How to Change Your Domain in WordPress (Step-by-Step Guide)

Changing your domain in WordPress might sound intimidating, but it’s actually pretty straightforward—especially if you follow the steps carefully. Whether you’re rebranding, switching to a shorter URL, or moving from a subdomain to a main domain, here’s how to safely update your WordPress site’s domain name.

Before You Start: Backup Everything

Before making any changes, back up your entire website—files and database. You can do this using a plugin like UpdraftPlus, or manually through your hosting control panel (e.g. cPanel).

Step 1: Update WordPress Address and Site Address

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Settings > General.
3. Change the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to your new domain name (e.g., https://yournewdomain.com).
4. Click Save Changes.

You’ll likely be logged out after this change. Log back in using the new domain.

Step 2: Update Your Domain in the Hosting Settings

If you haven’t already pointed your new domain to your hosting account:

• Update the domain’s DNS settings to match your host’s nameservers.
• Add the domain to your hosting account using Addon Domains or Domain Manager, depending on your host.
• Make sure an SSL certificate is issued for the new domain. You can use Let’s Encrypt or contact your hosting provider for help.

Step 3: Update Links and Media URLs

Your old domain might still be used in internal links or media paths. To fix this:

• Install a plugin like Better Search Replace.
• Use it to search for https://yourolddomain.com and replace it with https://yournewdomain.com.
• Preview the changes using the “dry run” mode before applying them.

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Step 4: Redirect the Old Domain

To preserve SEO rankings and avoid broken links, redirect the old domain to the new one.

Option 1: Using cPanel

1. Go to Domains > Redirects.
2. Set up a 301 redirect from yourolddomain.com to yournewdomain.com.

Option 2: Using .htaccess

If you’re using Apache, add the following code to your .htaccess file:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^yourolddomain\.com [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.yourolddomain\.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://yournewdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301,NC]

Step 5: Update Google Search Console and Analytics

Don’t forget to:

• Add the new domain to Google Search Console.
• Submit a change of address request.
• Update your domain in Google Analytics under Admin > Property Settings.

Your WordPress site should now be fully transitioned to its new domain. Monitor your site for a few days to ensure everything is functioning properly. If anything breaks, reach out to your hosting support team or a WordPress developer for help.