The short answer
A domain name is required to complete your order — the signup form needs one so we can create your hosting account and configure your site. However, you do not need to have registered that domain yet, and you can deploy and test your website on our servers before you point your domain at us.
Your three options at signup
1. Register a new domain through us. Choose "Register a new domain" and search for the name you want. It is registered as part of your order and is pointed at your hosting account automatically. This is the fastest route if you have not bought a domain yet.
2. Use a domain you already own. Choose "I will use my existing domain and update my nameservers", enter the domain, and complete your order. Your site becomes reachable once you update the nameservers at your current registrar (see below). Nothing changes for your existing website or email until you make that change, so there is no rush and no downtime while you set things up.
3. Enter a domain you plan to register later. You can enter a domain you do not own yet and complete your order. Your hosting account is created immediately and you can upload files, deploy your application, and set up databases straight away. Be aware of what will not work until that domain is actually registered and pointed at us:
- The website will not be reachable at that address by you or anyone else.
- The free SSL certificate cannot be issued, because certificate validation requires the domain to resolve to your account.
- Email for the domain will not deliver.
None of this harms the account — everything starts working once the domain is registered and pointed at our nameservers. If you take this route, pick the exact name you intend to register, because changing the domain on an existing account later is a manual change our support team has to make for you.
Building and testing before your domain is ready
You do not need a working domain name to start building your site. Your Plesk control panel can create a website using a temporary domain name that Plesk provides, which gives you a working web address straight away.
In Plesk, open Websites & Domains and choose Add Domain. When you are asked for the domain name, choose the option to use a temporary domain name. Plesk generates the address for you, so you can upload your files, deploy your application, and connect your databases, then view the finished site in your browser at that temporary address.
This is the easiest way to check that everything runs correctly on our servers before you involve your real domain name at all.
When your real domain is ready, point its nameservers at us using the details below. If you would like us to move your site over to the real domain once it is registered, email [email protected] and we will take care of it for you.
Going live
When you are ready, update the nameservers for your domain at your registrar to:
ns1.adaptivewebhosting.com
ns2.adaptivewebhosting.com
ns3.adaptivewebhosting.com
ns4.adaptivewebhosting.com
Nameserver changes typically take a few hours to take effect and can take up to 48 hours to reach every network worldwide. Once the domain resolves to your account, your SSL certificate is issued automatically.
Still not sure?
If you are unsure which option fits your situation, or you would like us to check that a domain is set up correctly before you switch it over, email us at [email protected] and our team will walk you through it. You do not need an account with us to get in touch.
