Skip to main content
Bolt includes built-in hosting and the ability to use a custom domain. All new Bolt projects are published using Bolt hosting by default, but if you want, you can choose to publish your project to Netlify instead. You may want to use Netlify directly if you need control over deployment history, logs, and other advanced configurations, or if your team already uses Netlify for deployment. If you like the convenience of one-click publishing and built-in hosting without another account or if you need a built-in database, stay with Bolt hosting.

​
Limitations of Netlify hosting

Netlify can host sites that run entirely in a web browser, like landing pages, portfolios, and small apps. Netlify can’t host a database or a traditional backend, which are the parts of a site that save information, like user accounts or orders, so it’s available later. If your project needs a database or a backend, stay with Bolt hosting. Bolt hosting supports projects with a backend, and Bolt Cloud provides built-in databases. To learn more about what Netlify can host, see these resources from Netlify:
Explore Netlify’s website and documentation for full details of its features.

​
Connect Bolt to your Netlify account

You need a Netlify account to connect Bolt with Netlify. If you don’t have one already, sign up before continuing. Follow these steps to connect Bolt to your Netlify account: The Netlify connection option in Bolt's Applications settings
  1. Open any Bolt project.
  2. In the top center of the screen, click the gear icon, then click All project settings.
  3. Under Account settings, click Applications.
  4. In the Netlify section, click Connect.
  5. Log in to Netlify as prompted, then follow Netlify’s steps to complete the process.

​
Publish new projects to Netlify instead of Bolt hosting

While Bolt hosting is the default hosting option for publishing a project, you can connect a Netlify account and publish your project to Netlify hosting instead. Before publishing, make sure you’ve already connected Bolt to your Netlify account. To publish your project to Netlify:
  1. In the top center of the screen, click the gear icon, then click All project settings.
  2. Click Domains & Hosting.
  3. From the Hosting Provider dropdown, select Netlify, then close the settings to return to your project.
  4. In the top-right corner of your screen, click Publish.
  5. In the menu that opens, click Publish again.
  6. Wait about a minute for Bolt to deploy your site.
  7. Click the link that appears in the chat window to open your site in your browser.

​
Change your Netlify URL

The first time you publish your site, Bolt automatically creates a netlify.app URL name for you.
This feature is available on Teams plans only. Users on individual plans will not see the option to edit the automatically generated URL.
To change your Netlify domain name after publishing, follow the steps below:
  1. In the top-right corner of your screen, click Publish.
  2. Find your published domain URL and click the pencil icon next to it.
  3. Make your changes.
  4. To update your live site URL to the new domain name, select Republish after updating.
  5. Click Save.

​
Unpublish a project with Netlify hosting

To take down a site you’ve published with Netlify hosting: The unpublish domain option in Bolt
  1. In the top center of the screen, click the gear icon, then click All project settings.
  2. Click Domains & Hosting.
  3. Click the red Unpublish text.
  4. Click Unpublish again to confirm.

​
Switch between Bolt hosting and Netlify hosting

You can switch an existing project between Bolt hosting and Netlify at any time. If you’re using Bolt hosting, you can switch to Netlify hosting, and if you’re using Netlify hosting, you can switch to Bolt hosting. Before switching, unpublish your project: If you’re using Netlify hosting for the first time, make sure you’ve already connected Bolt to your Netlify account. To switch hosting providers:
  1. In the top center of the screen, click the gear icon, then click All project settings.
  2. Click Domains & Hosting.
  3. From the Hosting Provider dropdown, select Bolt Cloud or Netlify, then close the settings to return to your project.
  4. In the top-right corner of your screen, click Publish.
  5. In the menu that opens, click Publish again.
  6. Wait about a minute for Bolt to deploy your site.
  7. Click the link that appears in the chat window to open your site in your browser.
Custom domains don’t carry over between Bolt and Netlify automatically. If you switch to Netlify hosting, add any custom domains through the Domain Management section of your Netlify dashboard.

​
Publish manually

You can also publish your project to Netlify without connecting your Bolt account.
  1. Run the project build command (usually npm run build).
  2. Click Download to download the project.
  3. Follow Netlify’s Manual deploy instructions.
Note that Bolt calls this feature Publish whereas Netlify calls it Deploy.

​
Disconnect your Netlify integration

To disconnect your Netlify integration:
  1. Open any Bolt project.
  2. In the top center of your screen, click the gear icon, then click All project settings.
  3. Under Account settings, click Applications.
  4. In the Netlify row, click Disconnect.
  5. Log in to your Netlify account and remove Bolt from your authorized applications:
    1. Click your profile > User settings > OAuth.
    2. Under Authorized applications, click the menu for the Bolt entry.
    3. Click Revoke access.