How can I transfer and host my existing domain with Shopify?

Shopify Discussion
1

Hello,

I currently have my domain name registered and website hosted by a third party company. I have created my new Shopify site and am ready for domain transfer. My questions are how to best do so? I am interested in keeping the domain name address and transferring it to use with Shopify (not creating a new Shopify Domain name). Will Shopify host this domain name (and continue to keep it registered) or would I need to transfer the domain name back to GoDaddy (I do not want to keep it hosted with our current third party company) and then use it with my new Shopify site?

Thanks!

2

Yes, you can use a third party domain. In the admin panel, go to settings, then domains. It should then allow you to connect yout third party domain and have instructions.

3

You mentioned “transfer the domain back to GoDaddy”:

Did you originally register the domain yourself through GoDaddy?

If so, do you know for sure that your domain has been transferred and is now managed through a third party, or do you still have access to it via your GoDaddy account?

You (or the third partly) may have only updated the DNS records to “point” the domain to a website on the third party servers rather than transferring it, meaning its still with GoDaddy and the DNS records on GoDaddy were changed so when somebody types in your website address, its loads a website on the third party servers.

If you still have access to your domain through GoDaddy and can modify the DNS records, it’s easy to add the domain to your shopify store and when you do so, they will give instructions on how to change your DNS so the domain “points” to your store on the shopify servers when it’s typed in instead of the third party servers.

4

Thank you for your message. Yes, the domain has been transferred and GoDaddy no longer has control of the domain. My third-party host has control of the domain, which is why I am wondering if I need to bring it back to GoDaddy or does Shopify have the capabilities to have control over it??

5

As far as I know, Shopify does not allow third party hosting. They are the host. If you have access to your domain dns, you can link it to Shopify which will host. You can also transfer your domain to Shopify but it’s not 100% necessary.