Ready to launch your new ALOHA® website? If your business email is currently managed by your old website provider, this guide gives you the critical steps you must take to switch that email service and confirm all your records are safe before you contact the ALOHA team to bring your new website online.
✨ When You Need This Guide
✨ When You Need This Guide
You are about to get your new ALOHA website live on your own domain name.
You need to confirm your domain is pointing to the right place to allow the ALOHA team to launch your site.
You need to know the correct, non-negotiable steps for backing up your email settings (MX records) to prevent email downtime.
You are worried about breaking your business email service during the switch.
What This Covers (And What It Doesn't)
✅ What This Covers: The entire process of moving your email service to a new provider, ensuring all records are transferred back to your Domain Registrar, and confirming your email works before the ALOHA team launches your site.
❌ What It Doesn't Cover: How to log in to every specific Domain Registrar (like GoDaddy or Namecheap) or the specifics of setting up email with every provider (like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365).
Prerequisites/You'll Need:
Login credentials for your Domain Registrar (the company you bought the domain from).
Contact information for your previous website/email provider.
A plan for your new email provider if your email is currently managed by your prior website service.
⚙️ Your 5-Step Plan for a Smooth Switch
⚙️ Your 5-Step Plan for a Smooth Switch
✅ Step 1: Tell Your Old Provider You're Moving Everything
If you have an email tied to your domain name, your old website provider might also be hosting your email. You need to let them know you are moving both services.
Contact your previous website provider.
Tell them you are moving both your website and your email to new services.
Ask them to transfer ALL records (website, email, etc.) for your domain back to your Domain Registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.). This ensures your Registrar has control, which is necessary for the next steps.
📝 Step 2: Back Up ALL Your Email Records (MX and TXT)
This is step is critical to safeguarding your business emails.
Log in to your current DNS Host (where your records were transferred).
Find the "DNS Management" or "Zone File Editor" section.
Use one of the two backup methods below:
Option A: Manual Copy & Paste
Copy every MX Record (for email traffic) and every related TXT Record (for email security/verification like SPF/DKIM).
Paste and save this information in a text document, exactly as it appears. This ensures you have a backup if needed.
Option B: Download the DNS Zone File
Look for a Domain Settings page.
Look for an option to "Export Zone File" or "Download DNS Records." Your Registrar will often provide a file that contains all your records at once.
Download the file and save it safely. Open the file to confirm all your needed records are present. Keep this safe until your new site is live.
📝 Step 3: Set Up Your Email with a New Provider
ALOHA does not provide email services. You must choose a new email host (Like Google, Microsoft or your Registrar) if your business emails were previously managed by your prior website provider.
Choose your new email provider.
Work with your new email provider to transfer your email accounts to them.
Confirm in your Registrar’s DNS panel that your MX Records are present and no longer pointing to your prior website provider (e.g., ns1.oldhost.com).
📧 Step 4: Test Your Email
Confirm your new email is up and running.
Test your email by sending and receiving a few messages from a different email address to make sure your new setup is working.
Wait for Propagation: If your test email does not work right away, wait 24–48 hours for the changes (called propagation) to spread across the internet, and then test again.
🚀 Step 5: Contact ALOHA Support
Contact ALOHA Support: Once you have confirmed your email is working again, contact the ALOHA team. We will take care of the final actions to get your new site live!
💡 Common Questions
💡 Common Questions
What You Might Notice | Why It's Happening | What to Do |
I suddenly stopped receiving emails right after ALOHA launched my site. | Your new email records (MX/TXT) were not correctly installed or fully propagated with your new email provider before ALOHA updated the A Record for your website. | Log in to your DNS Host (your Registrar) and quickly confirm the MX and TXT records provided by your new email host are correct. Test your email again, and wait up to 24 hours if needed. |
My website isn't showing up yet, or sometimes I see the old site. | The change takes time to spread across the global internet after ALOHA makes the switch. This is called propagation. | Be patient! It can take 24-48 hours for the change to reach everyone after ALOHA confirms the launch. Check again the next morning. |
You'll Know It's Working When:
You'll Know It's Working When:
Your previous provider confirms they have transferred control to your Domain Registrar.
You have successfully sent and received new emails using your business email address.
The ALOHA team confirms your new website is live!
💬 Need Help? We're Here!
💬 Need Help? We're Here!
If you get stuck or need assistance, our support team is ready to help.
Phone: 800-563-0469
Email: support@getaloha.com