Moving on from our last post on how to point an existing domain name to HostGator, here is a quick guide on how to change the domain name servers in HostGator.
HostGator is not a new name in the web hosting industry. It powers millions of websites on the internet and offers a range of web hosting plans and features.
It offers different hosting types with a website builder option. With unmetered bandwidth and uptime guarantee, your website will scale higher.
If you already have an account with HostGator, then you can manage its features using the dashboard or cPanel. It also lets you install WordPress and provides free domain and website transfer.
How Do I Change DNS Records in HostGator?
The name servers are special servers that hold the DNS files in the system. They help to translate the domain names to the IP address, which helps the users differentiate between URLs and websites. Name servers are available in the cPanel or the welcome email sent by the hosting company, in this case, it is HostGator. For a Reseller account, it is always advisable to opt for a private name server. If you have no idea how to change your DNS in HostGator, then this guide will help you.
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Contents
A. What Do You Mean by a Primary Domain Name?
Your primary domain name is the one you register with your domain name provider or hosting company. If you already have a domain with HostGator, then you just need to follow the below steps to change its name servers.
But, before you start with the process of changing the DNS, you need to update the primary domain from the HostGator billing customer portal. This will help you to change the primary domain on both billing and server.
When you add a new domain name to your HostGator account, you need to make sure that it is purchased first. To purchase a domain, use HostGator domain coupons and get a discount.
For all the sub-domains that are set-up with the current primary domain, you’ll need to change your domain name as it can cause issues while accessing your website. It might also cause issues if your domain runs on CMS platforms like WordPress and Drupal.
B. Where Can I Find the Domain Name Servers?
You can find the details of your DNS in your HostGator account. Upon locating it, you need to determine which name servers you want to use for your account. This mostly depends on the hosting type and servers.
1. Welcome Email: When you purchase a hosting plan from HostGator, a welcome email is sent to you. This email has the name servers detail that can be used on all sites according to the plan you choose. It also shows all your account information along with other details.
2. Control Panel (cPanel): Through HostGator cPanel, you’ll be able to locate your name servers on the right-hand side of your homepage. You will find the primary and secondary name server option on this list.
3. Customer Portal: In the customer portal account, you need to first,
- Click here to log into your account.
- Select ‘hosting’ from the left-hand menu, locate the hosting package you have purchased and click the ‘Manage’ link.
- Click on the ‘Settings’ tab under the selected hosting package. Here, you’ll find the name just below the IP Address.
C. Steps to Change the DNS (Domain Name Server) in HostGator
- Step 1: Log in with your billing account email and password. This will give you access to the domains attached to it along with the basic information about each domain.
- Step 2: From the left-hand side menu, click on the ‘Domains’ tab. Next, locate the domain that you want to update the name servers for.
- Step 3: Once you click on the chosen domain, a Domain Overview window will be opened. This will provide you with more details.
- Step 4: Next, you can either manually set the name servers or choose to automate it ‘ Automatically point my domain to my hosting account.’
D. Steps to Change the Primary Domain in HostGator
- Step 1: For this, you’ll have to log into your HostGator cPanel account. Scroll down to the files section. Here, you will find a list of backups. Click this option to change your domain. You’ll now land on the backup page.
- Step 2: To change the primary domain, you’ll have to take a complete backup of your website. Once the backup is done, you can continue changing your domain name.
- Step 3: Go to the ‘File manager’ to create a new folder for the old domain, click on the folder tap menu on the top-of-the-page.
- Step 4: Move the root files from the old domain name and not the files from the sub-domain. Now, you will have two choices. You can either assign an add-on domain as a primary one or add a new domain to the account.
- Step 5: If the domain name was recently bought or transferred from another domain registrar, you will have to upload all the files directly. Next, you will have to log in to your billing area and click on the packages that are found on the left-hand side.
- Step 6: Click on the settings account on the right-hand side with the option ‘change my domain’. Now, change the domain you want to be the primary domain of your website.
- Step 7: For this, you will need to click the ‘update domain’ button. You will receive a notification or email after you change the domain with the message of successful change.
In Brief,
Once you have successfully modify your name servers in your account, your website will appear in your web browser. However, this may take up to two days depending on your web hosting package.
If the name servers are changed, but no customisation is done on the domain’s records where all the name servers are pointed, then all the DNS records will automatically point towards that name server’s provider.
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