What is domain forwarding?

Domain forwarding, also known as domain redirection or URL forwarding, is a service that automatically sends visitors from one domain name to another. Essentially, when someone types in your domain name, they are redirected to a different website.

How does domain forwarding work?

Domain forwarding works by redirecting traffic from one domain to another. To set it up, log into your domain registrar’s control panel and select the domain you want to forward. For example, if you want visitors typing yoursite2.com to go to yoursite1.com, you will select yoursite2.com and enter the destination URL. Once the forwarding is activated, anyone visiting yoursite2.com will automatically be redirected to yoursite1.com.

What are the benefits of domain forwarding?

Domain forwarding offers several advantages: It prevents competitors from using similar domain names. It captures traffic from different domain variations. It consolidates multiple domains into one site. It can help transfer SEO value to your main website if implemented using a 301 redirect, which tells search engines that the move is permanent. It seamlessly redirects visitors to your main site.

Should I forward my domain?

You should consider forwarding your domain if: You’re transitioning to a new domain and want to redirect traffic from the old one. You want to consolidate multiple domains to a single website. You’re running promotions and need to point to a specific landing page. You own common misspellings of your domain and want to redirect them to the main site. You want to link directly to your social media accounts or external pages.

What are the different types of domain forwarding?

The two most common types of redirects are 301 (permanent) and 302 (temporary). A 301 redirect signals to search engines that the website has moved permanently. It’s often used when you’ve changed your domain name or permanently moved your content. This type of redirect passes most of the original site’s SEO value to the new domain. Meanwhile, a 302 redirect indicates that the move is temporary, and the original URL will be used again later. Since the move isn’t permanent, search engines won’t transfer SEO value as they would with a 301 redirect.

What is the best redirect for a domain?

A 301 redirect is typically the best and safest choice, especially if you’re permanently moving your website or consolidating multiple domains to one. It helps transfer SEO value, meaning the search engine rankings and traffic of the old domain are passed on to the new site.

Can I forward multiple domains to a single website?

Yes, you can forward multiple domains (including different TLDs or variations) to a single website. Forwarding multiple domain names to a single destination, or merging domains, actually consolidates your online presence and also simplifies domain portfolio management.

Can I forward a domain to an HTTPS website?

Yes, you can forward a domain to an HTTPS website. Domain forwarding works with both HTTP and HTTPS destinations, but for secure redirection, it’s important that the destination website has a valid SSL certificate.

Does domain forwarding affect SEO?

Yes, domain forwarding can affect your SEO—positively or negatively—depending on how it’s implemented. If domain forwarding is set up using a 301 redirect, search engines like Google understand that your domain has moved permanently. This allows them to transfer most of the SEO value (such as backlinks, authority, and rankings) from the old domain to the new one to help preserve your site’s visibility in search results. On the other hand, if the domain forwarding uses a 302 redirect or is configured incorrectly (e.g., causing redirect loops or not forwarding to the correct canonical version), it can confuse search engines and hurt your rankings.

What is the difference between domain forwarding and domain pointing?

Domain forwarding automatically sends visitors from one site to another. Conversely, domain pointing refers to the process of updating the domain’s Domain Name System (DNS) records to direct it to the server where a website is hosted. Domain pointing, however, doesn’t send traffic to a specific URL. It simply makes sure that your domain displays the correct website.

Domain forwarding

Put every domain you own to work

Use domain forwarding to send visitors from your other domains where you want them to go.  

Redirect alternate, old, or misspelled domains
Put your domains to work without building more websites
Choose secure forwarding when visitor trust matters

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Make more of the domains you own

Domain forwarding gives the domains in your portfolio a job to do, from capturing missed traffic to connecting visitors with your main online presence.

Simple

Choose the domain you want to forward and where you want visitors to go. We handle the redirect.

Effective

Turn alternate domains into additional paths to your main website, landing page, or other online destination.

Affordable

Put multiple domains to work without the cost or effort of building and maintaining a separate website for each one.

Ad-free

Send visitors where you want them to go without Network Solutions placing pop-up ads in their way.

Smart

Forward common misspellings, alternate extensions, or related domains back to your primary online presence.

Versatile

Redirect old domains, alternate web addresses, campaign domains, and more to the destination that makes sense for your business.

Choose how you want to forward your domains

Both plans automatically send visitors from one domain to another. Choose how your customers experience domain forwarding.

Web Forwarding

For simple, everyday redirects

$XX.XX/mo*

Add to cart

Automatically send visitors from alternate or secondary domains to another destination.

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Send typo domains to your main website
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Redirect alternate domains and extensions
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Point internal or temporary domains where they need to go
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Uses standard HTTP without an encrypted forwarding connection

Recommended

Secure Web Forwarding

For customer-facing redirects where trust matters

$XX.XX/mo*

Add to cart

Give visitors a smoother, more secure redirect with an encrypted HTTPS connection.

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Send alternate domains to customer-facing pages securely
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Avoid certificate errors and browser warning screens
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Encrypt the forwarding connection with HTTPS
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Meet modern browser security expectations
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Support a secure, search-friendly online presence

*See offer details for more information

Don't let the redirect get in the way

You forward a domain because you want visitors to reach the right destination. But if a standard forwarding domain is accessed over HTTPS, a browser warning can interrupt them before they get there.

Secure Web Forwarding protects the forwarding connection with HTTPS, helping visitors move smoothly from the domain they entered to the page you want them to see.

Keep visitors moving

Send visitors to their destination without certificate errors or browser warning screens interrupting the redirect.

Protect the connection

Encrypt the connection between your visitor's browser and the forwarding service with HTTPS.

Build trust into the journey

Give customers the secure web experience they expect when you're sending them to stores, login pages, and other important destinations.

Another way for customers to find you starts with a domain

Don't have another domain to forward yet? Find an alternate extension, brand variation, or other domain you can connect to your online presence.

More ways to protect and grow your online presence

Your domains help customers find your business. Give them the protection and tools they need to keep working for you.

Domain Expiration Protection

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Domain Privacy + Protection

Keep your domain safe if something unexpected happens and you’re unable to renew.
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AI Domain Name Generator

Generate unique domain names for your business using the power of AI.
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Why Network Solutions?

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Frequently asked questions

Domain forwarding, also called web forwarding, automatically sends visitors from one domain to another online destination.

For example, if you own an alternate extension, an old domain, or a common misspelling of your primary domain, you can forward it to your main website instead of building and maintaining another site.

You choose the domain you want to forward and enter the website or page where you want visitors to go. Once forwarding is active, someone visiting that domain is automatically redirected to your chosen destination.

This gives multiple domains a useful role in your online presence while letting you manage one primary website.

Domain forwarding helps you get more value from the domains you own. You can use it to:

Capture visitors using alternate or misspelled domain names
Send old domains to your current website
Connect multiple domains to one online destination
Direct campaign or promotional domains to specific pages
Protect related domain names while still putting them to use

Consider domain forwarding when you own a domain that doesn't need its own website but can still help people reach your business.

For example, you could forward an old domain after a rebrand, redirect a common misspelling to your primary website, point another domain extension to the same site, or send a campaign domain directly to a landing page.

Both products automatically send visitors from one domain to another. The main difference is how the connection is handled during that redirect.

Web Forwarding uses standard HTTP and is designed for simple redirects such as internal placeholders and typo domains.

Secure Web Forwarding uses HTTPS to encrypt the forwarding connection and helps prevent certificate errors and browser warning screens. It's better suited to customer-facing redirects where a smooth, trusted experience matters.

Secure Web Forwarding is designed for domains your customers or other visitors may use to reach important destinations.

Choose it when you're forwarding visitors to an online store, login page, customer-facing website, or anywhere else where trust matters, and you want the forwarding connection protected with HTTPS.

Yes. You can forward a domain to an HTTPS destination.

Secure Web Forwarding also uses HTTPS for the forwarding connection itself. That means visitors can securely access the forwarding domain before they're redirected to the destination.

Yes, domain forwarding can affect SEO. Search engines use redirects to understand when one URL points or moves to another, and permanent and temporary redirects can be treated differently.

When SEO matters, consider the type of redirect you're using, whether the move is permanent or temporary, and the destination you're forwarding visitors to.

Yes. Multiple domains can point to the same website or online destination.

For example, your primary website might be yourbusiness.com, while alternate extensions, common misspellings, and an older business domain all forward visitors to it. This lets you maintain one main website while putting the rest of your domain portfolio to work.