Last updated: 22 October 2026 · By Maurice, freeehouse team · About 3 minutes to read
Three things that often get mixed up
Domain, website and email are three separate services. They can sit with the same provider or with three different ones.
- The domain is your address, for example yourbusiness.com. It is registered with a provider.
- The website sits on a server. The domain points there through a DNS record.
- Email runs through a mail server. The domain points there too, through its own records.
The important DNS records
DNS is the internet's address book. For the switch you need four terms.
| Record | What for | When switching websites |
|---|---|---|
| A record | points the domain to the IP address of the website server | is changed |
| CNAME | points www, for example, to another name | is usually changed |
| MX record | says which server accepts your emails | stays unchanged |
| TXT record | checks such as SPF for sending mail, or verifications for Google | stays unchanged |
Changing records or switching nameservers
There are two ways to connect a domain to a new website. Wix describes both in its help: pointing via A record and CNAME, or switching the nameservers.
With the A record and CNAME route, management of the domain stays with your current provider. You change only the records for the website. The MX records for your email stay as they are.
When you switch nameservers, the new provider takes over the whole address book. Then all email records have to be created there again. If one is missing, no mail arrives. According to its help, Wix takes over existing MX records automatically, but don't rely on that with other providers.
Mailboxes tied to the package
The biggest risk sits in the contract. Many packages include a domain and mailboxes. With IONOS, for example, the homepage builder includes one email mailbox according to its plan page.
According to STRATO, cancelling a package also cancels all the add-on products and domains included. According to Jimdo's help, email accounts do not move along when a domain is moved. IONOS advises listing all mailboxes, accounts and forwards before cancelling.
Step by step
This is how to proceed if domain and email are to stay where they are.
- Find out who the domain is registered with. It is in your contracts or on the invoice.
- Find out where the mailboxes run. The MX records in your provider's DNS area show it.
- Take a screenshot of all DNS records before you change anything.
- Change only the A record and CNAME for the website.
- After switching, send and receive a test email.
- Only then cancel the old website contract, and only the website service, not the domain or mailboxes.
- Check the cancellation confirmation: which services are affected?
How long the switch takes
Changes in DNS are not visible everywhere at once. Wix says up to 48 hours until a domain connection is complete. So don't plan the switch right before an important date.
Every DNS record has a validity period, the TTL. If your provider allows it, you can lower it one to two days before the switch. Then the change takes effect faster.
During this time some visitors still see the old site, others already the new one. That is why the old site should stay online until the switch is finished.
If the domain should move after all
To move the domain itself you need a code from your current provider. Jimdo calls it an AuthCode and provides it in the domain settings. Such a move is usually not necessary in order to switch websites.
At freeehouse, domain and email stay with your current provider by default. Only the record that points to the new website is changed.
If you are unsure where your mailboxes run, you can have that checked free of charge at freeehouse before you cancel anything.
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Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my emails if I switch websites?
No, as long as the MX records stay unchanged and the package with the mailboxes is not cancelled.
What is safer: changing the A record or switching nameservers?
To keep email working, changing the A record and CNAME is simpler, because all other records stay with your current provider.
Do I cancel the domain along with the package?
With STRATO yes: according to STRATO, cancelling the package also cancels the included domains. With Wix, according to Wix, cancelling the package does not cancel a domain bought through Wix. Check with your provider.
How long does the switch take?
Usually a few hours, longer in individual cases. Wix says up to 48 hours.
What do I do before every change?
Take a screenshot or export of all DNS records. With that you can undo any mistake.
Sources
- Wix Hilfe: Domain-Verbindungsmethoden Weiterleitung vs. Nameserver, accessed 22 October 2026
- IONOS: Homepage-Baukasten, Tarife, accessed 22 October 2026
- IONOS Hilfe: Gesamten IONOS Vertrag kündigen, accessed 22 October 2026
- STRATO FAQ: Wie kann ich kündigen?, accessed 22 October 2026
- Jimdo Help: How do I transfer my domain to another host, accessed 22 October 2026
- Wix Hilfe: Ein Premiumpaket von Wix kündigen, accessed 22 October 2026
Providers' prices and terms change often. What counts is what's in your customer account and your contract. Not legal advice.
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