How Do I Point My Existing Domain to HostGator?

Pointing a domain means connecting it to your HostGator servers. This is an essential step if you want HostGator to manage your website, email services, and DNS records.

Regardless of your registrar, you can point your domain to your HostGator account by updating your nameservers. This article explains how to connect your existing domain to HostGator using HostGator nameservers.

This article will walk you through the following topics.

• Step 1: Get Your HostGator Nameservers ⤵
  • Option 1: Customer Portal ⤵
  • Option 2: Order Confirmation Email ⤵
• Step 2: Update Your Domain's Nameservers ⤵
  • My Current Registrar Is HostGator ⤵
  • My Domain Is Not Registered With HostGator ⤵
• Related Articles ⤵

Step 1: Get Your HostGator Nameservers

Before updating your domain, make sure you have your HostGator nameservers available. You can find them in your Customer Portal or Order Confirmation email.

Option 1: Customer Portal

To find your nameservers in the Customer Portal:

1. Log in to your Customer Portal.
2. Click Domains on the left-side menu.

   
    

   • If you have a single domain in your account, you will be redirected to the domains panel right away.
   • If you have multiple domains, a list will appear. Click the domain you want to manage.

     List view:

     
      

     Card view:

     
      

3. Navigate to Nameservers.
4. Under Nameservers, locate your HostGator nameservers.

   
    

Option 2: Order Confirmation Email

When you purchase a hosting plan, HostGator sends an Order Confirmation (Welcome) email containing your hosting account details, including your HostGator nameservers. The email should look similar to the sample image below.

If you cannot find the email, check your Spam or Junk folder and review any email filters you may have configured.

For additional information, see:

• What are my nameservers?

Step 2: Update Your Domain's Nameservers

My Current Registrar Is HostGator

If your domain is registered with HostGator, you can easily update your domain's nameservers by following these steps:

1. Log in to your Customer Portal.
2. Click Domains on the left-side menu.

   
    

   • If you have a single domain in your account, you will be redirected to the domains panel right away.
   • If you have multiple domains, a list will appear. Click the domain you want to manage.

     List view:

     
      

     Card view:

     
      

3. Navigate to Nameservers.
4. Click Change Nameservers in the Nameservers section.

   
    

5. Enter the new nameservers.

   
    

6. Click Save.
   Allow time for the changes to propagate. DNS propagation can take up to 24 to 48 hours to complete, although updates are often reflected sooner.

My Domain Is Not Registered With HostGator

If your domain is registered with another company, you can still point it to your HostGator hosting account.

To do this, contact your current registrar and provide your HostGator nameservers. The process for updating nameservers varies by registrar, so follow their instructions to complete the change.

Once the update is submitted, allow time for the changes to propagate across the internet.

Related Articles

• How can I transfer my domain to HostGator? – Learn how to transfer your domain registration to HostGator so you can manage your website and domain from a single provider.
• How do I change my DNS or nameservers? – Learn more about updating DNS records and nameservers.
• Pointing my domain to HostGator when using DNS elsewhere – Follow this guide if you want HostGator to host only your website or email while using different nameservers.