You already own a domain and have chosen a new host. To make the domain show your new site, you change where it points. You do not have to buy the domain again or transfer it. This guide shows the two ways to do it.
Your domain and your host are separate
Your domain is the name people type. Your host is the computer that serves your website. A short list of settings called DNS connects the two. Pointing a domain means changing that list.
Two ways to point a domain
Option 1: change two records (usually best)
You keep your DNS where it is and add two records.
| Type | Name | Points to |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ | The address your host gives you |
| CNAME | www | Your domain, or the name your host gives you |
The @ means the bare domain, like yourbusiness.com. The www record makes www.yourbusiness.com work too. Your host sends you the exact values.
Option 2: change the nameservers
Here you tell your registrar to use a different set of DNS servers, usually your host's or a service like Cloudflare. All records then live there. This is a bigger change, so copy every existing record to the new place first, especially mail records, or email will stop.
Step by step
- Log in where your domain's DNS is managed. This may be the company you bought the domain from, or Cloudflare.
- Write down the current records before you change anything. A screenshot works.
- Edit the A record for @ and the record for www to the values from your host.
- Leave your mail records alone. MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records keep your email working.
- Save, then wait. Changes can take from a few minutes to 24 hours to reach everyone.
- Check it. Open your domain in a browser, ideally on mobile data. Look for the padlock.
Hosting that is ready to use
Every Huupa hosting plan comes with business email, daily backups and security checks switched on, billed in cedis.
See hosting plansHow to check it worked
- Open your site on your phone using mobile data, so you do not see a saved copy from your computer.
- Use an online DNS checker and enter your domain. It shows what different parts of the world see.
- If it still shows the old site, wait. Old answers expire after the TTL, which is the time set on the record.
Common mistakes
- Pointing only the bare domain, so www shows an error. Set both.
- Deleting the MX record while editing, which stops your email.
- Leaving an old record behind, so some visitors reach the old site. Each name should have one correct record.
- Using a proxy on mail. Some DNS tools proxy website traffic. Mail records must point straight at the mail server, never through a proxy.
- Changing things before the new site is ready. Test the new site first, then switch.
Questions
How long does it take?
Usually within an hour. In rare cases it takes up to 24 hours.
Do I need to transfer my domain to my host?
No. Your domain can stay at your registrar. You only change where it points.
Will my email still work?
Yes, as long as you do not change or remove the mail records. If your email is moving too, plan both changes together.