Watch the walkthrough
Follow the annotated Replit screens as we build and edit a fictional dog-walking website.
Before you begin
Sign in to Replit. Review your account’s available credits and the cost of the Agent mode and publishing options you choose. Start with fictional content and avoid entering passwords or private customer data.
Replit brings an AI assistant, a project editor and a preview together in your browser. You can describe a website in ordinary language, see a draft and ask for changes; you still need to check the result.
1. Start a project
From Replit’s home screen, find the box asking you to describe a task. If you’re already inside a project, select New in the left sidebar. Click the prompt box and enter:
Create a simple one-page website for a fictional dog walking business called Happy Paws. Include services, an about section, and a contact email placeholder. Make it readable on desktop and mobile. Use sample content only. Clearly label it as a fictional demo; do not publish it automatically.
Check the selected mode and its cost, then select the send arrow. Wait for Replit to build the page. Answer any questions it asks.
2. Open and check the preview
In the project workspace, select Preview near the top. Scroll through the heading, services, about section and contact details. Click the buttons and navigation to see where they lead. If the preview is blank after the build finishes, try the preview’s refresh control.
The example email address is a placeholder. Replace it with a real address before using the site for a real business.
3. Ask for a change
Find the Agent message box at the bottom of the conversation. Enter a specific request, for example:
Make the main heading shorter: change it to “Happy walks, happy dogs.” Keep the fictional demo notice and all other content unchanged.
Select the send arrow and wait. Check the preview to confirm the heading changed and the other content still looks right.
4. Add a separate page
In the same message box, ask Replit to add an About page with a short introduction and a Home link, and add an About link to the main navigation. When it finishes, click About in the preview to open the new page, then click Home to return.
Check the links yourself. If something is wrong, describe which link you clicked and what happened, then test the result after Replit makes a correction.
5. Check a phone layout
Open the preview’s Screen size menu and choose a phone size, such as iPhone SE. Scroll through the page and check that text fits and buttons are easy to use. Switch back to the full-size view when finished.
6. Publish your website
Select Publish at the top of the project. Review the proposed address, visibility, available options and any charges. If you are satisfied, select Publish and wait for confirmation. Open the public link and test your navigation and buttons again.
A preview is the working version in Replit. After later edits, check the preview and use Republish to update the public version. Open and refresh the public page to check your changes.
7. Connect a domain you own
A custom domain is optional. In the project, open Tools, then Domains. Under “Use a domain you already own,” enter your domain and choose Next. Replit may offer a guided connection or manual DNS setup.
For manual setup, open DNS management at your domain provider and copy the record types, names and values provided for your domain. Save them and check verification in Replit. Changes can take time to appear. If the domain already serves a website or email, check its existing records before changing them.
See Replit’s custom-domain instructions for the current steps.
Sources and disclosure
We tested building the sample website, changing its heading, adding an About page, checking preview links and publishing an earlier version. Connecting a custom domain and republishing were not tested end to end. Interface labels may change.
Our Replit overview includes a referral link; we may receive a referral benefit. Read our disclosure.