If you are looking for solutions and tips to change your Shopify store or domain name, you are in the right place.
Changing your Shopify store’s domain name offers significant benefits. Also, changing your domain name enhances brand recognition and creates a more memorable store URL. You can easily switch from an essential myshopify.com domain to a custom name that better represents your brand’s identity.
This comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about changing your Shopify new store domain. It includes selecting a new domain, connecting it to your store, and redirecting traffic from the old domain. By the end, you’ll know how to transform your store into a new professional-looking domain.
Why Change Your Shopify Domain Name?
Before going through the steps to change your domain, let’s first discuss why you may want to do so in the first place. Here are some of the critical reasons Shopify store owners change their domains:
- Improve brand recognition. A custom domain using your business name or brand helps customers instantly recognize your store. The domain is the website address, so it must create an identity that connects with your store. Therefore, generic domains don’t communicate anything about your brand. It is better to change your ‘myshopify.com’ to your store name.
- Look more professional. Domains with your business name look more polished and branded than the default Shopify URLs. It can improve perceptions of legitimacy.
- Be more memorable. Domain names with your business name or keywords related to your products are more straightforward for customers to remember. It makes return visits more likely.
- Rank better in search engines. Search engines give weight to domains containing relevant keywords. A branded custom domain may improve SEO.
- Expand marketing options. Some marketing channels restrict generic store URLs. A custom domain opens up more marketing opportunities.
In summary, choosing a branded professional and adding a custom domain name enhances alignment with your business. Additionally, it instantly boosts the recognizability of your store. The investment is well worth it for most store owners.
How to Check If Your Domain to Shopify Is Available?
Before connecting or buying a new domain to your Shopify store, you must ensure it’s available by selecting the domain. Here are two ways to check domain availability and buying a domain name:
- Use a domain registrar – Domain registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Bluehost offer domain search tools. You can enter your desired domain; these tools will instantly check availability. This method is fast and straightforward to check the URL you want that better represents your store’s name.
- Manually check – You can also check manually by entering your desired domain into your web browser’s address bar. If it’s taken, it will load someone else’s website. If it’s available, you’ll get an error page. It will help you identify whether the store name and URL of your choice are available or not. This method works but is slower than using a domain search tool.
As you search for domains, try different variations for domain names. You can use hyphens (yourbrand-store.com) or combine keywords (yourbrandstore.com). Getting creative can help you find an available domain for your store that aligns with your brand and perfectly fits the name of your Shopify store.
How to Purchase Your New Shopify Store Domain?
You have two options for purchasing a new domain for your Shopify store:
Buy Directly from Shopify
Shopify allows you to buy domain names directly from them during the store setup process or under your store admin’s “Domains” section. When you buy a domain through Shopify:
- The domain is automatically connected to your store after the purchase
- Shopify emails you domain transfer instructions
- Shopify handles renewing the domain each year
- Purchase prices are reasonable (around USD 14 per year)
Also, the convenience of directly buying from Shopify makes this a good option for many store owners.
Buy from a Third-Party Domain Registrar
Your other option is to purchase your custom domain from a third-party registrar. Some of the best companies to buy domains through a third party are GoDaddy, Bluehost, Namecheap, etc. Here is how you can buy it:
- Search domain availability on the registrar’s website
- Purchase and register the domain through the registrar
Third-party registrars give you more choices and often lower prices for domains. However, it involves a few extra steps compared to buying directly through Shopify.
Either way, choose the domain purchasing method that best suits your needs and budget.
How to Connect Your Domain to Your Shopify Store?
So you’ve purchased your new domain – now it’s time to connect it to your Shopify store. Here are the steps to connect your domain to Shopify:
- Log into your Shopify admin from your Shopify mobile app or system. Access your store’s admin panel and navigate to “Settings > Domains.
- Add the new domain – Click “Connect existing domain” and enter your purchased domain name.
- Verify ownership – Shopify will verify you own the domain by providing DNS info to add to your registrar.
- Set as primary – Once successfully connected, set your new domain as the primary by clicking “Change Primary Domain.”
It usually takes about 24 hours for the new domain to propagate after connecting and setting it as primary fully. Once it bears, your custom domain will display your Shopify store!
How to Redirect Your Old Domain to a New Custom Domain?
The best thing about changing the default Shopify domain is that you can transfer an existing domain. After connecting your new domain, any references to your old domain will result in broken pages. To avoid this, redirect your old domain to your new custom domain. You can redirect your old domain by following the instructions written below:
- Use Shopify’s redirect – Shopify can automatically redirect from your old domain for you in the store admin.
- Setup 301 redirect – Add a 301 permanent redirect through your old domain’s registrar control panel.
- Page-level redirect – Manually redirect each page of your old domain within your old domain’s web hosting.
- Refresh old links – Use a link management tool to crawl and refresh any old domain links to the new domain.
Even if you have already purchased a domain, implementing some redirects is crucial to ensure a smooth transition to your new domain with no disruption for customers.
Tips for Changing Your Shopify Domain URL
Domain names can help your audience find your store quickly. Here are some additional tips to change Shopify domain name as seamlessly as possible:
- Double check the new domain is available before buying it
- Purchase for at least two years to secure the domain long-term
- Be patient during the propagation period after connecting
- Don’t forget to update your branding, packaging, and marketing to match
- Consider promoting the change on social media to spread awareness
- Monitor Google Analytics to ensure traffic is properly redirecting
With some strategic planning, changing your Shopify domain can go off without a hitch. The result is a branded custom domain that elevates the look of your online store.
FAQs About Changing Your Shopify Store Domains
Does changing my domain affect my store or products?
Changing your domain name or URL does not affect your store content, products, or orders. Everything remains intact – only the domain name changes. However, before changing it, you should confirm whether your domain is eligible for transfer.
What happens to my old domain?
Your old domain remains active unless you disable auto-renewal at your registrar. You should redirect it to your new domain so links don’t break. Also, by buying a new one, you transfer ownership of the domain that is not in use anymore.
Do I need to update my store information in Shopify?
Shopify automatically updates your store URL everywhere in your admin when you change domains. No need to manually change.
How long does propagation take?
It takes roughly 24-48 hours for your new domain to fully propagate across DNS servers globally after connecting it.
Can I change domains multiple times?
Even though Shopify now allows you to change your domain name, choose carefully, as you’re limited to one change to a new myshopify.com domain. After making the switch, you may find that your admin dashboard still displays your previous myshopify.com domain.