How do I change my domain name without losing SEO?

Redirect every old URL to its matching new URL with a 301 redirect, keep the site structure and content the same during the move, tell Google through the Change of Address tool in Search Console, and keep the old domain registered. Every move carries some risk, but a careful one lets search engines carry your pages across to the new address.

Why it matters

Search engines know your site by its addresses. When the domain changes, every page has a new address, so they must learn that the old pages moved. Missing redirects, a changed structure or a blocked new site can make pages drop out of results for weeks or longer. Planning the move reduces that risk, but nobody can promise unchanged rankings.

How to do it

Choose the new domain, set up hosting and HTTPS for it, and verify both domains in Google Search Console.
Keep the site the same during the move. Avoid redesigning, renaming pages or rewriting content at the same time, so you can tell what caused any change.
Make a list of every old URL, using your sitemap, analytics and crawler, and map each one to its new equivalent. Keep the same paths where you can.
Check the new site while the old one is still live. Make sure it is not blocked by robots.txt or a noindex tag left over from a test version.
Update canonical tags, internal links, the sitemap and structured data on the new site to use the new domain.
Add 301 redirects from each old URL to the matching new URL, in a single hop:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www\.)?old-example\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://new-example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

Test a sample of old URLs with curl and confirm each returns a 301 to the correct page.
In Search Console, open the old domain's property and use the Change of Address tool, then submit the new sitemap.
Update the places you control: social profiles, business listings, email signatures, ads and links from partner sites.
Keep the redirects and the old domain registration for as long as possible, and watch the Page indexing report on both properties.

Common mistakes

Redirecting everything to the new home page.
Letting the old domain expire, which loses the redirects.
Moving the site and redesigning it in the same week.
Forgetting HTTPS on the new domain.
Leaving old-domain links in the new sitemap.

Frequently asked questions

How long until the new domain settles?

It varies by site size. Expect days to weeks for most pages and longer for large sites.

Do I need the Change of Address tool?

It helps Google understand a move between domains, but it does not replace redirects. Use both.

Can I keep the old domain after the move?

Yes, and you should keep it registered so the redirects keep working for old links.

To check your new domain after a move, Try the free website sample.