Website handover
Can you change your website without losing your domain and email?
Usually, a website can change while the business keeps its domain and email. The important step is understanding where each service is managed before changing any records or cancelling hosting.
Separate the domain, website and mailbox
The domain is your address, the website host serves the pages and the email provider handles mailboxes and messages. One supplier may bundle them together, but they perform different jobs. Moving the pages does not inherently require a new domain or mailbox.
Find who controls the domain registrar, DNS, hosting and email. Confirm account access and renewal responsibility. Share access securely; do not send passwords through a general enquiry form.
Record the existing DNS and email setup
DNS records tell visitors and email systems where to go. Website records commonly use A, AAAA or CNAME records. Email commonly depends on MX records, with TXT and other records supporting sender authentication and verification.
Save the complete existing records and follow the actual email provider’s instructions. If nameservers change, the new DNS zone needs the required website, email and verification records before the switch. Replacing all records with a web host’s defaults can interrupt email.
Check the new site before changing traffic
Review the new website in a controlled preview. Check content, mobile layouts and enquiry routes. Keep useful page addresses where possible and prepare relevant redirects for those that change.
Agree who makes the DNS change, how to restore the previous setup if needed and when checks will run. Keep the old services available until the website and business email have been verified in the new arrangement.
Verify website and email separately
After the change, check the domain with HTTPS, representative old URLs, forms and any store or booking features. Check email sending and receiving through the actual mailbox provider, including authentication where appropriate.
Changing email provider as well requires a separate mailbox migration plan. Backups, message history, aliases, connected devices and licences need attention. Do not cancel a bundled hosting plan until you know which services it contains.
Take the next step.
Explore the related services and guides to plan your next step.