How to Connect Domain to Hosting using Different Providers

Connecting a domain registered elsewhere to your website hosting is important for making your website accessible online. This article is intended for users who want to host their websites with Bluehost using a domain registered with a different registrar. To successfully connect a domain to hosting, you need to do the following:

• Connect or point your domain to your Bluehost servers.
• Add the domain to your Bluehost cPanel (as an "addon domain").
• Add the domain to your Account Manager (as an "external domain").

Note: The addon domain will not work until it is registered and connected to the Bluehost server where your website content is set up and your hosting plan can accommodate more than one domain.

We will cover the following topics:

• What's the Difference Between Domain and Hosting?
• Why You Should Connect Domain to Hosting
• Connect a Domain Registered Elsewhere to Bluehost Hosting
• Troubleshooting Domain Connection to Bluehost Hosting
• Summary

What's the Difference Between Domains and Hosting?

A domain is a digital address that allows users to access your website online. It's similar to a physical address in the online world. Domains consist of a second-level domain (the website's name) and a top-level domain (the extension, such as .com or .org). This system is part of the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates these user-friendly addresses into the IPs that computers use to identify each other on the Internet.

Hosting, on the other hand, is the service that stores your website's files and makes them available on the Internet. When you buy hosting, you're renting space on a server where your website's content (text, images, and videos) is stored and delivered to visitors. Hosting providers manage these servers and ensure that your website remains always accessible to users. Multiple hosting options are available nowadays, each offering different levels of resource allocation, control, and performance to meet diverse website needs.

Why You Should Connect Domain to Hosting

Connecting your domain to hosting is important in making your website accessible to the public on the Internet. This connection makes sure that when users enter your domain name into their browser, they're directed to the server where your website's files are stored. Here are some of the reasons why they're important:

• Visibility and accessibility: By linking your domain to your hosting account, you make your website live on the Internet. Without this connection, your domain name wouldn't lead anywhere, and your website's content wouldn't be accessible to users.
• Professionalism and branding: A custom domain (like "www.yourbrand.com") connected to your hosting account gives your online presence credibility and professionalism. It reinforces your brand identity and makes it easier for visitors to remember and return to your site.
• SEO benefits: A stable and direct connection between your domain and hosting can positively affect your website's search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines tend to favor websites with fast loading times and reliable uptime. You can find these qualities in quality hosting providers.
• Control and ownership: When you connect your domain to your hosting, you have full control over your website's content and structure. This allows you to customize your site to match your brand, optimize its performance, and scale as your business grows.

Connect a Domain Registered Elsewhere to Bluehost Hosting

To connect a domain registered with another provider to your Bluehost hosting account, you first need to get your Bluehost name servers and update the name servers with your current registrar.

• Step 1: Connect your domain to your Bluehost hosting server
• Step 2: Create an addon domain in your cPanel
• Step 3: Add the domain to your Account Manager

Step 1: Connect your domain to your Bluehost hosting server

Here are the steps to connect your domain to your Bluehost account name servers.

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Click Hosting on the left navigation menu.

   

3. If your account has a single hosting plan, you will be redirected to the hosting page right away.

   If your account has multiple hosting plans, select the hosting plan to which you need to connect your domain and click its MANAGE button.

4. Scroll down to the Server Information section.
5. Copy your Bluehost name servers under DNS Record.

   

6. Once you have your Bluehost name servers, the next step is to change your domain name servers. If you can't remember the company where you registered your domain, you can find it using an online registration data lookup tool.
   • My Current Registrar is Bluehost
   • My Current Registrar is NOT Bluehost

   My Current Registrar is Bluehost

   If you have purchased or transferred your domain to Bluehost, you can update your name servers through your Account Manager. Visit the Use Custom Name Servers article to learn how.
    

   My Current Registrar is NOT Bluehost

   You need to update your name servers with the current registrar where your domain is registered.

   Below are links to various registrars with instructions for changing nameservers.

   • DirectNic
   • Domain.com
   • DreamHost
   • Enom
   • Gandi
   • GoDaddy
   • Google Domains
   • Melbourne It
   • Name.com
   • Namecheap
   • NameSecure
   • Network Solutions
   • Register.com

   If you need further assistance in updating your domain's name servers, please contact your current registrar's Support team.

   Note: Remember, your new DNS settings will propagate once you make your changes. Each ISP updates at a different rate, usually taking 24-72 hours to complete worldwide.

   Are you having issues? See our article on how to assign a domain to learn more about troubleshooting.

Step 2: Create an addon domain in your cPanel

Once your domain is pointed to your Bluehost hosting account, you need to create a directory for your website files. To do this, you need to create an addon domain in your cPanel, except for Cloud hosting.

An addon domain is a secondary domain that is hosted on your hosting plan and is either a domain registered with Bluehost  or with another registrar. However, please note that for a website using an addon domain to work, it must be pointed first to your Bluehost servers (as indicated in Step 1).

1. Log in to your Bluehost cPanel. 
2. From the cPanel, click on the Domain Names icon. Click Domains.

   

3. Click the Create a New Domain button on the right.

   

4. Enter your domain in the Domain field.

   

5. Leave the "Share document root/username..." unchecked.
6. Enter a directory name for the new addon domain. This will be the folder where the contents of your addon domain will be stored (a.k.a. document root).
7. Once done, click Submit.

Step 3: Add the domain to your Account Manager

Once the domain is pointed to your Bluehost hosting account and added to your Bluehost cPanel, the next step is to add it to your Account Manager.

If your domain is registered with Bluehost, it is automatically added to your Account Manager. However, if your domain is registered elsewhere, you need to manually add it to your Account Manager's Domains section.

1. Log back into your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Click Domains in the left navigation menu.

   

    

3. If you have a single domain in your account, you will be redirected to the domain management page immediately.

   If you have multiple domains in your account, make sure you're in the Summary view. If not, click the Summary View button on the right.
   

4. Once on the Summary view, click the ADD A DOMAIN button on the top right.

   

5. Select Add as external domain.
   
6. Enter your domain name, and then click on ADD.

   

7. You may need to log out from your Account Manager and then log back in after a few minutes. When you log back in, the domain should now be displayed in your Domains tab as "External Domain."

   

   Click the domain to go to its management page, where you'll see its Domain Overview, Domain Connections, and Advanced DNS Records section.

   

Troubleshooting Domain Connection to Bluehost Hosting

When connecting a domain to your Bluehost hosting account, you might encounter several common issues during this process. Take note of these most frequent challenges and their respective remedies:

Delay in DNS Propagation 

• Issue: After updating DNS settings, changes might not be immediately visible due to DNS propagation. This can take 48 hours.
   
• Remedy: Patience is key. Check your settings and wait for them to update. You can use lookup tools online to check the DNS status.

Incorrect DNS Settings

• Issue: Entering incorrect DNS details can prevent your domain from connecting to your hosting.
   
• Remedy: Verify the DNS settings provided by your hosting company and ensure they've entered them correctly for your domain. If unsure, contact your hosting provider’s support team for assistance.

Domain Not Yet Transferred

• Issue: If you're transferring your domain to a new registrar, the transfer process might not be complete. This affects the connection to the new host.
   
• Remedy: Verify the transfer status with your current domain registrar. Ensure all transfer requirements are met, including unlocking the domain and authorization codes.

Expired Domain or Hosting

• Issue: An expired domain or hosting account can lead to website downtime.
   
• Remedy: Regularly check the expiration dates of your domain and hosting plan. Enable auto-renewal features or set reminders to renew them manually before they expire.

Firewall or Security Settings

• Issue: Overly restrictive firewall or security settings at the host can block domain connections.
   
• Remedy: Review your hosting account’s security settings and adjust them if they're too restrictive. If you’re unsure which settings to change, consult with your hosting provider.

SSL Certificate Errors

• Issue: After connecting your domain to hosting, an improperly installed SSL certificate can cause security warnings in browsers.
   
• Remedy: Ensure your SSL certificate is correctly installed and configured for your domain. Many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates and assistance with installation.

Summary

This guide explains how to connect your domain to Bluehost hosting by updating your nameservers or DNS settings, whether you registered your domain with Bluehost or another provider. We also suggest transferring your domain to your Account Manager for easier management. Learn the differences between domain and hosting, their importance for visibility and SEO, and troubleshoot common issues like DNS delays. Follow our instructions to connect your domain and launch your website successfully.