Alibaba Cloud Domain Name Registration Guide: A Step-by-Step Process Covering Account Setup, Identity Verification, Purchase, and DNS Configuration

First, the conclusion:When purchasing a domain name for website development on Alibaba Cloud, the key is not the “payment” step, but rather completing the following steps in order: setting up account security, verifying the domain owner’s identity using the information template, searching for and registering the domain, configuring DNS records, and setting up the server, website, and HTTPS. When deploying a website on a server in mainland China, you’ll typically also need to complete ICP filing before making the site publicly accessible. The following Alibaba Cloud Domain Name Registration TutorialOrganized according to the actual website-building process; beginners can simply follow along to check each step.

What should you prepare before you start?

• An Alibaba Cloud account capable of receiving text messages and emails; we recommend enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) as well.
• The actual personal information of the domain name holder. The required documents differ between individuals and businesses, and the name must match the documents exactly.
• Prepare 2–3 alternative domain names to avoid the situation where your first choice is already registered or infringes on someone else’s trademark.
• The public IP address of the server used for website hosting, or the CNAME address provided by the hosting platform.
• Decide on the server location in advance: The ICP filing requirements differ between Mainland China, Hong Kong, China, and overseas locations.

Choosing a Web Hosting Server

Once the domain name is ready, the next step is to select Alibaba Cloud ECS

If you don’t have a server yet, you can start by reviewing the regions, configurations, and billing options for Alibaba Cloud ECS; new users who qualify for the promotion can also compare the 99-yuan plan. You don’t need to purchase a domain name and a server at the same time, but be sure to confirm the server region first, as it will directly affect the subsequent ICP filing process.

View Alibaba Cloud ECS Configurations and PricingView the 99-yuan ECS promotion

Promotion Details:The links above are from the Alibaba Cloud Partner Program. Purchases made through these links may generate a commission for this site, but will not increase the price of your order; please determine whether a purchase is appropriate based on your actual needs and the promotion rules.

Step 1: Register for an Alibaba Cloud account and configure security settings

Go to the Alibaba Cloud website to register an account and complete verification via your mobile phone and email. Since domain names are long-term digital assets, we do not recommend relying solely on a single password: After registration, go to your account security settings, enable MFA, and ensure that your recovery email and mobile phone number will remain valid for the long term.

Account real-name verification and domain name real-name verification are two related but distinct processes. The former verifies the owner of the Alibaba Cloud account, while the latter verifies the domain name holder. During the subsequent ICP filing process, the domain name holder’s information will be cross-checked against the filing entity’s information; therefore, do not use temporary documents or borrow someone else’s identity.

Step 2: Create a domain name holder information template and complete real-name verification

Log in to the Alibaba Cloud Domain Name Console and create a template on the Information Templates or Domain Name Holder Management page. Select “Individual” or “Organization” based on your actual situation, enter your name or organization name, ID type, ID number, mailing address, email address, and mobile phone number, and submit the required identification documents as instructed on the page.

According to Alibaba Cloud’s current official guidelines, you must use an information template with completed real-name verification when registering a domain name. The review time may be affected by the clarity of the documents and the registrar’s processing speed; therefore, we recommend creating the template before selecting a domain name. Common reasons for failure include:

• The name, organization name, and text on the identification document do not match;
• The ID photo is blurry, cropped incompletely, or has expired;
• The company name is listed using an abbreviation, or the Unified Social Credit Code is entered incorrectly;
• The email address has not been verified, preventing you from receiving important notifications.

Step 3: Check Domain Availability and Evaluate Long-Term Costs

On the domain registration page, enter the desired name and extension. The message “Available for registration” simply means you can place an order at this time; it does not guarantee that there are no risks related to brand, trademark, or content compliance. When registering a domain for long-term branding, we recommend simultaneously checking for existing trademarks and social media usernames. Try to choose a name that is easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and free of ambiguity caused by hyphens.

When it comes to pricing, don’t just look at the first-year discount. Prices vary depending on the domain extension, registration term, promotions, and premium domains, so be sure to double-check on the checkout page.Subscription Price, Renewal Price for the Following Year, Redemption Price, and Transfer-In Price. Premium domain names may cost significantly more than standard domain names; the final price is subject to the order page.

Step 4: Select the correct template and complete your purchase

After adding the domain to the list, select the registrant template for a registrant who has already completed real-name verification, confirm the registration term, DNS service, and auto-renewal options, and then submit the order. Once payment is successful, go to “Domain List” to check the domain’s status, expiration date, registrant email address, and real-name verification status.

If a domain name is used for a business project, it is best for the registrant to be the same as the actual rights holder. Transferring ownership from an individual to a company at a later date may trigger a re-verification of identity and could affect record filing or transfer arrangements. Whether to enable automatic renewal depends on your management preferences, but be sure to set up a separate expiration reminder to avoid losing the domain name due to a failed payment.

Step 5: Add DNS records in Alibaba Cloud

Go to the domain list and open the “Resolution” or “Cloud DNS” page for the target domain. The role of DNS is to translate the domain name entered by visitors into a server address. Common website configurations are as follows:

• Root domain:Enter the host record @, The A record points to the server's public IPv4 address.
• www subdomain:You can use a CNAME record to point to the root domain or an address specified by the hosting platform; you can also configure A records according to your actual architecture.
• IPv6:Add an AAAA record only if the server, firewall, and website all properly support IPv6; incorrect configuration may prevent some visitors from accessing the website.
• Email and Verification:Records such as MX, TXT, DKIM, and DMARC may be related to corporate email and domain verification,Do not delete all old records just to “re-parse” them.。

TTL refers to the time-to-live of a recursive DNS cache entry. Even if the AliCloud console indicates that a record has been successfully modified, this does not mean that the global network will refresh immediately; the old cache may remain valid until the TTL expires. You can use nslookup example.com 或 dig example.com Check the actual return results.

Step 6: Configure the Server Site and HTTPS

DNS propagation only determines “where the domain name points to”; it does not automatically generate a website. You’ll also need to add a site binding in Baota Panel, Nginx, Apache, a WordPress hosting platform, or another service; verify that ports 80 and 443, the firewall settings, and the site’s root directory are correct; and then apply for and deploy an SSL certificate.

If the server responds normally but the browser displays a certificate error, it is usually because the certificate does not cover the root domain and www, or the site is bound to the wrong virtual host. We recommend testing both the HTTP-to-HTTPS redirect and the canonical URLs for the root domain and the "www" domain.

Readers who are building websites using a VPS can also refer to this site’sTutorial on Enabling BBR Acceleration on a VPS; however, BBR only optimizes the transmission link and cannot replace DNS, server configuration, or a CDN.

Do I need ICP filing to purchase a domain name?

Purchasing a domain name does not, in and of itself, constitute ICP registration.Whether ICP filing is required depends primarily on the geographic location of the server hosting the website. According to Alibaba Cloud’s official guidelines: When a website is hosted on a server in mainland China and provides web services to the public, ICP filing must be completed with the server’s internet service provider; if the website is hosted on a server in Hong Kong, China, or overseas, ICP filing with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is generally not required.

It is important to note that ICP filing, public security network filing, and domain name real-name verification are separate processes. Using overseas nodes does not mean you can disregard applicable laws, content regulations, or service provider rules; when using CDN, acceleration, or other products in mainland China, there may also be additional access requirements.

Domain Security and Renewal: 7 Things to Do Immediately After Purchase

1. Enable MFA for your Alibaba Cloud account and save your recovery options.
2. Verify that the domain owner’s email address can receive messages properly, and avoid creating a single point of failure by using an email address within the same domain as the website.
3. Enable the transfer lock, and disable it temporarily only when a transfer is absolutely necessary.
4. Set up automatic renewal and at least two separate expiration reminders.
5. Export or log the existing DNS zone configuration to create a rollback plan before making any changes.
6. Enable DNSSEC as needed; before enabling it, verify that both your registrar and DNS provider support it, and make sure you understand the key update process.
7. Regularly review A, AAAA, and CNAME records that are no longer in use to reduce the risk of subdomain hijacking.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

The DNS record has been added, so why can't I access the website?

Check, in the following order, whether the DNS returns the expected IP address, whether the server port is open, whether the site is bound to that domain name, whether the ICP filing status meets the access requirements, and whether the SSL certificate is correct. Do not rely solely on the “Added” status in the console.

Do I need to add both the root domain and "www"?

It's not mandatory, but most brands support both versions and use a 301 redirect to consolidate them into a single canonical URL. This makes it easier for users to remember and prevents search engines from treating the two URLs as duplicate pages.

Will WHOIS make all my personal information public?

Currently, most registries and registrars hide or anonymize certain personal fields in public WHOIS/RDAP records; however, this does not mean that registrars, registries, and entities legally authorized to access this information are completely unable to view them. You should still submit accurate information during registration and follow the current policies of the control panel and the relevant registry.

Can I transfer a domain name out of Alibaba Cloud after purchasing it?

Yes, but certain conditions must be met, such as the domain name being in good standing, the registrant’s email address being valid, and real-name verification having been completed. According to Alibaba Cloud’s current rules, the domain must have been registered or transferred in for at least 60 days, and more than 60 days must have passed since the last successful registrar transfer; for domains that have just been renewed or redeemed, the 45-day rule also applies. Before transferring, you should back up your DNS settings and confirm whether you will also be switching DNS service providers.

How long does it take for the changes to take effect?

New records can usually be queried fairly quickly, but there may be a time lag in global cache refreshes due to TTL, ISP recursive DNS, and local caching. The propagation time for changing DNS servers is typically longer; for critical migrations, you should reduce the TTL in advance and plan for a parallel transition.

Conclusion: The correct order is more important than “quick purchases.”

The complete Alibaba Cloud domain registration process should be as follows: secure your account, create and verify a registrant template, evaluate the domain name and long-term costs, purchase the domain, configure DNS, deploy the website and HTTPS, and then complete ICP filing based on the server’s geographic location. Breaking down these steps and reviewing them individually is more reliable than mechanically clicking through the process based on outdated screenshots.

This article does not provide fixed promotional prices or promises of unofficial discounts. Console access, pricing, and registry policies are subject to change; we recommend double-checking before proceeding.Alibaba Cloud Domain Name Registration Quick Start Guide、Alibaba Cloud Domain Name Transfer Rules和Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing Requirements。