How to Fix “Domain Already Exists on Another Account” Error Print

When adding a domain to your hosting account, you may see the error “Domain already exists on another account”. This happens when the domain is still attached to another hosting profile, reseller account, cPanel account, or an old account that was not fully removed.

This article explains why this error appears and how to fix it quickly.

Causes of This Error

This error occurs when the domain is still linked somewhere inside the server. Common causes include:

• The domain is added as an Addon Domain on another cPanel account.
• The domain is set as a parked/alias domain elsewhere.
• The domain exists as a subdomain under another account.
• The domain was deleted previously but not fully removed from server records.
• A reseller assigned the domain to a different user.
• DNS or system cache still holds the domain as “in use”.

How to Fix the “Domain Already Exists on Another Account” Error

1. Confirm the Domain Isn’t in Use on Another cPanel Account

If you have multiple accounts with the same hosting provider:

• Log in to the other accounts.
• Check Addon Domains, Subdomains, and Aliases.
• Remove the domain if it’s still listed.

Once removed, try adding it again to the new account.

2. Check if the Domain Still Exists as a Subdomain

Sometimes the domain may be stored automatically as a subdomain under another account.

To fix this:

1. Log in to the old account.
2. Go to Subdomains.
3. Search for any subdomain using the domain name.
4. Remove it.

This clears it from the server so it can be added to your new account.

3. Remove the Domain from Addon or Alias Settings

Go to:

• cPanel → Addon Domains
• cPanel → Aliases

Look for the domain and remove it from both sections if found. Even if the domain was removed before, re-checking confirms no leftover entries remain.

4. Ask Your Hosting Provider to Check Server-Level Records

If you don't have access to the old account or the domain was once hosted elsewhere, contact support.

They will:

• Search for the domain in the server’s DNS configuration.
• Remove it from Apache/Nginx configuration.
• Delete leftover entries from the server.
• Re-sync the domain records.

On shared hosting, only the hosting provider can perform this.

5. Clear DNS and System Propagation Delays

If the domain was recently removed:

• DNS may still show it linked to the old hosting.
• The system may take a few minutes to update.

Wait 5–30 minutes and try again.

How to Prevent This Issue

• Remove domains completely before switching hosting accounts.
• Avoid adding the same domain across multiple accounts.
• If migrating, ask support to clear all old domain bindings.
• Keep track of which cPanel account manages each domain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: I don’t have access to the old account, what should I do?
Contact your hosting provider. They can remove the domain manually from the server.

Q: Does this error mean my domain belongs to someone else?
Not necessarily. It simply means the domain exists inside the hosting system, even if the account is inactive.

Q: How long does it take to fix?
If the domain is cleared from the server, it can be added immediately.

Q: Can this error happen after transferring my domain?
Yes. Even if the domain was transferred to a new registrar, hosting system records might still hold old entries.

If you need help fixing the “Domain Already Exists on Another Account” error, kindly reach out to our support team.