This guide covers renaming Webhosting. To rename other services, follow the guides WebSite 1.0 – Renaming (Changing the Domain), or Mailhosting – Renaming (Changing the Domain).
To modify a Webhosting alias, follow the guide Webhosting – Aliases.
In this article you will learn:
- When to use this guide
- What renaming is used for
- How to rename Webhosting:
- Common issues
- Frequently asked questions
When to use this guide
- You want to move a paid Webhosting to a new domain: Changing the service domain.
- The website does not work after renaming, or you cannot log in to the administration of the content management system: Renaming an existing website and Old website not working on the new domain.
- The system reports that a service for the domain already exists, or that the domain is in another account: Existing service name or alias and Domain in another account.
- You need to free up the Webhosting name for a new service, or add the domain as an alias: Frequently asked questions.
- You want to swap the domains of two webhostings, or prepare a new website under a temporary domain: Frequently asked questions.
Renaming Webhosting
Use the Webhosting renaming tool when you want to change the domain assigned to Webhosting. The main reasons include:
- Freeing up a service name: To create a new service under an existing Webhosting name (for example WebSite 1.0, or Mailhosting), rename the original service to free up the name. With few exceptions, our system prohibits multiple services with identical names.
- Changing an existing website’s domain: When changing an existing website’s domain, rename Webhosting. For some websites, this change alone is insufficient – pay particular attention to the section Renaming an existing website.
- Reusing unused Webhosting: To reuse existing inactive Webhosting for a new project, remove the old data, rename the hosting and use it as a fresh service.
Renaming procedure
To rename successfully, first meet the requirements, then rename the service itself in Customer Administration.
If you are renaming an existing website, pay particular attention to the section Renaming an existing website. Failure to follow the procedure may make the website and the steps required to complete renaming inaccessible.
Renaming requirements
When renaming Webhosting, meet these requirements:
- The new Webhosting name must be a valid 2nd- or 3rd-level domain (domena.tld or sub.domena.tld).
- The new name must not be the name or alias of another Webhosting, WebSite or Mailhosting service.
- If we are the registrar of the domain that will be the new Webhosting name, that domain and Webhosting must be in the same customer account, or the account must be authorized.
- Webhosting must not be expired.
Renaming an existing website
If you only need to free up the service name or reuse inactive hosting, continue to the section Changing the service domain.
When renaming an existing website, its pages, including CMS administration, may become temporarily unavailable.
To change an existing website’s name, follow these steps:
- If you use a CMS (e.g. WordPress), change the website name in that system’s administration.
- If the website content is located on FTP in the folder www/domains/originaldomain.tld (the last folder name matches the original domain), rename the folder to the new domain name.
- Continue with the instructions in the section Changing the service domain.
Changing the service domain
To rename the service itself, follow these steps:
- Log in to Customer Administration ⧉.
- In the main menu, click the tab Hosting services Webhosting.
- Select the Webhosting you want to rename from the list.
- In the left menu, select the link Tools.
- In the field Enter a new name enter the domain name to which you want to rename Webhosting.
- Use the corresponding checkboxes to choose whether to:
- Modify DNS settings – point the new domain to the Webhosting being renamed. The change takes effect within 1 hour if the new domain uses WEDOS DNS servers.
- Include the new name in the Let’s Encrypt certificate – issue a Let‘s Encrypt certificate for the new domain. If this step fails, complete certificate configuration using the guide Webhosting – Manual HTTPS Configuration.
- Confirm your choices by clicking Rename.
After renaming:
- Watch the system messages for any additional steps you need to take.
- In email clients, change addresses from the old domain to the new one and check that you use current SMTP, POP/IMAP servers using the guide Email – SMTP, POP3, IMAP.
- Wait for the web server configuration change (up to 30 minutes) and any DNS configuration change (up to an hour). The website may be unavailable during this time.
Renaming Webhosting changes mailbox login names. Update the login details in your email clients.
Common issues
Common Webhosting renaming problems include:
- Existing name or alias
- Unable to add the domain to the Let’s Encrypt certificate
- The domain is in another account
- The old website does not appear on the new domain
- The website and administration will not open after changing the address in WordPress
Existing service name or alias
Problem: The following error message appears: An order or service for the same domain already exists in the system.
Cause: A service already exists with the domain or subdomain name you want to assign to Webhosting, or the (sub)domain is used as an alias on another Webhosting service.
Solution: Rename the conflicting service or remove its alias. Note that the original service will then stop responding to that domain. If the Webhosting belongs to someone else and you cannot access it, complete the contact form ⧉ using the template below – if you hold the domain or it is in your customer account, we will allow renaming.
Please remove the service name or alias (replace these parentheses with your new Webhosting name) from another account so I can rename my service.
Problem adding to the Let‘s Encrypt certificate
Problem: The following error message appears: A problem was detected when adding the following domains to the Let‘s Encrypt certificate: …
Cause: DNS records do not point to Webhosting, or changes have not yet fully propagated.
Solution: Create the certificate later using the guide Webhosting – Manual HTTPS Configuration.
Domain in another account
Problem: The following error message appears: The domain is in another customer account.
Cause: For security reasons, the domain and Webhosting must be in the same customer account during renaming.
Solution: Ensure both services are in the same account, at least temporarily. Move the domain using the guide Moving Services Between Accounts, or Moving Domains Between Accounts Using an Authorization Password. After renaming, you can return the domain to the original account.
Old website not working on the new domain
Problem: After renaming an existing website, the website does not appear on the new domain.
Cause: The original website was not renamed in its administration or on FTP.
Solution: Check that the website is in www/domains/novadomena.tld, where the folder name novadomena.tld matches the new Webhosting name. If you forgot to rename the website in its CMS (e.g. WordPress Administration), the easiest solution is to rename it back to the original name (to regain administration access) and carefully follow the section Renaming an existing website.
The website and administration will not open after changing the address in WordPress
Problem: After changing the website address in the WordPress administration, you cannot log in to the administration and the website does not load. The browser reports, for example, DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN.
Cause: WordPress is redirecting to a new address that does not yet point to your Webhosting, or does not exist. The NXDOMAIN message means that the domain is not registered.
Solution: If you do not have access to the administration, change the website address back directly in the databaseused by the website. Then follow the chapter Renaming an existing website and complete the renaming of the Webhosting. You must have the new domain registered.
Frequently asked questions
I need to free up the Webhosting name for another service. What should I name the current hosting?
To free up domena.tld, we recommend renaming Webhosting to, for example, staryweb.domena.tld. To remove the Webhosting name entirely, log in to the customer account containing it and complete the contact form ⧉ following this template:
Please remove the service name or alias (replace these parentheses with your Webhosting name).
I have a paid Webhosting for one domain. Can I move it to a new domain and let the old one expire?
Yes, rename the Webhosting according to the chapter Changing the service domain. You simply do not renew the old domain and service. Services are prepaid, so you will not incur any debt.
I have two webhostings and want to swap their domains. How do I do that?
By renaming. The name must not be the name of another Webhosting, so first rename one of them to a temporary name (for example temporary.domain.tld). Then rename the second one, and finally rename the first one to the second one’s original name.
I want to prepare a new website under a temporary domain and then move it to the live domain. How?
Order a Webhosting for any other domain and prepare the website on it. When you are satisfied, rename the Webhosting to the live domain according to the chapter Renaming an existing website.
I want to add a domain to another webhosting as an alias, but the system does not allow it. What should I do?
A Webhosting with the same name probably exists. Rename it, for example, to oldweb.domain.tld, then add the alias following the guide Webhosting – Aliases. Aliases are supported only by the NoLimit and NoLimit Extra plans.
The system will not let me order Hosting WP for a domain on which I already have a Webhosting. What should I do?
Rename the Webhosting, for example to a subdomain, to free up the name. Then you will be able to order Hosting WP for the domain.
What if the new domain uses WEDOS Protection?
Correct the domain IP address settings in WEDOS Protection Administration ⧉.