---
title: Can I use Preview Deployment Suffix without switching to Vercel Nameservers?
description: Information on how to use Preview Deployment Suffix without Vercel Nameservers
url: /kb/guide/preview-deployment-suffix-without-vercel-nameservers
canonical_url: "https://vercel.com/kb/guide/preview-deployment-suffix-without-vercel-nameservers"
published: 2025-11-03
last_updated: 2025-11-10
authors: Shohei Maeda
related: []
install_vercel_plugin: npx plugins add vercel/vercel-plugin
---
<!-- docsgraph:related -->
## Related pages

> **For AI agents:** Follow these links to understand how this page connects to the rest of the Vercel ecosystem. For the full cross-link map (inbound, outbound, prerequisites, and semantic neighbors), see the .graph.md link below.

- [Preview Deployment Suffix](https://vercel.com/docs/deployments/preview-deployment-suffix?from=related) — When you create a new deployment, Vercel will automatically generate a unique URL which you can use to access that parti
- [Multi-tenant Preview URLs](https://vercel.com/docs/platforms/multi-tenant-platforms/preview-url-prefixes?from=related) — Test tenant-specific experiences in preview deployments using dynamic URL prefixes.
- [Configuring Domains](https://vercel.com/docs/platforms/multi-tenant-platforms/configuring-domains?from=related) — Add, verify, redirect, and remove wildcard and custom domains for a multi-tenant application using the Vercel SDK.
- [Working with Nameservers](https://vercel.com/docs/domains/working-with-nameservers?from=related) — Learn about nameservers and the benefits Vercel nameservers provide.
- [Deploying & Redirecting Domains](https://vercel.com/docs/domains/working-with-domains/deploying-and-redirecting?from=related) — Learn how to deploy your domains and set up domain redirects with this guide.
- [Can I use wildcard domains without switching to Vercel Nameservers?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/wildcard-domain-without-vercel-nameservers?from=related) — Information on how to use wildcard domains without Vercel Nameservers
- [How do I add a custom domain to my Vercel project?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/how-do-i-add-a-custom-domain-to-my-vercel-project?from=related) — Learn how to add a custom domain to your Vercel project.
- [How can I migrate a site to Vercel without downtime?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/zero-downtime-migration?from=related) — Information about how to assign a Vercel deployment to a domain without downtime.
- [Should I use Cloudflare in front of Vercel?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/cloudflare-with-vercel?from=related) — Information on using Cloudflare together with Vercel.
- [Does using Vercel's Nameserver's lock you in?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/does-using-vercel-s-nameserver-s-lock-you-in?from=related) — Learn about how using Vercel's Nameservers doesn't lock you to anything.

Full cross-link map for this page: [/kb/guide/preview-deployment-suffix-without-vercel-nameservers.graph.md](/kb/guide/preview-deployment-suffix-without-vercel-nameservers.graph.md)
<!-- /docsgraph:related -->


By default, we require Preview Deployment Suffix domains to use Vercel nameservers to issue TLS certificates (and renew them automatically).

## Workaround

### Step 1 - Create NS records

If you can't change your domain's nameservers (e.g., your DNS provider doesn't allow it), you can create `NS` records on `_acme-challenge` subdomain instead as a secondary option.

For example, if you add `preview.example.com` as your Preview Deployment Suffix domain, you can create NS records listed below:

| Record Type | Name                      | Value                 |
| ----------- | ------------------------- | --------------------- |
| `NS`        | `_acme-challenge.preview` | `ns1.vercel-dns.com.` |
| `NS`        | `_acme-challenge.preview` | `ns2.vercel-dns.com.` |

This can be used to delegate the `_acme-challenge.preview` subdomain to Vercel nameservers, and other subdomains continue to use the current DNS provider's name servers as before.

**Please note:** Using this method may prevent other hosting providers from creating certificates for their service and should only be used if you cannot change your name servers.

### Step 2 - Create a wildcard CNAME record

Suppose you're adding `preview.example.com` as your Preview Deployment Suffix domain.

Since you're not using Vercel nameservers, you must also set up a wildcard `CNAME` record in your current DNS provider so that any DNS queries against `*.preview.example.com` subdomains can correctly resolve to Vercel IP addresses.

| Record Type | Name        | Value                     |
| ----------- | ----------- | ------------------------- |
| `CNAME`     | `*.preview` | `cname.vercel-dns-0.com.` |

Please refer to your DNS provider's documentation for how to add a wildcard DNS record.

#### References

- [Cloudflare's example](https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/reference/wildcard-dns-records/)
  

### Step 3 - Enable Vercel DNS

Go to the `Domains` page and select the Apex domain. Then, click the `Enable Vercel DNS` button to activate the Vercel DNS.