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My Domains Are Not Resolving

If you have a new domain name or website that is not resolving, here is a checklist to ensure everything has been done correctly.

  • Register the domain name ⤵
  • Point DNS to the hosting account ⤵
  • Add the domain in the hosting control panel ⤵
  • Add files to the document root ⤵

Register the domain name​

If the domain name has not been registered, then naturally, it will not work. A website cannot work properly with a domain that is not registered. You can register a new domain name via your Customer Portal. Please visit the following article to learn how to register a domain name.

  • Register a Domain Name with HostGator

For a list of the domain TLDs HostGator can register, please refer to the following article:

  • Registering Domain Names and TLD Prices

Point DNS to the hosting account​

The DNS must be correctly pointing to the hosting account, meaning your domain must be connected to your hosting account's server. Whether the domain is being pointed by name servers or A records, the DNS must be exact and have been changed from the correct DNS host file, or the site may not propagate correctly or at all. For name servers, ensure that these are changed at the domain's registrar. The A records must be changed wherever the domain's host file is located. For more information on changing the DNS for a site, please refer to the following articles:

  • How do I change my DNS or Name Servers?
  • Pointing My Domain to HostGator When Using DNS Elsewhere

Note: It takes up to 24-48 hours of propagation time for name servers.

Add the domain to the hosting control panel​

Every domain needs to be added to the hosting control panel for it to work. A domain name is added to a control panel, which makes services such as email and file hosting possible. If the domain is not added, there are no files to be read or emails to function. For more information on how to add a domain to the hosting control panel, please refer to the following articles:

  • Differences between Aliases, Addon Domains, and Subdomains
  • How do I Create and Remove an Addon Domain?
  • What is a Subdomain Name & How to Create One

Add files to the document root​

Websites cannot work without files. If there are no files listed within the document root for a domain name, there will not be a website to be seen. Files can be uploaded to the document root folder directly using a file manager from within the hosting control panel or file transfer protocol, also known as FTP. For more information on document root and uploading files, please refer to the following articles:

  • What is a Document Root Folder?
  • FTP Getting Started
  • How to Upload Files Using the File Manager

Pro-tip for VPS and Dedicated hosting Owners of VPS and Dedicated hosting plans have the ability to edit or change various ports to their liking. To ensure that the site is completely accessible, please note the following points:

  • If Apache has been bound to a different port, that port number will need to be used after your domain name to connect to your control panel. For example: http://mydomain.com:8081
  • If Apache has been bound to a port other than port 80, access to that port must be granted through your computer's firewall.

Need additional assistance? HostGator's Support is here to help. Just reach out to us via phone or chat!