What is a primary URL, and how do I change it?

Jargon often makes IT more complicated than it needs to be, and this is particularly true when it comes to the domain name system (DNS). The crossover between website and server hosting, as well as the breadth and complexity of the DNS, mean that a lot of similar language is used to describe very different parts of the process.

A primary web address or URLs (uniform resource locator, to give it its full name) are another bit of DNS-related jargon that might seem complicated on the surface, but in reality it’s quite straightforward. If you’ve asked the question ‘what is a primary URL (or domain)?’, ‘why is it important?’, or ‘how do I set or change a primary URL?’, read on to find out. Our team of experts here at Nimbus has pulled together a simple, jargon-busting guide that has you covered.

A primary URL – more commonly known as a primary domain – is the main domain name that represents your website. As we’ve explained before, domain names are essentially convenient shorthand for internet protocol (IP) addresses, which browsers use to access websites. When you enter the primary domain into your address bar (or visit it via a search engine), the browser looks it up using the domain name system (DNS) to find out what IP address it corresponds to. 

The primary domain is the URL people will enter to visit your website (e.g. google.com). Domain names are unique identifiers for websites, and no two websites can have identical domain names. However, you can have an identical first part of a domain name with a different top-level domain (TLD), such as google.net. Many businesses will buy similar domain names on other TLDs to prevent people from ‘squatting’ on them. This occurs when domain squatters mislead visitors by directing them to unrelated webpages with a similar name.

Primary URLs can be switched at any time, should you so choose. If you decide to rebrand and want to change to a different domain name, it’s the primary domain that changes. The website and its IP address will usually stay the same, while the DNS propagates the change to the primary domain, and ensures that everyone who visits the new URL is sent to the right address.

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You might also see primary domains referenced when using various cloud services, such as Shopify or Google Workspace. Here, the primary domain is the URL you use to access and administer these services, and the one that user accounts are tied to. The only reason to change this primary domain is usually branding, or if you have lost ownership of that domain, for whatever reason.

Choosing your primary domain is more important (and more complicated) than you might think. The obvious thing is to simply replicate your brand name, assuming it’s available. But there are a few elements to consider when  choosing the perfect domain name for your business. Here are four key factors to bear in mind:

As we mentioned earlier, many businesses don’t just own one domain name. It’s common practice to buy multiple domain names that people might enter accidentally when typing in your website, such as common misspellings, as well as the same domain name on a different TLD. These are called secondary or alternate domains. 

Secondary domains are commonly redirected to your primary domain, so anyone landing there gets sent to your site. Some businesses will also choose to ‘park’ domains that they might want to use later, which may or may not be redirected. This is often done ahead of new product launches that might benefit from their own website in order to secure the brand name.

Subdomains are like separate ‘mini sites’ that exist within your primary domain. These are characterised by URLs such as mail.google.com, where the subdomain is the first word. Subdomains are commonly used for online services that are a part of your brand, but distinct from the rest of the website, such as an eCommerce site or a customer support desk.

The process for changing your primary domain will differ depending on the service and hosting platform you’re using. Here are a few of the most common ways to change your primary URL, and some user-friendly instructions to help you along:

Google Workspace

1. In the Admin area, click Menu -> Account -> Domains -> Manage domains.
2. Click ‘Add a domain’, then enter the URL for your new primary domain.
3. Click ‘Continue’ to verify that you own the domain, following the instructions provided. This will require you to log into your domain registrar account and add a TXT record to your DNS settings. Your registrar may be able to help you with this.
4. Update your domain’s mail exchange (MX) records using the records provided so that incoming mail is directed to Google’s servers. Again, your registrar may be able to help with this.
5. Click ‘I have completed these steps’.
6. Set up Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and/or DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) using the instructions provided. These are two authentication methods that help to protect against spam, and ensure your mail is delivered to people’s inboxes rather than spam boxes. At least one of these is mandatory for any mail sent to a Google address, as of November 2022.
7. Go back to the ‘Manage domains’ admin screen, then click ‘Make Primary’ next to your new domain.
8. Click ‘Change primary domain’.

While this covers the process of changing your primary domain, there are other settings that need to be changed to fully switch over an existing Workspace installation, including user email addresses, mailing groups, and billing settings. For a full breakdown of the Workspace domain changing process, visit Google’s help article here.

With most web hosting accounts, changing your primary domain will occur within the host’s account control panel, rather than the server control panel. However, Web Host Manager (WHM) and cPanel can be used to change your primary domain on servers or virtual private servers (VPS). To change your primary domain using these popular control panels, simply follow these steps:

1. Login to WHM as the root user, then click ‘Modify an Account’ in the left menu.
2. Search for the domain and click ‘Modify’, then change the old domain name in the text box to the new domain name. Click ‘Save’ to confirm.
3. Return to the main WHM screen and click the DNS Functions section, then click Park a Domain.
4. Select your new domain name in the box on the left, then enter the old domain name in the box on the right. Click ‘Submit’ to park the old domain under the new one.
5. Return to the main WHM screen and log  in to the cPanel interface for your old domain.
6. Click on the Domains section, then click Redirects.
7. Set the type to ‘Permanent (301)’ in the Type box. Add the old domain name in the / box, then the new domain name in the Redirects To box. Check the Wild Card Redirect box if needed.
8. Click ‘Add’ to add the redirect to your new Primary URL. Now you’re good to go!

This is far from an exhaustive list of ways to change your primary domain, and does not include non-essential steps that are still fairly important, such as backing up your settings and installations. But we hope that our guide has given you a better idea of what a primary URL or domain is, and that you know exactly what to expect (and prepare for) when considering a domain change.

For more expert tips and advice from our knowledgeable team of eco-friendly web-hosting geeks, check out our blog, or explore our resource hub.