Why Remove a Domain from cPanel?

There are several reasons you may want to remove a domain from your cPanel account:

• You no longer need the domain.
• You’re switching to another hosting provider.
• You want to free up space and improve management.
• The domain is no longer active or relevant to your website.

Important Note: Removing a domain from cPanel does not cancel its registration. If you no longer want to own the domain, you must cancel it through your domain registrar.

Steps to Remove a Domain Name from cPanel

Step 1: Log in to Your cPanel Account

1. Open your web browser.
2. Go to your cPanel login page: https://yourdomain.com/cpanel or https://yourdomain.com:2083.
3. Enter your username and password, then click Log in.

Step 2: Access the Domains Section

1. Once logged in, scroll down to the Domains section.
2. Identify the type of domain you want to remove:

• Addon Domains – Domains added separately under your main hosting account.
• Aliases (Parked Domains) – Domains that redirect to your main domain.
• Subdomains – A subdivision of your primary domain (e.g., blog.yourdomain.com).

Step 3: Remove the Domain

For Addon Domains:

1. Click on Addon Domains under the Domains section.
2. Locate the domain you want to remove.
3. Click the Remove or Delete option next to the domain.
4. A confirmation message will appear. Click Remove to confirm.

For Parked Domains (Aliases):

1. Click on Aliases under the Domains section.
2. Locate the domain you want to remove.
3. Click Remove or Delete next to the domain.
4. Confirm the removal when prompted.

For Subdomains:

1. Click on Subdomains under the Domains section.
2. Locate the subdomain you want to delete.
3. Click Remove or Delete next to the subdomain.
4. Confirm the deletion.

Step 4: Delete Associated Domain Files (Optional)

If you no longer need the files linked to the removed domain, you can delete them from File Manager.

1. Return to the cPanel main page.
2. Scroll down to the Files section and click on File Manager.
3. Navigate to the folder where the domain’s files are stored, typically:

•   public_html/addondomain.com
•   public_html/subdomain

1. Select the folder and click Delete.
2. Confirm deletion. You can choose Skip Trash if you want to permanently remove the files.

Step 5: Verify the Domain Removal

After removal:

1. Go back to the Domains section in cPanel.
2. Ensure the domain no longer appears in the list.
3. Try accessing the domain in a web browser—it should no longer resolve to your hosting account.

Important Considerations Before Removing a Domain

1. Email Accounts Linked to the Domain Will Be Deleted

• If you have email accounts under the domain (e.g., info@yourdomain.com), they will also be removed.
• Backup important emails before proceeding.

2. Domain Registration is NOT Canceled

• Removing a domain from cPanel does not cancel your ownership of the domain.
• If you no longer want the domain, contact your registrar to cancel or let it expire.

3. Back Up Website Data Before Deleting Files

• If the domain contains important data, back it up before deletion.
• You can use cPanel > Backup Wizard to download a full backup.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

1. Unable to Remove an Addon Domain?

• Ensure that no subdomains or email accounts are linked to it.
• Delete any associated email accounts or FTP accounts first.
• Contact your hosting provider if the option to remove is unavailable.

2. The Domain Still Resolves to My Hosting?

• The DNS cache may take time to update. Wait a few hours or clear your browser cache.
• If using Cloudflare or external DNS, update the DNS settings accordingly.

3. How to Remove a Primary Domain from cPanel?

• Primary domains cannot be removed directly from cPanel.
• To change the primary domain, contact your hosting provider’s support.

SEO Impact of Removing a Domain

If your domain had indexed pages in search engines, removing it can have consequences:

• Broken Links: If the domain was live, visitors may see 404 errors.
• Redirect if Necessary: If you’re moving content, set up 301 redirects to another domain.
• Deindex Unused Domains: Use Google Search Console to remove URLs from search results.

Conclusion

Removing a domain from cPanel is a simple but important task in managing your hosting account. Whether you’re cleaning up old domains, switching hosting providers, or discontinuing a project, following the steps in this guide ensures a smooth removal process.

Key Takeaways:

• Use Addon Domains, Aliases, or Subdomains sections to remove a domain.
• Delete associated files via File Manager if needed.
• Verify the removal in cPanel > Domains.
• Backup emails and website data before deleting a domain.

By taking these precautions, you can manage your hosting efficiently and avoid any data loss or service interruptions.