Changing Domain Names on HostGator?

16 replies
Is it possible to do this? The site doesn't make money, so I don't care if everything on the site gets erased (there wasn't much on it to begin with). Is it possible to change the name and start fresh?
#changing #domain #hostgator #names
  • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
    Just login at http://gbclient.hostgator.com and click View Hosting Package and there's an option to change your domain name.
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    • Profile picture of the author Meinkraft
      Originally Posted by Chase Watts View Post

      Just login at http://gbclient.hostgator.com and click View Hosting Package and there's an option to change your domain name.
      Hmmm...I actually had the domain on a hatchling plan, but have since purchased a Baby plan so I could host unlimited domains for one price. I canceled the baby plan...is it possible to still change the name even though it isn't a "master" domain? :confused:
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      • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
        Originally Posted by Meinkraft View Post

        Hmmm...I actually had the domain on a hatchling plan, but have since purchased a Baby plan so I could host unlimited domains for one price. I canceled the baby plan...is it possible to still change the name even though it isn't a "master" domain? :confused:
        Whatever the domain name is in your billing is the one you can change there. Any other domain name is going to be in cPanel and it has to be changed there.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    If you're talking about the main domain that you set up the account with, I just contacted Hostgator and they did it for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      If you're talking about the main domain that you set up the account with, I just contacted Hostgator and they did it for me.
      You can now do it yourself inside the billing area
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Chase Watts View Post

        You can now do it yourself inside the billing area
        Pretty cool. Didn't know that.
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  • Profile picture of the author tomerep
    The first step is to create a Full Account Backup in the cPanel (this can take a few moments depending on the size of the account).

    Login into the cPanel and open the File Manager (or use FTP) and create a folder in the /public_html that is called primarydomain.com.

    Move all the files for the primarydomain.com website from the /public_html folder to the folder at public_html/primarydomain.com.

    If you have added subdomains or addon domains to your account, make sure you leave those folders where they are. Moving subdomain and addon domain folders will cause those sites to stop working. In this step, only move the files and folders related to the primarydomain.com website.

    Once you have moved all the files for primarydomain.com from /public_html to the public_html/primarydomain.com folder you would then want to move or upload newdomain.com.

    If you had previously added newdomain.com as an addon domain, you would then want to move all the files from /public_html/newdomain.com to be in the /public_html directory.
    Then go to Addon Domains and remove newdomain.com.

    If newdomain.com was not previously uploaded as an addon domain, then upload the files for newdomain.com into the /public_html folder instead. If you have a lot of files, FTP would be the best way to do this.

    Then you can go through with the domain change using the directions below.
    Re-add the primarydomain.com as an addon domain (if you still intend to use it).
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    • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
      Originally Posted by tomerep View Post

      The first step is to create a Full Account Backup in the cPanel (this can take a few moments depending on the size of the account).

      Login into the cPanel and open the File Manager (or use FTP) and create a folder in the /public_html that is called primarydomain.com.

      Move all the files for the primarydomain.com website from the /public_html folder to the folder at public_html/primarydomain.com.

      If you have added subdomains or addon domains to your account, make sure you leave those folders where they are. Moving subdomain and addon domain folders will cause those sites to stop working. In this step, only move the files and folders related to the primarydomain.com website.

      Once you have moved all the files for primarydomain.com from /public_html to the public_html/primarydomain.com folder you would then want to move or upload newdomain.com.

      If you had previously added newdomain.com as an addon domain, you would then want to move all the files from /public_html/newdomain.com to be in the /public_html directory.
      Then go to Addon Domains and remove newdomain.com.

      If newdomain.com was not previously uploaded as an addon domain, then upload the files for newdomain.com into the /public_html folder instead. If you have a lot of files, FTP would be the best way to do this.

      Then you can go through with the domain change using the directions below.
      Re-add the primarydomain.com as an addon domain (if you still intend to use it).
      You could have just linked them to here instead of copying everything lol: How do I change my primary domain name on my account? « HostGator.com Support Portal
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Hang on...

    Do you mean change the primary domain within Hostgator, or are you referring to changing to a new domain? As in registering a new domain and transferring the site over?
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  • Profile picture of the author Meinkraft
    Sorry, I had a feeling I was coming off as confusing. The domain I want to change isn't a primary domain anymore, because I canceled the hosting plan it was on, and moved it to another plan I have. I guess that means it isn't primary anymore. Is there any way I can still change it?
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    • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
      Originally Posted by Meinkraft View Post

      Sorry, I had a feeling I was coming off as confusing. The domain I want to change isn't a primary domain anymore, because I canceled the hosting plan it was on, and moved it to another plan I have. I guess that means it isn't primary anymore. Is there any way I can still change it?
      I think you might be confused. You can't "change" a domain name - you have to register a new one. Just set up an account at a registrar (namecheap.com for example), register the new domain you want and then point the nameservers to your hosting account.

      Or. Do you mean you want to change the content of the domain? In which case, just remove what is there and add the new content.
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      • Profile picture of the author Weblover50
        If you do not want the existing site to continue, the cheapest option is to buy a new hatcling plan and get the discount for new orders (25% or more) and close the old account.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    If you change the hosting plan, but nothing else, it should still be listed as the primary by default. The only way to know is to log in and have a look around.

    I did this about 2 weeks ago. Wasn't hard.
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  • Profile picture of the author JerrickYeoh
    You can change the name by register a new domain name and point it to the hosting or make it as the primary domain of the hosting and begin your new site.
    For the old domain, you can either sell it if you think its value, keep it or just leave it to expired.
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