To move a WordPress site from a subdomain such as blog.example.net to its own domain such as example.com on Ubuntu, change three layers in order: DNS, the Ubuntu web-server virtual host, and WordPress’s canonical URLs. Then issue a certificate for the new hostname, test both addresses, and only afterward decide whether to retire the subdomain. Skipping a layer commonly produces the wrong site, redirect loops, missing assets, or an inaccessible administrator.
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What changes when a subdomain gets its own domain?
A domain name is only a label until several systems agree about it. DNS tells browsers which Ubuntu server to contact. Apache or nginx chooses a site configuration by matching the requested hostname. WordPress then generates links, redirects, cookies, and asset URLs from its configured site address. HTTPS adds a certificate that must include the hostname visitors use.
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Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor a normal, single-site installation, the migration is usually:
- Point the new domain’s DNS records at the Ubuntu server.
- Declare the new hostname in Apache or nginx and map it to the existing WordPress files.
- Change WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to the new domain.
- Obtain a TLS certificate for the new hostname and redirect HTTP to HTTPS.
- Test the new address, administrator, redirects, and page assets before removing the old address.
WordPress Multisite is different: a subsite has network-level domain mapping in addition to DNS, web-server, and certificate work.
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Before you change anything
Confirm ownership and access
- You must control the destination domain’s DNS zone.
- You need shell access with
sudoon the Ubuntu server. - Identify whether the server runs Apache or nginx, and where the current WordPress document root is located.
- Record the existing domain, database, web-server configuration, and any reverse proxy or CDN in front of the server.
- Make a tested backup of the WordPress files and database. Keep the old hostname available until the new one works.
Do not request a certificate first. Ubuntu’s TLS guidance requires a registered domain with DNS records pointing to the server; certificate validation cannot succeed while the public name resolves elsewhere.
Choose the final hostnames
Decide whether visitors will use the apex name (example.com), the www name, or both. Use one canonical address in WordPress and redirect the other to it. A certificate request must include every hostname that will be visited directly, for example both example.com and www.example.com.
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Step 1: Point DNS at Ubuntu
Create the required records
At the destination domain’s DNS provider, create an A record for the IPv4 address of the Ubuntu server. If the server has IPv6 and is configured to serve the site on it, create an AAAA record as well. Use the host name your web-server configuration will match; an apex record and a www record are separate names.
| Hostname | Record | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
example.com |
A | Ubuntu server IPv4 address | Routes the apex domain to the server |
example.com |
AAAA | Ubuntu server IPv6 address, if used | Routes IPv6 requests |
www.example.com |
A or CNAME | Your chosen IPv4 target or apex name | Serves the alternate public hostname |
DNS changes are cached according to each record’s TTL, so different networks may see the old answer for a while. Check the public result from more than one resolver before troubleshooting the web server.
Verify resolution before configuring TLS
From a workstation, query both the A and AAAA records with your preferred DNS utility. The returned address must be the Ubuntu server’s public address. Also verify that the server firewall and hosting provider allow inbound TCP ports 80 and 443. A local /etc/hosts entry can help you test a site before public DNS changes, but it affects only the machine where you add it and cannot satisfy public certificate validation.
Step 2A: Configure Apache
Create a dedicated virtual host
Apache selects a virtual host using the requested hostname. Create a new file such as /etc/apache2/sites-available/new-domain.conf. Replace the example names and document root with your values:
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<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName example.com
ServerAlias www.example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/wordpress
<Directory /var/www/wordpress>
AllowOverride All
Require all granted
</Directory>
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/new-domain-error.log
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/new-domain-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>
ServerName is the primary hostname. Add every alternate hostname that should reach the same files as a ServerAlias. The DocumentRoot must be the directory containing wp-admin, wp-content, and wp-includes.
Enable the site and rewrite support
- Enable the configuration:
sudo a2ensite new-domain.conf. - Enable WordPress’s rewrite module:
sudo a2enmod rewrite. - Check the configuration for syntax errors:
sudo apache2ctl configtest. Continue only when it reports a valid configuration. - Reload Apache without stopping active connections:
sudo service apache2 reload.
If an unwanted default virtual host answers requests that do not match, disable that site with sudo a2dissite followed by its configuration name, then run another config test and reload. Keep a copy of the old configuration so you can restore it if the new host is not ready.
Apache-specific failure points
- A missing or misspelled
ServerNamecauses Apache to fall back to another virtual host. - Without
AllowOverride All(or an equivalent rewrite configuration), WordPress permalinks may return 404 errors even though the home page works. - Putting the new file in
sites-availableis not enough; it must be enabled witha2ensite. - Reloading an invalid configuration fails. Always run
apache2ctl configtestbefore the reload.
Step 2B: Configure nginx
Create a server block
For nginx, create /etc/nginx/sites-available/example.com and link it into sites-enabled. The exact PHP-FPM socket depends on the installed PHP version; use the socket already used by the working WordPress site.
server {
listen 80;
listen [::]:80;
server_name example.com www.example.com;
root /var/www/wordpress;
index index.php index.html;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
}
location ~ .php$ {
include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php-fpm.sock;
}
location ~* /.ht {
deny all;
}
}
Replace /run/php/php-fpm.sock with the PHP-FPM socket on your Ubuntu installation. Copy the known-good PHP handling from the existing WordPress server block rather than guessing a versioned path.
Enable and reload nginx
- Create the symlink:
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/example.com. - Check syntax:
sudo nginx -t. - Reload after a successful test:
sudo systemctl reload nginx.
Each site needs a unique server_name. If the new name is absent or the symlink was not created, nginx may serve the default site instead. Ubuntu’s multi-site pattern commonly uses a separate HTTP block and a TLS block; you can create the HTTPS block yourself or let Certbot update the configuration after the certificate request.
Step 3: Change WordPress’s canonical URLs
Single-site WordPress
Sign in at the existing administrator address while it still works. Go to Settings → General and change both fields below to the final HTTPS address:
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- WordPress Address (URL): where the WordPress core files are installed.
- Site Address (URL): the public address visitors use.
For a conventional installation, both values are usually identical, such as https://example.com. Do not leave a trailing slash in either field. Save once, then open the new address in a separate browser window. WordPress may sign you out because login cookies are tied to the host.
If changing the fields makes the dashboard inaccessible, define the values temporarily in wp-config.php before WordPress loads:
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define('WP_SITEURL', 'https://example.com');
Use this as a recovery measure, not as a second conflicting source of configuration. Remove or revise the constants after the migration is stable if you want the values managed in the dashboard.
Update stored links and caches
Changing the two URL fields does not rewrite every old subdomain stored in post content, widgets, theme options, serialized settings, or plugin data. Search the database and configuration for the old hostname with a serialization-aware method, replacing only the old subdomain and preserving serialized data. Then clear WordPress page caches, object caches, CDN caches, and any reverse-proxy cache. Inspect the browser’s developer tools for requests still going to the old host or using insecure HTTP.
Step 4: Map a Multisite subsite
Understand the extra layer
In WordPress 4.5 and later, domain mapping is a native Multisite feature. A subsite that previously used a host such as subsite1.networkdomain.com can be mapped to example.com without the older third-party mapping approach. DNS, the web-server host, and HTTPS are still required; native mapping does not create those server-side settings.
From the network administration area, open the site’s settings and change its domain to the destination hostname according to the network’s mapping setup. Keep the network’s primary domain and other subsites unchanged. A network-wide change can affect every site, so confirm that you are editing the intended subsite rather than the network address.
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Cookies and administrator access
After mapping, login cookies must be valid for the mapped host. If the dashboard repeatedly returns to the login screen, review the network’s documented COOKIE_DOMAIN and wp-config.php settings. Do not copy a cookie-domain value from an unrelated installation: an incorrect value can prevent authentication across the network. Test both the mapped subsite and the network administration URL separately.
Step 5: Issue HTTPS for the new domain
Request a certificate with Certbot
Wait until the destination hostname resolves publicly and the HTTP virtual host responds. Then use Certbot’s plugin for the web server:
sudo certbot --apache -d example.com -d www.example.com
sudo certbot --nginx -d example.com -d www.example.com
Run the command that matches the server in use, not both. Certbot can install the certificate and update the Apache or nginx configuration, including an HTTP-to-HTTPS redirect. Ubuntu documents automatic service reloads after successful renewal. Confirm that renewal is enabled on the server and that the certificate covers every public hostname users may enter.
Check proxy and HTTPS awareness
If a load balancer, CDN, or reverse proxy terminates TLS before traffic reaches Ubuntu, WordPress must be told that the original request was HTTPS. A mismatch in proxy HTTPS headers can make WordPress redirect an already secure request back to HTTPS indefinitely. Configure the proxy and application consistently, and avoid stacking multiple competing redirect rules in the proxy, web server, and WordPress.
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Step 6: Test before retiring the subdomain
Use this verification sequence
- Resolve the apex and
wwwnames and confirm they return the intended server addresses. - Request the site over HTTP and HTTPS. Confirm HTTP redirects once to the chosen canonical HTTPS host.
- Verify that the expected Apache virtual host or nginx server block answers, rather than a default site.
- Open the home page, several internal permalinks, search, and a page with images or other uploads.
- Sign in at
/wp-admin/, open the editor, and save a harmless test change if appropriate. - Inspect page source and browser network requests for the old subdomain, insecure URLs, failed CSS, JavaScript, fonts, or images.
- For Multisite, test the mapped subsite, network dashboard, media uploads, and logout/login behavior.
- Check server logs for 404 errors, PHP errors, repeated redirects, and requests reaching the wrong document root.
Keep the old subdomain available during this validation period. If it must remain discoverable, configure a deliberate one-hop redirect from the old canonical address to the new one after the new site is confirmed, rather than deleting the old host and losing a recovery route.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting the common failures
The wrong site appears
- Verify DNS first; a correct web-server file cannot help if the hostname resolves to another machine.
- Check the exact
Hostvalue sent by the browser against Apache’sServerName/ServerAliasor nginx’sserver_name. - On Apache, confirm the file is enabled. On nginx, confirm the symlink in
sites-enabledexists. - Look for a default virtual host that catches unmatched requests and inspect access logs to identify the answering site.
Certbot cannot validate the hostname
- Wait for DNS caches to expire and confirm public resolvers return the Ubuntu server.
- Ensure port 80 is reachable; HTTP validation commonly needs it even when the final site uses HTTPS.
- Request every hostname users will visit, including the apex and
wwwwhen both are configured. - Remove conflicting DNS records or proxy settings that send validation requests elsewhere.
The browser reports a redirect loop
- Compare WordPress Address and Site Address with the actual canonical HTTPS URL.
- Check for duplicate redirects in WordPress, Apache or nginx, and an upstream proxy.
- Confirm that the proxy’s HTTPS header is passed and interpreted correctly.
- Clear browser, page, and CDN caches after correcting the configuration.
Styles, scripts, or images are broken
Search the database, theme settings, plugin settings, and generated caches for the old subdomain. Replace stale absolute URLs with the new HTTPS host using a tool that understands serialized WordPress data. Clear all relevant caches and reload the page without the browser cache. Mixed-content warnings indicate that the page is secure while one or more resources still use HTTP.
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Multisite users cannot log in
Check the mapped domain recorded for the subsite, network cookie settings, and the COOKIE_DOMAIN guidance in wp-config.php. Test in a private browser session to exclude cookies from the former host. Ensure the network dashboard remains on its intended domain and that the mapped subsite’s certificate is valid.
Apache and nginx: which workflow applies?
| Task | Apache | nginx |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration location | /etc/apache2/sites-available/ |
/etc/nginx/sites-available/ |
| Hostname directive | ServerName and optional ServerAlias |
server_name |
| Enable a site | sudo a2ensite file.conf |
Symlink into sites-enabled |
| WordPress routing | mod_rewrite plus directory override permissions |
try_files and PHP-FPM handling |
| Validate configuration | sudo apache2ctl configtest |
sudo nginx -t |
| Reload | sudo service apache2 reload |
sudo systemctl reload nginx |
| Certbot integration | certbot --apache |
certbot --nginx |
The choice does not change the order of the migration: DNS must resolve first, the correct hostname must be declared, WordPress URLs must match, and the certificate must cover the final host.
Safe rollback plan
If the new domain fails, restore the previous WordPress URL values or temporarily use the WP_HOME and WP_SITEURL constants with the old address. Re-enable the old Apache site or nginx server block, reload the service after a syntax test, and remove only the new redirect rules that caused the failure. Keep the database and file backups untouched until logins, media, permalinks, and HTTPS have all passed testing. Once the migration is stable, document the final DNS records, canonical URL, certificate names, and active virtual-host file so a future administrator can reproduce the setup.
Decision checklist
- Destination A and, where applicable, AAAA records resolve to the Ubuntu server.
- The new hostname is declared in the correct Apache or nginx configuration and that configuration is enabled.
- Configuration syntax passes before every reload.
- Both WordPress URL fields use the chosen canonical HTTPS address.
- Stored content, theme settings, plugin data, and caches no longer generate the old host.
- Certbot issued a certificate containing every public hostname.
- HTTP redirects once to HTTPS, with no proxy-induced loop.
- Administration, media, permalinks, styles, scripts, and Multisite cookies work before the old address is retired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I test the new domain before changing public DNS?
Yes. A temporary entry in the testing computer’s /etc/hosts file can map the domain to the Ubuntu server, but it affects only that computer and cannot be used for public certificate validation.
Do I need separate WordPress files for the new domain?
No. A single-site migration normally points a new Apache virtual host or nginx server block at the existing WordPress document root. Multisite adds domain mapping but does not require duplicating the subsite files.
Should I remove the old subdomain immediately?
No. Keep it available until DNS, HTTPS, administration, assets, redirects, and (for Multisite) cookies have been tested. You can then add a deliberate redirect or retire the old host.
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