> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.namespace.ninja/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Activate an ENS Name

> Activate your ENS name in the Namespace App to issue onchain subnames on Ethereum L1 or L2 chains like Base and Optimism.

<Note>
  To mint subnames from the Namespace App, ENS Widget, or via the SDK, you must first activate your ENS name from the Onchain section of the Namespace App.
</Note>

<Danger>
  Names activated on Ethereum L1 cannot be migrated to Namechain (ENS v2). If you plan to use Namechain, activate on a supported L2 (Base or Optimism) instead.
</Danger>

## How to Activate an ENS Name

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Onchain section">
    1. Visit [app.namespace.ninja/onchain](https://app.namespace.ninja/onchain).
    2. Connect the wallet that owns the ENS name you want to activate.
    3. Select your ENS name from the dropdown at the top, then click **Activate Name**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=2e26a780d353ce6175f195e796c42e82" alt="Onchain Subnames page with ENS name selected and Activate Name button" width="3024" height="1736" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-1.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the listing type">
    Pick where subnames will be issued:

    * **L1 ENS Subnames** — issue original ENS subnames on Ethereum mainnet.
    * **L2 ENS Subnames** — issue subnames on a supported L2 chain (Base or Optimism). Pick the network from the "Select Subname Network" dropdown.

    Click **Next**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=20fb0132343f6e9d88516d9fb65dbb8f" alt="Choose between L1 and L2 ENS Subnames" width="3024" height="1746" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-2.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Setup — base activation properties">
    Configure the collection:

    * **Currency** — the token mint fees are collected in (e.g. ETH or USD).
    * **Treasury Address** — wallet that receives mint revenue.
    * **Name** and **Symbol** — collection metadata.
    * **Burnable** — allow subname holders to burn their subname.
    * **Renting** — allow time-bound subname rentals.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-3.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=8722b6ec72d0fb0c88de2f890ef8e6f4" alt="Setup tab — currency, treasury, name, symbol, burnable, renting" width="3024" height="1738" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-3.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Prices — mint pricing rules">
    Set how subnames are priced:

    * **Base Price** — default price for every subname. Set to `0` to make subnames free.
    * **Prices by length** — override price for specific subname lengths (e.g. 3-char names cost more).
    * **Special Name Pricing** — custom rules for emoji-only, numbers-only, or other patterns.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-4.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=fe3b5010c5dfa244cd187d66560fbd14" alt="Prices tab — base price, length-based pricing, special name pricing" width="1922" height="1520" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-4.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reservations — block or specially price specific subnames (optional)">
    Reserve subnames so they either cannot be minted at all (set **Mintable** off → "No Mint") or are minted at a specific price different from your base rules.

    Add reservations one-by-one or bulk-import via CSV.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-5.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=830aa33891d7282159da4e213dde1108" alt="Reservations tab — reserve subnames with no-mint or special pricing" width="1942" height="1506" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-5.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deadline — set a minting cutoff (optional)">
    Toggle **Use Deadline** to make the collection time-bound. After the chosen date, no new subnames can be minted.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-6.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=4052fe08a9e7dd2f445a73241e4e54b8" alt="Deadline tab — set a minting expiry date" width="1938" height="952" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-6.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Whitelist — restrict who can mint (optional)">
    Toggle **Use Whitelisting** to gate minting by wallet address. Two modes:

    * **Can mint only if whitelisted** — restrict minting to listed wallets.
    * **If whitelisted, can mint for free** — allowlisted wallets bypass the mint fee.

    Add addresses or ENS names one-by-one.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-7.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=deeeec9f64506070e1c064a81a1e903c" alt="Whitelist tab — restrict minting or grant free mints to specific addresses" width="1948" height="1208" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-7.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Token Gated — require token holdings (optional)">
    Toggle **Use Token Gated Listing** to require that minters hold a specific token:

    * **Standard** — ERC-20 or ERC-721.
    * **Token Address** — contract address of the gating token.
    * **Subname Network** — the chain the token lives on.
    * **Minimum Amount Required** — minimum balance the wallet must hold to be eligible.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-8.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=9bcb549b3dc8cf36d083d363ec071ebf" alt="Token Gated tab — gate minting behind ERC-20 or ERC-721 holdings" width="1936" height="1248" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-8.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Activate the listing">
    Once all tabs are configured, click **Activate**. Sign the transaction in your wallet.

    <Tip>
      **L1 activation** also requires wrapping your ENS name into a NameWrapper-compatible name. The app prompts for this wrap transaction automatically. This step is skipped for L2 activations.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy Registry">
    After activation, the app shows a "Few more steps before you can list your name" screen with two actions.

    Click **Deploy Registry** to deploy the Registry Contract on the selected L2 chain. This contract holds all subnames issued under your name.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-9.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=5606dd427ab8081ce3038a88c512bfa5" alt="Few more steps — Deploy Registry and Configure Resolver" width="3024" height="1738" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-9.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Resolver">
    Click **Configure Resolver** to point your ENS name's resolver at the Namespace Hybrid Resolver. This is what makes subnames resolvable across the entire Web3 ecosystem.

    Confirm the transaction in your wallet.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-10.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=7cc4a05807ad34a24452c11826110f2e" alt="Configure Resolver — confirm transaction in wallet" width="3024" height="1738" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-10.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish Activation">
    Click **Finish Activation**. Your ENS name now shows an **Activated** badge, and you can start minting subnames from the same page or via the SDK / widget.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/namespace-1f56cc70/3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ/assets/activate-ens-name-11.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3A9Yy6VPLxpgOcjQ&q=85&s=cf6ee21aeacccd62b555efe5f711b278" alt="Activated ENS name with minted subnames listed" width="2058" height="1592" data-path="assets/activate-ens-name-11.png" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  You can revisit any tab later via **Edit Activation** — pricing, reservations, deadline, whitelist, and token gating can all be updated after activation.
</Tip>

***

## Next Steps

Your ENS name is now activated and ready for subname minting. Choose how to get started:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Namespace App" icon="desktop" href="https://app.namespace.ninja/">
    Mint subnames directly from the Namespace App.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Embed ENS Widget" icon="puzzle-piece" href="/user-guide/app/widget">
    Embed a widget in your app to let users mint subnames.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Subpages" icon="page" href="/developer-guide/guide/subpages">
    Launch a branded minting site quickly using our ready-made template.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Mint L1/L2 Guide" icon="book" href="/developer-guide/guide/mint-l1-l2-subnames">
    Learn best practices for minting subnames on L1 and L2.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  For advanced automation or custom flows, explore the [Mint Manager SDK](/developer-guide/sdks/mint-manager).
</Tip>