How to Access Domain Manager Without Hosting Account

At Bluehost, you can access your domain manager, even without a hosting account. This means that if your hosting account has expired, you don’t have one at all, or you only have premium email services with us, you can still keep and manage your domain, regardless of whether it’s registered with Bluehost or not. You can easily manage your domain through your Account Manager.

• How to Access the Domain Manager
• Domain Tab Features
• Additional Resources
• Summary
   

How to Access the Domain Manager

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. In the left-hand menu, click Domains.

   
    

   • If you have one domain in your account, you will be taken directly to the domain management panel.

     
      

   • If you have multiple domains in your account, click the domain you wish to manage to access the domain management panel.

     
      

You will see the domains in your account. Domains registered with Bluehost are listed at the top, showing their current status. These are followed by "External Domains," which refers to those registered with other registrars.

Domain Tab Features

The Domain Manager or Domains tab in the Account Manager has several functionalities that are vital for managing your domains, such as changing nameservers, setting up DNS records, managing your domain addons, etc.

• Domains Registered with Bluehost
• Domains Not Registered with Bluehost

Domains Registered with Bluehost

For domains registered with Bluehost, the following functionalities are available in the Domains tab of the Account Manager.

• Domain renewal options – Manual and Auto-renewal features
• Resending the domain verification email
• Adding and managing Domain Lock
• Editing nameservers
• Adding and managing Domain Privacy + Protection
• Adding and managing Domain Expiration Protection
• Connecting the domain to website, hosting, and email services
• Managing DNS records
• Updating WHOIS information
• Transferring the domain to another registrar or to a different Bluehost account.

The management page of domains registered with us is shown in the image below.

Domains Not Registered with Bluehost

For domains that are not registered with Bluehost, the Account Manager allows you to connect and manage hosting services associated with your domain. The Account Manager will show the following features available for domains that are registered with a different registrar.

• Transferring IN a domain to Bluehost
• Connecting the domain to website, hosting, and email services
• Managing DNS records 
• Importing DNS zone
• Exporting DNS zone

To ensure your domain (not registered with us) runs smoothly, take a moment to manually connect a domain name from the Domains tab. Taking a few simple steps to change or update your domain name linked to your default site and ensuring the domain name points to Bluehost nameservers are proactive steps to safeguard the domain and website's performance.

The management page of domains not registered with us is shown in the image below.

You can manage your domain's DNS records here as long as it is pointed to your Bluehost account.

Additional Resources

The Account Manager's Domains tab has undergone improvements to enhance your domain management experience. Here are domain-related articles to guide you in navigating and managing your domains within your Account Manager.

• Guide to the DNS Tab in the Account Manager
• How to Connect a Domain Name from the Domains Tab
• How to Manage and Update Domain Contact Information
• How to Navigate the Nameservers Tab in Account Manager
• How to Use the Domains Tab in Your Account Manager
• Navigating the Domains Overview Tab
• Understanding the Move & Access Tab in Bluehost Domains Tab

Summary

Bluehost allows users to maintain full Domain Manager access without a hosting account, making it easy to manage domains even if you don’t have active hosting services. You can still access domain settings and features like DNS records, nameservers, privacy, and transfers through the Bluehost Account Manager. This article also highlights differences between functionalities available for Bluehost-registered domains and those with other providers.

To better manage your domain, you can add hosting. It enhances domain management and enables you to build a dynamic website for a blog, e-commerce, or portfolio. Explore our tailored hosting plans on our product pages to elevate your online presence and realize your digital aspirations.