Switching your domain over to your new site

In this article, you'll learn how to switch your domain over to your new website from the Setup page. Your new site can't show up at your own address until the domain points at it, and this is the step that makes that happen. We do it with you, so you don't need to know anything about DNS.

This is only on the web dashboard, and you'll only see it if your plan includes a website and we have your domain on file.

To find the switch-over card:

  1. In the menu, click Setup.
  2. Scroll to the Website section.
  3. Below the Website tiles, look for the card that says Switching yourdomain.com over to the new site.
The Website section of the Setup page, with the switch-over card under it
The Website section of the Setup page, with the switch-over card under it

Under the title, the card says Log into followed by the company that runs your domain's DNS (GoDaddy, Namecheap and so on), then and we'll do it with you. Your email isn't touched. We work out who that company is from your domain's nameservers, so have that login handy before you start.

What actually changes

Two records change: the one for your bare domain (yourdomain.com) and the one for the www version (www.yourdomain.com). Both get pointed at your new site. We don't move your nameservers, so your email and every other record on your domain stay exactly as they are.

Note: The switch only counts as done when both records point at your new site. If only one of them has changed, the card stays on your Setup page.

Switching over on a computer

  1. Click Switch it over on the card. The card opens and starts a guided session right there on the page. You'll see Starting… for a moment.
  2. Your DNS company's sign-in page loads inside the card. Log in the way you normally would.
  3. From there, we work through the two records with you watching.
  4. If the session doesn't start on its own, click Switch it over for me.

While the session is making changes by itself, a red Stop button shows at the bottom of your screen. Click it any time you want it to stop.

Tip: To close the card without finishing, click Close at the top right of it. If you come back within about two days, you'll pick up the same session instead of starting a new one.

Switching over from your phone

On a phone, the session doesn't open inside the page. Instead:

  1. Tap Switch it over on the card to open it.
  2. Tap Text me a link.
  3. You'll see Sent — open the text on your phone. Open the text and tap the link.
  4. Log into your DNS company in that session and we'll take it from there. When it's finished, it brings you back to your dashboard.
Note: The link goes to the mobile number on your account. If you see "We couldn't text you — is there a mobile number on your account?", check that your account has a mobile number.

When it's done

Once both records are in, the card shows Done — yourdomain.com now points to your new site. A few seconds later the card closes, and from then on it doesn't show on your Setup page at all, because there's nothing left to do there. It stays that way while the change spreads across the internet, so you won't be asked to do it twice.

If we can't do it automatically

For most DNS companies we can run the session. If we can't work out who runs your domain's DNS, or it's a company we can't switch over automatically yet, the card tells you so and says we'll do it with you on a quick call instead.

Warning: If the card says "Something went wrong" or "Couldn't start a session right now", wait a minute and try again.

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