Your domain stays with Namecheap. You only change two records in its DNS settings so that it opens your Zome website. You keep paying Namecheap for the domain, and you can change the records back later.
Registrars rename their menus now and then. If a name below has changed, look for DNS, Manage DNS or DNS Records on your domain's page.
Before you start
- You need a paid plan or a trial to connect a domain. See Why does the Domain tab ask me to start a plan?.
- Only the account owner can connect a domain.
- Sign in to Namecheap with the account that holds the domain. Not sure that it is Namecheap? See How do I find out who holds my domain?.
Connect it
- In Zome, go to Website and open the Domain tab.
- Type your domain, like harborplumbing.com, and press Connect domain.
- Read the status on the tab. If it says Zome is connecting your domain, leave your records alone for now and keep your current website as it is. The tab tells you when to add the records.
- When the tab shows the records, copy each value with its copy button. You need an A record with the name @, and a CNAME record with the name www.
- At Namecheap, open your domain's DNS page. As a guide, it has been found under: Domain List, Manage, Advanced DNS, Add New Record.
- Add the two records, or change the ones that are already there.
- Save, go back to Zome and press Check now.
Things to look for at Namecheap
- The host @ is the main domain. TTL set to Automatic is fine.
- Advanced DNS only counts when the domain uses Namecheap's own name servers. If the domain's Nameservers setting points to another company, add the records at that company instead.
- Namecheap may have put a parking page or URL redirect record on @ and www. Remove those, so the two Zome records are the only ones for those names.
- If your domain already has an A record for @ or a CNAME for www, change it. Two records for the same name fight each other.
- Leave the TTL at its default.
- Do not delete any MX or other TXT records. They keep your email working. See Keep your email working when you move your website.
After you save
Changes usually show up within an hour. Press Check now again after a few minutes. When the status says Live, your website opens at your domain with HTTPS. If it is still waiting, see Why does my domain say Waiting for DNS?.
Your old website keeps answering at the domain until the records change. See What happens to my old website when I connect?.
Stuck? Ask in Ask the Zome team and say that your domain is at Namecheap.