How can Domain Change in Plesk

Domain change in Plesk involves updating the domain in the control panel and ensuring the related configurations (DNS records, file paths, SSL certificates, etc.) are updated.

Plesk is a widely-used hosting control panel that allows administrators to manage websites, domains, emails, databases, and more.

This is typically required in scenarios like rebranding, changing to a new domain for SEO purposes, or correcting an incorrectly set domain.

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When Should You Domain Change in Plesk?

1. Rebranding: Your company name changes, and you need to reflect it in the domain.
2. Domain Name Purchase: You’ve acquired a better or shorter domain.
3. Migration: Moving from one domain to another as part of an organizational shift.
4. Testing to Production: Changing a temporary development domain (e.g., dev.yourdomain.com) to the live domain.

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Prerequisites for Changing a Domain in Plesk

Before making the domain change, ensure the following:

1. Access to Plesk: You need administrative or user access to your Plesk control panel.
2. Domain Ownership: The new domain must be registered and pointed to the server’s IP or DNS.
3. Backup: Create a backup of your website and settings to avoid accidental data loss.
4. DNS Management: You should know how to update DNS records if your DNS is hosted outside Plesk.

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Step-by-Step Process to Domain change Name in Plesk

Step 1: Log in to Plesk

• Open your browser and go to your Plesk URL, typically something like https://yourserverip:8443 or https://plesk.yourdomain.com.
• Log in using your admin or subscription credentials.

Step 2: Locate the Subscription

1. Once logged in, navigate to Websites & Domains in the left sidebar.
2. In the list of domains and subscriptions, find the one you want to domain change.

Step 3: Access the Hosting Settings

1. Click on Hosting Settings next to the domain name.
2. This opens a page displaying key hosting options, such as the domain name, document root, PHP version, and SSL/TLS certificates.

Step 4: Domain Change Name

1. Locate the Domain name field.
2. Replace the existing domain name with the new one.
3. Review related settings:
   • Document Root: Ensure the document root path aligns with the new domain if necessary. For example, httpdocs or public_html paths might need adjustment.
   • SSL/TLS: Check whether you have a valid SSL/TLS certificate for the new domain. If not, prepare to issue or install one.

Step 5: Save the Changes

• Click OK or Apply to finalize the change. Plesk will process the update, which may take a minute or two.

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Step 6: Update DNS Records

Once the domain change is complete, update the DNS records. If you manage DNS inside Plesk:

1. Go to Websites & Domains > DNS Settings.
2. Update any existing records (e.g., A, CNAME, MX) to reflect the new domain.
3. Click Apply Changes to save.

If your DNS is managed externally (e.g., at a registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap):

1. Log in to the external DNS provider.
2. Edit records for the new domain, ensuring they point to your server’s IP.

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Step 7: Update SSL/TLS Certificates

1. Navigate to Websites & Domains > SSL/TLS Certificates.
2. Remove the old certificate and install a new one for the new domain. You can:
   • Use the Let’s Encrypt integration in Plesk for free SSL certificates.
   • Upload a purchased SSL certificate if applicable.
3. Once the new certificate is installed, bind it to the domain.

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Step 8: Verify Website and Applications

If your domain hosts a website (e.g., WordPress, Joomla), update application-specific configurations:

1. WordPress: Update the site URL in the wp-config.php file or through the admin panel under Settings > General.
2. Databases: Ensure any domain references in the database are updated.
3. Hardcoded Links: Check for hardcoded links or references to the old domain in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript files.

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Step 9: Email and FTP Adjustments

If you use email or FTP accounts associated with the domain:

1. Email:
   • Update MX, SPF, and DKIM records for the new domain.
   • Notify users to update email client settings (e.g., Outlook, Thunderbird).
2. FTP:
   • Ensure FTP accounts and file paths are updated if needed.

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Step 10: Test the New Domain

1. Open your browser and access the new domain to ensure the site loads correctly.
2. Test DNS propagation using tools like whatsmydns.net.
3. Verify SSL is functioning and redirects (if configured) work as intended.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. DNS Propagation Delay: Changes to DNS can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally.
   • Use a temporary hosts file entry to bypass propagation for testing.
2. SSL/TLS Errors: Ensure the new certificate matches the domain. If using Let’s Encrypt, verify the domain is pointing to your server.
3. Broken Links or Images:
   • Use tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider or online link checkers to find broken links.
   • Replace old domain references in the database or code.

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Additional Tips

1. Redirect Old Domain:
   • Set up 301 redirects from the old domain to the new domain for SEO purposes. This can be done in .htaccess or through Plesk’s redirect settings.
2. Inform Stakeholders:
   • Notify customers, clients, or users about the domain change to avoid confusion.
3. Monitor Performance:
   • Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor crawl errors and ensure the new domain is indexed properly.

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Conclusion

Changing a domain name in Plesk is a straightforward process but involves attention to detail, especially with DNS settings, SSL certificates, and application configurations.

Following the steps above ensures a smooth transition with minimal downtime or disruption. Always back up your data and double-check configurations to avoid common pitfalls.

If you encounter issues, Plesk’s support documentation and forums are excellent resources, or feel free to ask for further guidance!