How do I point my existing domain to HostGator? | HostGator Support
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How do I point my existing domain to HostGator?

 

Pointing a domain means you will be connecting your domain to your HostGator servers. This is an essential step in web hosting if you want HostGator to manage your website, emails, and DNS records.

Depending on who your registrar or domain provider is, you always have the option to point your domain to your HostGator account by changing your name servers or DNS records. With this article, we will walk you through pointing your existing domain to HostGator using your HostGator name servers.

This article will walk you through the following topics.

Step 1: Get your HostGator name servers

You will want to ensure you have your HostGator name servers handy, which you can see in your Welcome email and Customer Portal.

Option 1 - Welcome Email

When you purchase a new hosting plan, a Welcome email will be sent to you providing complete details about your hosting package, including your HostGator name servers. Depending on your hosting plan, your Welcome email varies but should be similar to the sample image below.

HostGator Welcome Email

For more information, please check out the following article.

Unable to find your HostGator Welcome email? We are here to help! Contact us via phone or chat so we can assist you!

Option 2 - Customer Portal

To find your name servers in your Customer Portal:

  1. Log in to your Customer Portal.
    You will be asked for your billing email address and password to access any domains attached to that billing account.
  2. Once logged in, click on Domains on the left-hand menu. 

    Domains tab

  3. Locate the domain you wish to update the name servers.
  4. Click the Settings button.

    Settings button

  5. Navigate  to the Advanced Tools section. There you will find your nameservers.

    nameservers

For more information on how to find out your name servers, please read the article: What are my name servers?

Step 2: Change your name servers through your current registrar

Important note:

Please note that you can only change your domain's name servers through your current registrar or domain provider.

My current registrar is HostGator

If you purchased or transferred your domain to HostGator, pointing or connecting your domain to your HostGator account is easy! To do this, please follow these steps.

  1. Go to the Customer Portal.
  2. You will be asked for your billing email address and password to access any domains attached to that billing account.
  3. Once logged in, click on Domains on the left-hand menu.

    Domains tab

  4. Locate the domain you wish to update the name servers.
  5. Click the Settings button.

    settings button

  6. Navigate  to the Advanced Tools section.

    Domains advanced tools

  7. Click the Manage beside Nameservers DNS).

    Manage Nameservers

  8. Click Continue on the popup screen.

    change nameserver popup

  9. Enter the HostGator name servers you got from Step #1.enter new nameservers

My domain is not with HostGator

If you registered or transferred your domain to a different registrar, that's completely okay! You can still point or connect your domain to your HostGator servers. To do this, you need to update your domain's name servers via your current registrar. Reach out to your current registrar, give them your HostGator name servers you got from Step 1, then give your domain time to propagate.