How do I move my website to a new domain?

Moving a website to a new domain involves changing the website’s domain address while keeping the existing content and functionality. A careful migration is important because search engines and visitors need to be directed from the old URLs to the new ones.

1. Register the new domain

Register the new domain and make sure you have access to its DNS settings.

Do not cancel or abandon the old domain. You will need it to redirect visitors and search engines to the new URLs.

2. Prepare the new domain

Connect the new domain to your existing hosting environment or configure the new hosting environment according to your website setup.

Make sure HTTPS is configured correctly for the new domain before sending visitors to it.

3. Update your website

Change the website’s domain settings from the old domain to the new one.

If you use WordPress, update the site’s configured URL carefully. You may also need to update links, images, scripts or other references that still use the old domain.

Create a backup before making these changes.

4. Test the new domain

Before redirecting the old domain, check the new website thoroughly.

Test:

Important pages
Navigation
Images and media
Contact forms
Login areas
Ecommerce or booking functions
Internal links
HTTPS

Check both desktop and mobile versions.

5. Set up permanent redirects

Set up 301 redirects from the old URLs to their corresponding new URLs wherever possible.

For example:
old-domain.com/services/ → new-domain.com/services/

Avoid redirecting every old URL to the new homepage when a more relevant destination exists.

6. Update important services

Update the new domain wherever the old domain is referenced, including business listings, social media profiles, email signatures, analytics tools and other third-party services.

If the website is managed through Google Search Console, use the appropriate change-of-address process where applicable.

7. Monitor the old domain

Keep the old domain active and maintain the redirects. Monitor the new website for broken links, missing pages, indexing problems and other issues after the migration.
Do not remove the old domain immediately after the new site goes live.

Last Updated 2nd February 2026.

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We publish our Knowledge Base to help individuals and businesses resolve common issues across websites, advertising platforms, Salesforce and other digital systems.

We regularly review and update our guides, but the platforms, software and services covered can change without notice. As a result, screenshots, settings, features or recommended processes may differ from those available when an article was last reviewed.

The information provided is general guidance and should not be treated as advice specific to your systems or circumstances. UTDS Optimal Choice cannot accept responsibility for errors, data loss, service disruption or other issues resulting from changes made by following these guides.

If you are unsure about any of the steps, particularly where a change could affect live systems, data, tracking or business processes, we recommend speaking to us before making the change. Our team can review your specific setup and provide advice based on the current platform and configuration.

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