www or non-www: which to use?

1. What the two addresses are

They're two different web addresses for one site: www.yourwebsite.com (with www) and yourwebsite.com (without, sometimes called the "naked" or "bare" domain). A site can answer at both, at only one, or at neither if it's set up wrong.

• Google says that when one page can be reached at several addresses (its example lists a www address and another subdomain), you should pick one as the preferred (canonical) address, and use redirects to send traffic from the others to it.
• Google doesn't say one form is better. Pick the one you want people to see, and keep to it.

2. Test yours

You want both addresses to work, and to end up at the same single address with the padlock.

1. Open a private window. Type your address with www, then without.
2. Look at the address bar after each page loads. They should end at the same address.
3. Follow each one in the Redirect checker. Try http://yourwebsite.com and http://www.yourwebsite.com. It shows every hop.

Good

One short hop (a 301, "moved for good") to your chosen address, then the page loads.

One doesn't work

One of the two doesn't load, or shows a different site, or a padlock warning. See how to connect your domain.

Needs a look

Two or more hops before the final page. Google says Googlebot can follow up to 10 hops, but advises sending people straight to the final address.

Broken

It loops and never loads. See "Redirected you too many times".

3. Which one to pick

Google doesn't prefer either, so the choice is yours. Think about three things:

• What you already use. If your cards, signs and Google listing say yourwebsite.com, keep that.
• What your builder does by default. Fighting the default makes more work. Squarespace, for example, links the two and by default sends the plain domain to www.
• Keep it the same everywhere. Use one form in links, email signatures and your Google Business listing.

4. Change it on Squarespace

Squarespace says its default links "www" and the plain domain, and the plain one is sent to www.

1. Open the Domains panel.
2. To show the plain domain, switch the Use "www" prefix toggle off.

Squarespace says this takes 24 to 48 hours, and only works for domains pointing at a Squarespace site. Its other connected domains are sent to the primary one with a 301. To choose which domain is primary, open Domains, use the ... menu (or Actions for a third-party domain) and select Set as primary domain.

5. Change it on Wix

Wix has a primary domain, and its other connected domains redirect to it.

1. Go to Domains in your Wix account.
2. Next to the redirected domain you want as primary, select Set as Primary.
3. Select Set as Primary Domain to confirm.

Wix says to allow 24 hours; for the first day the site loads at both. If it shows an error, check both domains are connected to Wix. That article doesn't cover the www form on its own, so ask Wix support if only the www address fails.

6. Change it on Shopify

Shopify lets you choose the primary domain, the one customers see while browsing, and says your other domains can be redirected to it.

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Settings, then Domains. The address you want must show Connected.
2. Select that domain. In the Type row, select Change.
3. In the Change domain type window, choose the primary domain option, then select Change domain type to save.

Shopify says the old primary domain then becomes a redirect domain, and visitors are sent to the new one. If your screen looks different, Shopify's help page "Change your primary domain" has the current steps.

7. Change it on WordPress

WordPress keeps the address in two boxes. They should match.

1. Go to Settings, then General.
2. Set WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to the same form, both with www (https://www.yourwebsite.com) or both without. Include https:// and leave off the slash at the end.
3. Select Save Changes.

• Can't change it? WordPress says that if the address is set in the wp-config.php file (WP_SITEURL and WP_HOME), that value shows in the box and you can't edit it there. Your web person or host must change the file.
• Locked out after saving? WordPress says a wrong address can stop the site working and leave no easy way back in, and fixing it can need file access (FTP) or an edit to wp-config.php. Take a backup first and ask your web person if unsure.
• When the address changes, WordPress suggests adding redirect instructions in the .htaccess file, which your host or web person sets up.

8. What it does for Google

• Google says a permanent redirect is a strong signal that the target should be the canonical address, and that all permanent redirect methods have the same effect.
• Google's old "preferred domain" setting in Search Console was removed in 2019, and Google says any setting you made there is ignored. You can still show your preference with redirects, a canonical tag or your sitemap.
• Not sure Google can see your site at all? See Why isn't my website showing up on Google?

9. Still not working?

• One form shows an error or a padlock warning. Its address probably isn't set up with your domain. See connect your domain to your website and "Not secure".
• You changed it and it looks the same. Allow the time your builder gave, then refresh the page properly.
• A loop or a long chain. Two settings are probably fighting, for example the builder and a plugin or a host rule. Send the Redirect checker's result to your web person.

PageKiwi's checks sometimes miss a problem or flag something that is fine. If one looks wrong, tell us.