How to Connect or Transfer a Domain Purchased Elsewhere to Your Wix Account?

Your domain is basically your website's address, like www.mystunningwebsite.com, that people enter in their web browser to find your site. If you already have a domain from a different service, you can move it to your Wix site. This allows you to handle all your domain settings in one place: your Wix account.

➡️ Get help from Slaterock Automation and save your time in connecting or transferring a domain purchased.

To understand better, learn about the difference between moving your domain to Wix and just linking it there, so you can choose the best option for you.

Important things to know:

• To link or move your domain to Wix, you need to have a paid ("Premium") plan on Wix.

• You should also have access to the account with your current domain provider (the company where you bought your domain). If you're not sure who that is, you can check by going to whois.com and typing in your domain name. This will show you who currently manages your domain.

Connecting a domain to your site

Linking your domain to Wix, also known as "domain mapping", means you keep your current domain host but set your website's address (like www.mywebsite.com) to show your Wix site. When people type your web address, they'll end up on your Wix website.

You can link your domain to Wix in two ways: using name servers or pointing. Both methods change how your domain finds your website, but they work differently.

DNS, or Domain Name System, is like a guide that tells your domain where to go to show your website. 

To link a domain you already own to your Wix account, we usually suggest changing its name servers.

Nameservers vs. pointing

Find out more about how these two methods—connecting via name servers or pointing—differ from each other.

Connecting via nameservers (recommended method)

When you connect your domain to Wix using name servers, Wix will manage your DNS records. Your domain stays with its current registrar, but your Wix site will show up when someone types your domain name into a web browser. Setting this up takes about 5 minutes, and we have a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Just follow our instructions to link your domain to the Wix name servers.

Connecting via pointing

When you link your domain to Wix using the pointing method, your DNS records stay with your current DNS host, not Wix. We generally don't recommend this method because if there are any issues, we can't help much with problems in another DNS host's account. But, if your domain uses complex DNS records (like Office 365 email) that you'd rather not change, then pointing might be the right choice for you.

Find out how to connect your domain to Wix using the pointing method.

Transferring a domain to Wix

If you bought your domain from a different provider, you might be able to transfer it entirely to Wix. This doesn't just mean linking it to your Wix site, but moving all the management aspects—like your contact details, DNS records, and payment for the domain's registration—over to Wix.

However, not every domain can be transferred. There are specific requirements your domain must meet to be eligible for transfer. Learn more about these conditions.

Tip: Many of our yearly Premium plans include a voucher for a free domain for one year. You can use this either to get a new domain or to cover the first year's registration cost when you transfer your existing domain to Wix.

Connecting secondary domains to your site

Your primary domain is the main domain name you select when you first get your domain through Wix. You can later choose a different domain as your primary one, but remember, you can only have one primary domain.

Secondary domains are those that you set up to lead visitors to your primary domain. It's quite straightforward to link these secondary domains to your primary one. On a single Wix site, you can add as many Wix-purchased domains as you want, or up to six domains bought from outside Wix.

If you're linking a domain bought from another provider, you need to first connect it to your Wix account. After that, you can set it to redirect to your primary domain.

Discover more about how to link multiple domains to your Wix site.

➡️ Get help from Slaterock Automation and save your time in connecting or transferring a domain purchased.

Connecting subdomains to your site

A subdomain is a part of a larger, main domain. It appears to the left of your website's URL. For instance, if 'mywebsite.com' is your main domain, then 'shop.mywebsite.com' can be a subdomain for your online store.

In your Wix account, you can easily connect these subdomains. For example, if you own 'mystunningwebsite.com', you can create and connect a subdomain like 'blog.mystunningwebsite.com' for your blog. Check out our detailed guide on subdomains for more information.

Find out how to add a subdomain to your main Wix domain.

What’s next?

Enhance your professional presence with a personalized business email linked to your custom domain. We offer this through our partnership with Google Workspace.

FAQs

How long does it take for my domain connection to become active?

Once you've connected your domain, it may take up to 48 hours for the new settings to fully spread across the internet. This process is known as propagation. During this period, you might find that your site doesn't load, loads inconsistently, or displays a message saying 'Not Secure'. To understand why this happens, you can read more about domain propagation.

If I connect my domain to Wix via name servers, where are my billing and contact details for my domain hosted?

If you connect your domain to Wix using name servers, your billing and contact details for your domain remain with your current domain host, not Wix. For any questions or changes related to domain renewals, your contact information, or other billing matters connected to your domain, you'll need to get in touch with your existing domain host.

Can I switch to a different connection method even if I've already started connecting my domain?

Absolutely! You have the flexibility to switch the way your domain is connected to Wix whenever you need to. You can do this simply by removing your domain from your Wix account and then adding it back using the new connection method you prefer. For a detailed guide on how to switch your domain connection method, you can learn more through our provided resources.