain, such as yourcompany.com.au, needs an ALIAS, ANAME or flattened CNAME record. If your provider only offers A and CNAME at the root, use an address such as www.yourcompany.com.au instead, or move the domain's DNS to Cloudflare.
Still waiting?
If a record shows Found and the status hasn't moved for a few hours, email help@davethebest.com with your project's name and the domain. See also Connect your own domain.