I still remember the moment I decided to change my WordPress site’s domain. At first, it felt like a small decision. I was rebranding, the old domain didn’t feel right anymore, and I wanted something more professional. But the moment I searched “how to change domain of WordPress site,” I felt overwhelmed. So many warnings, technical terms, and horror stories about broken links and lost traffic.
I won’t lie, I was scared. My biggest fear was losing my content or messing up my site completely. But after doing it myself, step by step, I realized that changing a WordPress domain is not as scary as it sounds, especially if you do it the right way. In this article, I’ll share exactly how I changed my domain, what I learned, and what I’d do differently if I had to do it again.
Why I Decided to Change My WordPress Domain
For me, the reason was simple. My old domain no longer matched my brand. It was something I picked quickly when I started, without much thought. As my site grew, I felt that the domain was holding me back. It didn’t sound professional, and it was hard to remember.
You might want to change your WordPress domain for similar reasons. Maybe you’re rebranding, switching from a free subdomain to a custom domain, or correcting a spelling mistake you regret. Whatever the reason, the process is manageable once you understand what’s involved.
Understanding the Type of WordPress Site You Have
Before I touched anything, I had to understand one important thing. Not all WordPress sites work the same way. There is WordPress.com and there is self-hosted WordPress using WordPress.org. This confused me at first, but it matters a lot.
If your site is on WordPress.com, changing the domain is mostly done from the dashboard. If your site is self-hosted, the process involves your hosting provider, your domain registrar, and WordPress settings. I was using a self-hosted WordPress site, so I had to be extra careful.
Buying the New Domain Before Making Any Changes
The first thing I did was buy the new domain. I didn’t cancel or remove the old domain yet. This step is important because your site should never be without a domain during the process.
Once I purchased the new domain, I made sure I had full access to its DNS settings. Whether you buy your domain from your hosting provider or a separate domain registrar, make sure you can manage it easily. This will save you time later.
Connecting the New Domain to My Hosting
After buying the new domain, I connected it to my hosting account. Most hosting providers make this simple with an “Add Domain” or “Addon Domain” option. I followed the instructions provided by my host and pointed the domain to the correct nameservers.
This part required a little patience because DNS changes don’t happen instantly. For me, it took a few hours before everything fully connected. During this time, I avoided making other changes to avoid confusion.
Updating the WordPress Address and Site Address
Once the new domain was connected to my hosting, I logged into my WordPress dashboard. From there, I went to the general settings page. This is where WordPress shows the site address and the WordPress address.
I carefully replaced the old domain with the new one in both fields. Before saving, I double-checked the spelling because a small mistake here can lock you out of your admin panel. After saving, WordPress refreshed using the new domain, and that’s when it started to feel real.
What Happened to My Content After the Domain Change
This was my biggest concern, but thankfully, nothing disappeared. All my posts, pages, images, and media files stayed exactly the same. Changing the domain does not delete your content because everything is stored in the database, not the domain name itself.
However, I noticed that internal links still pointed to the old domain. This is normal, and I fixed it in the next step.
Updating Old URLs and Internal Links
After switching domains, many of my internal links were still using the old URL. To fix this, I used a search and replace method inside the database. This helped update all old domain URLs to the new one.
If you’re not comfortable touching the database, there are WordPress plugins that make this easier and safer. I made sure to take a backup before doing anything, just in case something went wrong. This step made my site feel complete again under the new domain.
Setting Up Redirects From Old Domain to New Domain
One mistake I almost made was ignoring redirects. This is very important, especially if your site already has traffic or search engine rankings. Redirects tell browsers and search engines that your site has moved permanently.
I set up proper redirects so that anyone visiting my old domain would automatically land on the new one. This helped protect my SEO and made sure visitors didn’t see broken pages. In my experience, this step is not optional if you care about long-term growth.
Checking the Site for Errors After the Domain Change
After everything was done, I spent time clicking through my site like a visitor. I checked menus, buttons, forms, images, and important pages. I also tested the admin login and made sure plugins and themes were working correctly.
This final check helped me catch small issues early. It also gave me confidence that the domain change was successful and stable.
Common Mistakes I Almost Made
Looking back, I realize how easy it is to rush this process. I almost forgot to back up my site before making changes. I also nearly updated the WordPress address before connecting the new domain to hosting, which could have caused problems.
The biggest lesson I learned is to go slow and follow steps in order. Changing a WordPress domain is not difficult, but skipping steps can make it stressful.
How I Felt After Changing My WordPress Domain
Once everything was done, I felt relieved and honestly a little proud. The new domain felt fresh, clean, and aligned with my goals. My site looked the same, worked the same, but felt better. It was one of those changes that made my online presence feel more intentional.
If you’re thinking about changing your WordPress site’s domain, my advice is simple. Plan ahead, back up your site, and take it one step at a time. You don’t need to be a developer to do this. If I could do it carefully and successfully, you can too.