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How to Point Your Domain to WordPress.com

This guide shows you how to make a domain bought elsewhere open your WordPress.com site. You can change nameservers or edit DNS records.

Domains and DNS2 min read14 steps

What does "point a domain" mean?

A domain is your website's address. DNS is like a phone book for the internet. It turns that address into a number that computers understand. Pointing a domain means telling the phone book to send visitors to your WordPress.com site.

WordPress.com is a hosted service. It is not the same as the free WordPress software on your own hosting. Check that your WordPress.com plan allows a custom domain.

Before you start

  • Log in to WordPress.com.
  • Know where your DNS is edited. If your domain is registered with Hostvento, log in at https://secure.hostvento.com/clientarea.php.
  • Save your current DNS records. A wrong change can break your site or email.

Steps in WordPress.com

  1. Open Upgrades and then Domains. In newer layouts, find Domains in the side menu.
  2. Click Add a domain.
  3. Choose Use a domain I own.
  4. Type your domain name and continue.
  5. Pick how to connect it. WordPress.com offers two ways.

Way 1: change nameservers

Nameservers are the computers that answer questions about your domain. This gives WordPress.com full control of your DNS.

  1. Copy the nameservers WordPress.com shows you.
  2. Where your domain is registered, open the nameserver settings. At Hostvento: Domains, My Domains, then Management Tools and Nameservers.
  3. Choose custom nameservers and paste the values.
  4. Save.

Way 2: edit DNS records

This keeps your DNS where it is. It is the better choice if you use email on the domain.

  1. Copy the A records or the CNAME that WordPress.com shows.
  2. Open your DNS zone editor.
  3. Edit the A records for host @. An A record points a name to a number address.
  4. Make the www record a CNAME that points to the value shown. A CNAME record points one name to another name.
  5. Save.
Tip: If you change nameservers, copy your MX records to the new place. If you do not, your email may stop.

Waiting time

DNS changes spread slowly. This is called propagation. It takes minutes, or up to a day or more.

Need help? Open a ticket at https://secure.hostvento.com/submitticket.php.

Quick recap

  • Add the domain in WordPress.com first.
  • Either change nameservers or edit A and CNAME records.
  • Keep MX records for email.
  • Wait for propagation.