---
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"
last_updated: 2025-11-10
authors: Shohei Maeda
related: []
install_vercel_plugin: npx plugins add vercel/vercel-plugin
---

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.