You can use a domain registered elsewhere without transferring its registration. After payment and domain confirmation, your hosting account is created while DNS can still point to the old service. You then choose to keep your DNS provider or use Lucid nameservers.
| Action | What changes |
|---|---|
| Domain transfer | The registrar managing the registration. |
| Nameserver change | The provider answering authoritative DNS. |
| Hosting migration | Website files, databases, applications, and possibly mailboxes. |
DNS and registration are distinct parts of a domain's operation; ICANN's transfer FAQ explains that changing hosting or nameservers can be separate from transferring the registration.
- Confirm that the domain is registered, accessible in your registrar account, and not about to expire.
- Order the hosting plan using the existing-domain option and verify the spelling. Keep the current website and email running while preparing the move.
- Save a full DNS record inventory and independent backups of website files, databases, and any mailboxes being moved. List services that must stay elsewhere, such as an external email provider.
- Open My Account > Hosting services (or Services) and wait for account creation. Use the Control Center and Virtualmin to prepare the destination website and any mailboxes being moved. Arrange a preview or final data synchronization with support if needed.
- Expand Get your hosting ready. Choose Keep my DNS provider to update the displayed website addresses externally, or Use Lucid nameservers to move DNS delegation. Preserve existing email and verification records; the nameserver path does not import them or DNSSEC DS settings.
- When the destination is ready, make the planned record or nameserver change. Use Check DNS records or Check nameservers, followed by Recheck hosting records if shown. Complete the separate SSL step after DNS verification.
Verify before canceling the old service: Check the root domain, www, HTTPS, forms, application data, and mail in both directions. Keep the old service available until you have verified the migration and any final data synchronization.
If you retain Cloudflare or another DNS provider: Keep its nameservers and edit records there. For Cloudflare, use DNS-only web records through initial verification and SSL setup, and leave mail and panel hostnames DNS-only. The Control Center displays server records but does not edit your external provider. Follow Choose a DNS setup method.
Related: Change nameservers, Transfer registration, DNS propagation.
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