Ordering, moving, transferring, or detaching a domain: all scenarios

In this article you'll read what you can do with a domain at WebOké: order, transfer, move between packages, transfer to someone else, unlink, or rename. Find your situation in the list below.

• 1. Ordering a new domain together with a hosting package
• 2. The domain name is already in our system
• 3. Moving a domain to another package
• 4. Unlinking a domain to domain registration only
• 5. Transferring a domain to another owner or another WebOké account
• 6. Replacing or renaming the (main) domain of your package
• 7. Frequently asked questions

1. Ordering a new domain together with a hosting package

Go to our webshop and choose a hosting package. When ordering the package, you choose one of four options:

• Register a new domain: the domain name doesn't belong to anyone yet. We check if it's available and register it for you.
• Transfer an existing domain to us: you currently have the domain with another provider. Enter the domain name and we'll start the transfer. Also read How do I transfer my domain to WebOké?
• I use my own domain name: you keep the domain with your current registrar, but your website and mail move to us. Afterwards, change the nameservers yourself to our ns1 and ns2.
• Use a temporary domain name: handy if you're still unsure, or if the domain name you want is already in our system somewhere. You can always link a real domain name later.

2. The domain name is already in our system

During ordering, you might get a notification like:

"The domain name yourdomain.nl already exists in our system."

This means the domain is already linked to an existing package, either yours or someone else's. How you proceed depends on the situation.

2a. You want to transfer the domain, but it's already with us

Then the domain is already managed by us. Go to the transfer page and choose the hosting package the domain name should go into. The regular order won't work, because a domain name can only point to one hosting server.

2b. You enter your own domain and it's registered with us as registration only

If you have the domain with us without hosting, you can directly enter it as your own domain for a new package. When processing your order, we'll automatically put it on your new package. You don't need to do anything yourself.

2c. You enter your own domain and it's already in another package of yours

Move the domain to the new package (see step 3), or unlink it first (see step 4) and then enter it as your own domain in the order.

2d. The domain name belongs to someone else

For privacy reasons, the notification doesn't show who manages the domain. If the domain belongs to someone you know, ask that person to transfer the domain to you (see step 5). If you believe you have a right to the domain but this isn't working, email support@weboke.eu. We'll help you further.

2e. You want to continue with the order right away

Temporarily choose a different domain name, for example temporary-yourname.nl. Once the order is active, link the real domain name via Domains per Package.

3. Moving a domain to another package

If you have multiple packages in the same account, you can move a domain yourself from one package to another.

1. Log in to My WebOké and go to My Products › Domains per Package.
2. Click Move next to the package.
3. Check the domains and choose the package they should move to.
4. Confirm the move.

Your DNS records move along to the new package by default, so for example your email settings keep working. However, the website and mail for the domain on the old package will be removed. The new package needs a few seconds to update the DNS on our nameservers. During that time, your website might be briefly unreachable.

4. Unlinking a domain to domain registration only

Want to keep a domain, but no longer link it to a hosting package? Move it the same way as in step 3 and choose Domain Registration Only as the destination.

The registration stays active and the domain remains yours. The website and mail for that domain on the hosting will be removed. Later, you can link it to a package again using Add to Hosting, or enter it as your own domain in a new order.

5. Transferring a domain to another owner or another WebOké account

Are you selling your business, is someone else taking over your website, or do you want to take over a domain from someone else? There are a few options. They're similar, but do different things.

• Account: your customer account in My WebOké, with your invoices and your login details.
• Package: a hosting or mail package in your account. It contains one or more domains.
• Holder: the person or organization that is the owner of the domain at the registry (see What is a domain holder?).

Which choice fits your situation?

• Only change the holder: the domain stays in your account, but is registered in someone else's name at the registry. You do this at the domain contacts, see Managing domain contacts in one overview. Note: this is applied immediately at the registry, which legally makes the domain that other person's.
• Transfer to another WebOké customer: the domain, or an entire package with all its domains, moves to someone else's account. The holder moves along. This is free.
• Merge accounts: if you have two WebOké accounts yourself, you merge them into one.
• Transfer to another provider: the domain leaves WebOké. See How do I transfer my domain to another provider?
• Just let someone view or help: then you don't need to transfer anything. Invite that person as a user, see Adding an extra user to WebOké accounts.

Transfer to another WebOké customer

1. In My WebOké, go to My Administration › Transfer. You'll see your hosting packages and your standalone domain registrations.
2. Click Transfer next to the package or domain.
3. Enter the email address of the recipient's WebOké account twice, and your own password to confirm.
4. Click Transfer.

The recipient receives an email with a button to accept. That link is valid for 24 hours. The transfer only proceeds after accepting. If the recipient doesn't have an account yet, the email explains how to create one first. As long as the recipient hasn't accepted, you can withdraw the transfer with Withdraw Transfer.

Good to know:

• For a package, all websites, email, and data move along to the new owner. Nothing changes to the DNS and the hosting: everything just keeps working.
• If there's an outstanding invoice for the package, you can only transfer once it's paid. Invoices already sent remain yours. New invoices will be in the recipient's name.
• A domain that's part of a hosting package can only be transferred together with the entire package. If you only want to transfer the domain, unlink it first (step 4).
• Only the account owner can transfer. Reseller packages can't (yet) be transferred by yourself.
• You can also transfer from the domain page (Advanced card) or at the bottom of a package's product page.

Want to take over a domain from another WebOké customer? Ask that customer to transfer it to your account's email address, and accept the transfer within 24 hours.

Merging accounts

Go to My Administration › Merge Accounts. Services, domains, contact profiles, invoices, tickets, and credit move to the other account. Nothing changes to the domains themselves, not even at the registry. The owner of the other account accepts within 24 hours.

Detailed explanation with screenshots: Transferring and merging accounts, Cancelling or transferring a domain, and Domain contacts and changing the owner in the WebOké manual.

6. Replacing or renaming the (main) domain of your package

Continuing under a new domain name? Then you have two options.

Add a new name and redirect the old one (recommended)

Add the new domain name to your package and turn the old name into a pointer or a redirect to the new one. This way, old links and old email addresses keep working. See Domain Pointers and Site Redirect.

Renaming the domain in DirectAdmin

1. Open DirectAdmin and click Domains under Account Manager.
2. Click Rename Domain Name in the top right.
3. Choose the domain under Old Domain and enter the new name under New Domain.
4. Click Save.

We check whether the new name is still available in our system. DirectAdmin moves the website, email addresses, and DNS to the new name. The old name will no longer work after this. Afterwards, update these yourself:

• your mail programs: the email address and username change along with it;
• the website address in WordPress or another CMS: in WordPress under Settings › General, the WordPress address and the site address;
• the SSL certificate: request a new certificate for the new name (see Activating an SSL certificate).

Detailed explanation with screenshots: Removing or renaming a domain in the DirectAdmin manual.

7. Frequently asked questions

Can I link one domain name to two hosting packages?

No. A domain name always points to one hosting server. Want different websites on different packages? Use subdomains instead, for example shop.yourdomain.nl on package A and blog.yourdomain.nl on package B.

How long does it take for my domain to become active?

If we add the domain to a package, it's usually on our nameservers within a minute. If you're transferring the domain from another provider, it can take longer due to DNS propagation delays, in exceptional cases up to 24 hours.

What happens if the move fails?

Then we're automatically notified, for example if a server is temporarily unreachable. We'll fix it or get in touch with you. You don't need to do anything.

Can I add a domain to my package myself in DirectAdmin?

Yes, for domains of yours that aren't managed anywhere else with us yet. If the domain is already elsewhere, you'll get a notification explaining this. Adding it in DirectAdmin is not the same as registering: you always register a domain name through our website.

I used a temporary domain name. How do I link the real name?

Order or transfer the real domain name and enter it as your own domain. We'll then link it to your package. You can then remove the temporary name in DirectAdmin.

Need help?

Stuck somewhere? Email support@weboke.eu or send a WhatsApp to +31 970 1025 5083. We're happy to help.

Want to register or transfer many domains at once? Paste them all in one go, see Register or transfer many domains at once.