How To Change Domain Name Shopify ?

Changing your domain name on Shopify may seem intimidating, but it’s a common task for store owners who want to rebrand, improve SEO, or move to a better domain. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know: why and when to change a Shopify domain, step-by-step instructions, SEO considerations, and troubleshooting tips.

Why Change Your Shopify Domain Name?

There are several reasons store owners might want to change their domain:

1. Rebranding: Your business name or focus has changed.
2. Better Branding: A shorter or more memorable domain improves customer recall.
3. SEO Optimization: A keyword-rich domain can improve search engine visibility.
4. Avoid Confusion: Eliminate domains that are too similar to competitors.
5. Business Expansion: Moving from a regional to a global audience may require a more universal domain name.

Changing a domain on Shopify is straightforward, but it must be done carefully to preserve SEO rankings, email accounts, and website functionality.

Prerequisites Before Changing Your Shopify Domain

Before making any changes, make sure you have:

1. Access to Your Shopify Admin Account – You must be the store owner or have permissions to manage domains.
2. New Domain Ready – Purchase your new domain through Shopify or a third-party registrar.
3. DNS Access – If using a third-party domain, you need access to DNS records to point the domain to Shopify.
4. Backup Your Store Data – Always good practice before making major changes.

Step 1: Purchase or Connect Your New Domain

Option 1: Buy a Domain on Shopify

1. Log in to Shopify Admin
2. Go to Settings → Domains
3. Click Buy new domain
4. Search for your desired domain, purchase it, and it will automatically link to your store

Option 2: Use an Existing Domain

1. Go to Settings → Domains
2. Click Connect existing domain
3. Enter the domain name and follow Shopify’s instructions to update DNS records

Set Your Primary Domain

Once your new domain is connected to Shopify:

1. Go to Settings → Domains
2. Under Primary domain, click Change primary domain
3. Select the new domain from the list
4. Click Save

This ensures that:

• All Shopify URLs now use the new domain
• Redirects are automatically created from the old domain

Configure 301 Redirects

Shopify automatically creates 301 redirects from your old domain to the new one, which is crucial for SEO.

• Purpose: Ensures customers and search engines are directed to the new domain
• Action: Verify that all important URLs are redirecting properly
• Optional: Manually create redirects for custom URLs that may not follow standard Shopify structure

Update Google Search Console and Analytics

To maintain SEO traffic:

1. Log in to Google Search Console
2. Add the new domain as a property
3. Submit sitemaps for the new domain
4. Update Google Analytics settings to track traffic under the new domain

This ensures that Google indexes your new domain correctly and preserves search rankings.

Update Third-Party Services

If you use any of the following, update your domain settings:

• Email accounts associated with the old domain
• Social media profiles
• Marketing tools (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, HubSpot)
• Paid ads (Google Ads, Facebook Ads)

Pro Tip: Keep the old domain active for a few weeks to ensure emails and marketing campaigns continue to work during the transition.

Test Your Website

After changing the domain:

• Visit the new domain in multiple browsers and devices
• Test checkout, forms, and links
• Confirm redirects from the old domain are working
• Check SSL certificate is active (Shopify automatically provides SSL for Shopify-managed domains)

7: Inform Customers and Partners

• Send an announcement email to subscribers about the domain change
• Update business listings and directories with the new domain
• Update your packaging, invoices, and promotional materials if needed

Communication reduces confusion and maintains trust with your audience.

Common Issues and How To Fix Them

Issue	Cause	Solution
New domain not resolving	DNS misconfiguration	Update A record to Shopify IP, CNAME to shops.myshopify.com
SSL not active	DNS changes not propagated	Wait 24–48 hours for SSL activation
SEO drop	Improper redirects	Ensure 301 redirects exist for all old URLs
Emails not working	MX records not updated	Update MX records for new domain

Best Practices for Changing Shopify Domains

1. Plan During Low Traffic: Avoid changing domains during peak sales periods.
2. Maintain Old Domain: Keep it active to ensure redirects work smoothly.
3. Check Internal Links: Update links within your store to avoid broken URLs.
4. Monitor Traffic: Use Google Analytics and Search Console to track performance post-change.
5. Communicate Clearly: Inform customers and partners in advance to maintain trust.

Conclusion

Changing your domain name on Shopify is straightforward if you follow the correct steps:

1. Connect or purchase your new domain
2. Set it as the primary domain in Shopify
3. Ensure 301 redirects are working
4. Update Google Search Console, Analytics, and third-party services
5. Test everything and communicate with customers