Change the domain of a live store and keep old links

Change the store's main address without unnecessarily breaking old links, payment connections, or email.

This guide applies to an already active Abicart store in Go, Plus, or Pro. You need access to both the store's admin and the new domain's DNS. Plan a controlled change and keep the old domain registered and pointed to the store while it is to be used for redirects.

1. Document what needs to keep working

Save the current domain names, their main/redirect connections, and URL settings per language. List important product and page links, as well as external payment solutions, ads, product feeds, analytics tools, and integrations that use the old address. Also, save the DNS records.

A domain is a hostname like www.example.com. An alias row under a main domain in Abicart can be another fully qualified domain name; the word 'subdomain' in older images here means a redirecting connection, not necessarily a technical subdomain in DNS.

2. Prepare and connect the new domain

1. Purchase or ensure access to the new domain.
2. Follow the domain connection guide to point the names with and without www. Preserve MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and other services' records.
3. Open Settings → Domains and SEO → Domains and add the new intended main domain via New domain name. Add the other form as a redirecting name under the new main domain.
4. Verify that the DNS connection is accepted and that HTTPS certificates exist for the names to be used. Keep the old, working domain during the preparation.

If the new domain has already been added as an alias under the old one, it may need to be moved to its own main domain in the admin before selecting the domain for the languages. First, save the information and only change the current domain connection. This is not an instruction to cancel the domain or delete its DNS.

DNS cache and certificates can take time. Proceed after verifying a working connection and HTTPS, not just because a set number of hours have passed. If the domain cannot be added, the specific error message must be investigated.

3. Change the main address for the store's languages

1. Open URL settings.
2. Select the new main domain for each language that needs to change its address.
3. Keep the language prefixes, suffixes, and folder structure unless they are intentionally being changed at the same time.
4. Save and let the address generation complete.
5. Check the new home page, product groups, products, and custom pages in each language.

The domain needs to be selected here even if it already exists under the Domains tab. If the store is still showing the temporary Abicart address, the domain selection per language is one of the first things to check.

4. Connect old names to the new main domain

When no language setting is using the old main domain anymore, its name should be connected as a redirecting name under the new one. First, document all old aliases. In interfaces that require an existing connection to be removed before it can be added elsewhere, just move the connection in Abicart's list and add each name back under the new main domain. Take care of the alias rows before the old main row.

Do not cancel the old domain or remove its web pointing if old visitors should still be able to reach the store. Abicart cannot redirect a name that no longer leads to the service.

In the example image, A New domain name, B the primary domain and C the field for adding a name to be redirected to the primary domain.

Check old links to specific products and pages, not just the home page. If a page has also changed its path or been deleted, you need to set up a relevant page redirect. A domain change does not restore a deleted page.

5. Update dependencies and follow up

• Notify payment providers and update registered store/return addresses where required.
• Update ads, product feeds, analytics tools, and verifications with external services.
• Update your own hardcoded links in the theme, pages, and email texts.
• Check that email and any sender domains still work. Changing the store's web address does not move email accounts.
• Check HTTPS and old→new links for both www forms and relevant languages.

For 404, also check the page path, language prefix, and selected domain. For payment issues, check the provider's registered domain and error message; do not change the payment status to make a test look successful.

Quickstart

1. Document old addresses and external dependencies.
2. Connect the new domain and check DNS/HTTPS.
3. Change the domain per language and move old names to redirects.
4. Check important old and new links and update payment services and feeds.

Subscription and domain agreements

A custom domain is available in Go, Plus, and Pro. Domain registration and email are separate agreements. Keep the old domain agreement as long as the name needs to work for redirects or other services.