{"id":999957027,"date":"2022-01-28T07:02:15","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T07:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/f60host.com\/support\/?p=999957027"},"modified":"2022-01-28T07:02:15","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T07:02:15","slug":"how-to-change-the-primary-domain-in-cpanel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/f60host.com\/support\/how-to-change-the-primary-domain-in-cpanel\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change the Primary Domain in cPanel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"How<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

cPanel was originally designed with the assumption that a new primary domain would indicate a new site. It’s simple to change your primary domain<\/strong>, but keep in mind that <\/span>cPanel software <\/b>only changes the primary domain as listed in certain places in <\/span>cPanel, not within the site files. If you are new, you may be surprised by just how much you will need to manually edit. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We cover what does and does not automatically change below, but if you\u2019re new to cPanel the breakdown is not intuitive. Take your time, make backups beforehand, and only change your <\/span>primary domain if you need to. To avoid errors, you should register your new <\/span>domain name<\/b><\/a> before switching your primary domain. Your <\/span>old primary domain\u2019s site files<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

will be in the same place as the <\/span>new primary domain\u2019s site files will go. If you want to create a <\/span>new site<\/b>, you must move or remove those old files.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does and Does Not Automatically Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we get started on how to change your main domain, it’s important to understand what changes and what doesn’t. When you change your primary domain, it affects your email, website files, subdomains,<\/span> and search engine<\/span> ranking. <\/span>Previous Domain Name: The previous main domain name on the account will be removed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you still need that previous main domain, you will need to log into your cPanel and add it as either a parked or <\/span>addon domain name<\/b>. Once the domain name has been changed, you will log into your <\/span>cPanel via<\/span> https:\/\/domainB.com\/cpane<\/b>l instead of <\/span>https:\/\/domainA<\/strong>.com\/cpanel.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subdomains: All of your<\/span> subdomains.domainA.com<\/b> will turn into <\/span>subdomains.domainB.com<\/b>. For example, <\/span>sales.domainA.com<\/b> will now be <\/span>sales.domainB.com<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search Engine Rank: If you are changing your website\u2019s domain name, keep in mind that this could affect your rank in <\/span>search engines<\/b>. <\/span>Google<\/b> recommends that you set up a <\/span>301 redirect \u2014 <\/b>especially when keeping the old domain, which lets search engines know the website is permanently moving.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What About WordPress and Other Software?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re using a content management system or other website software (such as WordPress), keep in mind that changing the main domain may only be the beginning of the changes you’ll need to make. Please double-check the documentation for your software’s domain name changes. Our instructions for altering the site URL and home settings in WordPress can be found here.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I Remove the Primary Domain in cPanel?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A principal domain is required for cPanel to work. You don’t have to use the principal domain, but it must exist in order for cPanel to function. If you need to use a placeholder domain, simply put a random phrase, random numbers, or a domain you do not own. You can still log in to your account using your server\u2019s hostname or another domain name, and can even work on your site in the browser if you use a hosts file modification.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Change the Primary Domain in cPanel Account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n