Introduction
The process of changing an existing domain name on your server is a task that most users ignore until it requires to be done. Fortunately, there is a list of tools offered by cPanel that make this process easy.
In this article, we shall explore the possible ways you follow to change the primary domain name on your cPanel hosting. We will look at two common paths to accomplish this task.
Step 1 – Backing Up The Existing Hosting Account
To start the process, log in to your domain’s cPanel interface then press Backups. You will be directed to a new page where you need to click Download a Full Website Backup.
On the screen display that will follow you will be asked to confirm where you want to backup your file. Normally, the Home directory is a great option. You will also be asked to provide an email address to receives a notification once the backup is done. Select Generate Backup once everything is done.
Once the backup is complete, log in to your domain’s cPanel account then download the backup file to your local machine as shown below:
Having completed the domain backup process, it’s time to select which of these two options you will use to change or update the domain name.
Option 1 – Updating The Existing Account And Previous Domain Name
Go to WHM interface and login as the root user. Locate the link labeled Modify an Account on the left menu as shown below:
Search for the account you want in the search box then select Modify as shown below:
On the screen that follows, look for the text field bearing the current domain name. Now, change the text on this box so that it shows the new domain name you want. You can change the username for your domain if you want. Once you’re done making these changes, press Save.
Now, go back to WHM interface and locate the DNS Functions section.
Click the link Park a Domain as shown below:
On this page, you will see a list on the left, select the new domain name (1) then enter the old domain name in the text box provided on the right (2). Press the Submit button (3).
Option 2 – Creating A New Domain Account
To create a new domain account with your domain name, log in to your WHM server.
Then log in to the cPanel interface for your old domain name and access it on the domain-level area.
Once you access the domain cPanel interface, locate the Domains section then press the Redirects icon as shown below:
On this page, set the Type field to Permanent (301) (1). Your old domain name should be entered in the second line (2). Then type the new domain name in the redirects to section (3). Check the box Wild Card Redirect (4), though it’s optional.
Once you have entered the necessary details on this page, select Add to complete the process (5).
Conclusion
At this point, you should find it easy to update and change a domain name in cPanel. We hope this guide was helpful and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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