If you’ve built a website on Weebly but own a domain registered with Wix, connecting the two might feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, the process is straightforward when broken down into clear steps. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to successfully connect your Wix domain to your Weebly website, ensuring a seamless experience for your visitors.
When connecting your domain, you have two main options: connect the domain or transfer it entirely. Connecting the domain keeps your registration and management with Wix, while transferring shifts the domain management to Weebly. This guide focuses on the connection method, which is faster and requires minimal technical expertise. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Prepare Your Wix Domain for Connection
Before starting the connection process, you need to ensure your domain is eligible and ready to be connected to Weebly. Here's what to check:
Domain Registration Status: Make sure your domain is active and not expired. You can verify this in your Wix dashboard.
Domain Age: If your domain was recently purchased, it must be at least 60 days old to be eligible for certain changes, like transfers. For a simple connection, there is no age restriction.
Unlock Your Domain: Domains are often locked by default for security reasons. Unlocking it might be necessary depending on your connection method. This can be done in the Wix domain settings.
To proceed, log in to your Wix account and navigate to the Domains section. From here, select the domain you plan to connect to Weebly. Double-check that you’ve completed all necessary preparations.
Step 2: Decide Between Connecting and Transferring the Domain
It’s important to understand the difference between connecting and transferring your domain.
Connecting the Domain:This option allows you to keep the domain registered with Wix while pointing it to Weebly. This is ideal if you prefer managing your domain within Wix or want to retain flexibility for future hosting changes.
Transferring the Domain:This option shifts full management of your domain to Weebly. While this is more permanent, it allows for consolidated billing and management within Weebly. Keep in mind that transferring takes longer and requires an additional authorization process.
For simplicity and speed, we recommend connecting the domain. It’s easy to manage and doesn’t involve changing registrars.
Step 3: Get Weebly’s Nameservers
To point your Wix domain to Weebly, you’ll need Weebly’s nameservers. Nameservers tell the internet where to find your website when someone types in your domain. Follow these steps to get them:
Log in to your Weebly account.
Go to the Domains section of your dashboard.
Locate the nameservers provided by Weebly. These usually look like this:
Copy these nameservers. You’ll need to paste them into Wix’s settings later.
Step 4: Update Nameservers in Wix
Now that you have Weebly’s nameservers, it’s time to configure your domain in Wix. Here’s how to update the nameservers:
Access Domain Settings:Log in to your Wix account and navigate to the Domains section of your dashboard. Select the domain you want to connect to Weebly.
Edit Nameservers:In the domain settings, look for an option called Advanced DNS Settings or Nameservers Settings. Choose to edit the nameservers.
Replace Wix’s Nameservers:
Delete Wix’s default nameservers.
Paste the Weebly nameservers (ns1.weebly.com and ns2.weebly.com).
Save Changes:After entering the nameservers, click Save or Apply Changes. You may need to confirm your action via a verification prompt.
Once saved, the domain will begin pointing to Weebly, but the changes won’t take effect immediately. This leads us to the next step.
Step 5: Wait for DNS Propagation
After updating the nameservers, it’s important to understand that DNS changes take time to propagate across the internet. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours. During this time:
Your domain may not immediately resolve to your Weebly site.
Some visitors might still see your old Wix site temporarily.
Be patient and avoid making additional changes while propagation is in progress.
Step 6: Link Your Domain in Weebly
Once propagation is complete, you’ll need to link the domain within your Weebly account to finalize the connection. Follow these steps:
Log in to your Weebly Dashboard.
Navigate to Settings and click on the option to Connect a Domain.
Enter your Wix domain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com).
Save the settings and publish your Weebly site.
Now, when visitors type your domain into a browser, they will be directed to your Weebly website.
Step 7: Verify the Connection
To ensure the process is complete:
Open a web browser and enter your domain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com).
Verify that your Weebly site loads correctly.
Use online tools like WhatsMyDNS to confirm the nameservers point to Weebly.
If you encounter issues, double-check that the nameservers in Wix match those provided by Weebly. You can also reach out to support teams for assistance.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between connecting and transferring a domain?
Connecting keeps the domain with Wix but points it to your Weebly site. Transferring moves domain management entirely to Weebly, which is more permanent and involves extra steps.
2. How long does it take to connect a domain?
The connection itself is quick, but DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours.
3. Do I need to pay extra to connect my domain?
Weebly doesn’t charge for connecting a custom domain, but Wix may have a premium plan requirement to access DNS settings.
4. Can I reverse the connection later?
Yes, you can always update the nameservers in Wix to point the domain back to another platform.
Connecting a Wix domain to Weebly is a straightforward process when you follow the steps outlined in this guide. By understanding the requirements, updating the DNS settings, and verifying the connection, you can seamlessly point your domain to your new Weebly website. If you face any difficulties, both Wix and Weebly offer excellent support to guide you through the process.
Start connecting your domain today and bring your Weebly site to life!
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