How To Change Domain Name on WordPress: A Quick Guide

Did you know you can transform your online presence by changing your domain name? However, it’s not just about picking a new name; it’s a strategic move that can redefine your brand’s identity and impact its visibility.

As your business evolves—introducing new products, targeting new markets, or refining your brand image—aligning your domain name with your brand is essential. Yet, with possible pitfalls, the changing process can be complex.

Finding a new domain name alone can be challenging. Then there’s the process of updating URLs, setting up redirects, and keeping your audience informed while preserving your SEO rankings and user experience.

However, proper preparation can make this transition seamless and rewarding. Whether you prefer a manual approach or opt for plugins to simplify the process, we’ve got you covered.

At WordPress SEO Consulting, we’re here to guide you through every step. Let’s make your domain switch a success.

Understanding Domain Names

A domain name is a string of characters you type into your browser’s address bar to access a website, such as Google.com, Wikipedia.org, or Twitch. Tv. A domain name is an address that people can type to visit your website.

Why Change Your Domain Name?

Some of the main reasons why you might want to change your domain name in WordPress include:

Rebranding: When you want to rebrand your business, your new domain name reflects your updated identity better.
Consolidation: If you need to merge multiple properties into one domain.
SEO Improvement: To improve your website’s search engine ranking. You should choose a domain name that better reflects your target keywords.
Simplification: If your current domain name is lengthy or complicated and you want a simpler one
Market Expansion: When targeting a different geographic market or audience, you need a new domain name to reflect this change.

What To Consider Before Changing Your Domain Name

Before changing your domain name in WordPress, follow these essential steps:

Backup Your Current WordPress Site: To prevent data loss, back up your entire WordPress site, including website files and databases. Use tools like VaultPress, UpdraftPlus, and BackWPup to simplify this process.
Gain Access to a Hosting Dashboard or FTP Client: You will need access to your hosting account dashboard or an FTP client.
Research a New Domain Name: Choose a memorable, SEO-friendly domain name that reflects your brand. Register it through reputable registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Bluehost.
Point DNS to Your Hosting Provider: Update your domain’s nameservers to point to your WordPress hosting provider.
Notify Your Audience: Inform your audience about the domain change via blog posts, social media, and emails to maintain transparency and engagement.
Update External Links: Update any external links pointing to your old domain to prevent broken links and maintain link equity.

Step-by-Step Guide for Changing Your Domain Name in WordPress

Here’s a step-by-step process on how to change your domain name on WordPress:

Step 1: Log in to Your WordPress Account

Step 2: Go to the Domain Settings

Navigate to the “General Settings” icon on the top right corner of your dashboard.

Go to “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL).”

Step 3: Update Your Domain Name

To update, simply enter the address name into both the “Old URL” and “New URL” fields, and then click on the “Save Changes” button

Enter your new domain name in the text field.
Enter the correct domain name, including the TLD (top-level domain), such as .com, .net, or .io.

Step 4: Update Your DNS Records

Access your Domain Registrar’s settings and update the DNS settings.

Log in to your domain registrar’s website
Go to “Domain Settings”
Click on the “DNS Settings” tab
Point the DNS settings to your hosting provider’s nameservers for the new domain, e.g.,

Follow your domain registrar’s instructions to update your DNS records. Ensure the new domain points to the same IP address as your old domain.

Step 5: Verify Your Domain Name

After updating your DNS records, verify your domain name with WordPress

Go to the “Domain Settings”

Click on the “Verify Domain” button.

Upload an HTML file or add a TXT record to your DNS settings

To Upload an HTML file to DNS settings:

Obtain the HTML file from the host provider.
Log in to your web hosting control panel
Go to the File Manager.
Upload the HTML file to the root directory.
Visit the URL to ensure the file is correctly uploaded (e.g., http://yourdomain.com/your-verification-file.html).
Verify with your host provider.

To add a TXT Record to DNS settings:

Log in to your domain registrar’s website
Navigate to the DNS Management section.
Add a new TXT record
Click “Save” to save the new TXT record
Use a DNS propagation checker to confirm the TXT record is active.
Complete the verification process with the service.

Step 6: Update Your Website’s URL

After verifying your domain name, update your website’s URL to use the new domain name.

Navigate to “Domain Settings” and find the wp_options table.

Click on the “Edit” button.

Search and replace Old Domain.
- You can use a plugin such as Better Search Replace.
- Replace all instances of the old domain with the new one in the database.

Step 7: Update Permalinks

In the WordPress admin dashboard, go to “Settings.”
Then, go to “Permalinks”.

Click the “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page without modifying any settings.

Step 8: Update SSL Certificate (If needed)

Get a New SSL Certificate from your hosting provider
Install the SSL Certificate by following your host provider’s instructions

Step 9: Update Your Email Address

If you’re using a custom email address associated with your old domain name, you need to update it to use your new domain name.

Click the “Email Address” tab on the “Domain Settings” page.
Update each email address by entering the new domain name and clicking the “Save” button.

Step 10: Test Your New Domain Name

After updating your domain, visit your site using the new URL to ensure everything functions properly.

Use tools like Broken Link Checker to identify and fix any broken links caused by the domain change. Additionally, update your site’s URL in Google Search Console and other webmaster tools to reflect the new domain.

Step 11: Set Up Redirects

Implement 301 redirects to redirect all traffic to verify the success of your transition from your old domain to your new one.

You can accomplish this by modifying your .htaccess file or utilizing your hosting provider’s control panel.

After setting up the redirects, verify their functionality by testing them to ensure all old URLs correctly point to their corresponding new URLs. This will help maintain SEO rankings and ensure a smooth user experience during the domain transition.

Conclusion

Changing your domain name on WordPress can be a big step, but you can make it happen smoothly with a clear plan. This step-by-step guide will help you maintain search engine rankings and enhance your site’s user experience.

A new domain name can be an excellent opportunity to refresh your online presence, reach a new audience, or rebrand your website.

If you need help or have any questions, please contact us. Our team at WordPress SEO Consulting is here to support you every step of the way.

FAQs

1. How Do I Change My Domain Name Without Affecting My Website’s SEO?

Update your domain name registrar and DNS settings, then redirect your old domain to the new one using a 301 permanent redirect. This will ensure that search engines know your content has been moved to a new URL.

Additionally, update all internal links and URLs on your website to point to the new domain name. Finally, submit your new domain name to search engines and notify Google Search Console about the domain change.

2. How Long Does It Take for the Domain Change To Take Effect?

Domain change time can vary due to DNS propagation, WordPress configuration updates, theme/plugin adjustments, and cache clearing.

However, you can expect changes to start within 30 minutes to 1 hour, complete propagation in 1-2 hours, and cache updates within 24-48 hours.

To ensure timely changes, update your files beforehand, clear your cache, and monitor your site performance.

3. Do I Need To Replace My SSL Certificate for the New Domain?

When changing your domain name on WordPress, you must update your SSL certificate for security and validity.

Your SSL certificate is tied to specific domain names and IP addresses, so you’ll need a new one for your new domain.

In case your hosting provider doesn’t automatically provide an SSL certificate for the new domain, you need to obtain one. Some providers offer free SSL certificates, while others may require you to purchase one separately.

Remember, your SSL certificate is renewed automatically with your domain, ensuring ongoing security as long as your domain remains connected to your WordPress.com site.

4. How Do I Verify if the New Domain Change Is a Success?

Visit your website using the new domain and ensure everything functions correctly. Ensure DNS propagation is complete by verifying the domain’s IP address and waiting at least 24 hours—additionally, test email delivery by sending emails externally.

Also, check your social media profiles to ensure they’re connected to the new domain without errors.