# How to Release a Domain From Another Hosting Account

**URL:** https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/how-to-release-a-domain-from-another-hosting-account/120677
**Category:** Domains and DNS
**Created:** [September 15, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/how-to-release-a-domain-from-another-hosting-account/120677 "2026-09-15T21:08:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Admin](https://forum.infinityfree.com/user_avatar/forum.infinityfree.com/admin/32/36437_2.png) [@Admin](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Admin)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/how-to-release-a-domain-from-another-hosting-account/120677/1 "2026-09-15T21:08:26Z")

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A domain name can only be used on one hosting account at a time. If you try to add your domain and it’s already in use on somebody else’s account, you can remove it from that account yourself by releasing it.

To release a domain, you need to prove that you control it by making a change to its DNS settings. Once we can see that change, you can release the domain and add it to your own account.

### Requirements

You can only release a domain if:

- It’s a custom domain. Free subdomains, like `example.infinityfreeapp.com`, can’t be released, as there is no way to prove ownership of the domain.
- It’s used on an active hosting account. Domains on suspended or deactivated accounts can’t be released.
- It’s used on InfinityFree. Some other hosting providers use the same hosting platform as we do, but domains used with them can’t be released here. You’ll need to reach out to the relevant hosting provider to get the domain released.
- You can change the domain’s nameservers at your registrar, or its DNS records wherever they are managed.

### Step 1: Start a Release Request

1. Go to [dash.infinityfree.com/claim-domain](https://dash.infinityfree.com/claim-domain) and log in to the client area if you haven’t already.
2. Enter the domain name you want to release (like `example.com`) and click **Continue**.

If the domain can be released, we’ll create a request and show you which change to make.

### Step 2: Make the DNS Change

Your request page shows which of the following changes you need to make.

#### Changing Your Nameservers

You’ll be asked to change your nameservers if the domain uses our nameservers, or has no nameservers at all.

1. Log in at your domain registrar.
2. Change the domain’s nameservers to exactly the ones shown on your request page. If the domain has any nameservers that aren’t listed, remove them.

Nameserver requests expire after 48 hours.

> **Note:** If the domain has no nameservers at all, it has usually expired or been put on hold by your registrar. You’ll need to resolve that with your registrar first, because any nameservers you set won’t become visible until you do.

#### Adding a CNAME Record

You’ll be asked to add a CNAME record if the domain uses nameservers from another provider.

1. Log in wherever the domain’s DNS is managed. This is usually your domain registrar or DNS provider.
2. Add a CNAME record with the following values:

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Type | CNAME |
| Name | `_infinityfree-verification.example.com` |
| Target | The target shown on your request page |

Some DNS providers only want the part before your domain name in the Name field. If so, enter `_infinityfree-verification`.

CNAME requests expire after 7 days.

### Step 3: Release the Domain

1. Go back to your request page and click **Check now**. You can find your open requests at [dash.infinityfree.com/claim-domain](https://dash.infinityfree.com/claim-domain).
2. Once we’ve found your change, click **Release domain**.

DNS changes can take a few hours to become visible. If we can’t find your change yet, wait a while and check again.

After releasing the domain, it’s removed from the other hosting account, and the owner of that account is notified by email.

### Step 4: Add the Domain to Your Account

Releasing a domain only removes it from the other account. It does **not** add it to yours. Once it’s released, anyone can add the domain, so make sure to add it to your own hosting account as usual right away.

### Common Problems

**We can’t find your DNS change.** DNS changes can take a few hours to become visible, so it may just need more time. It’s also worth checking that your change was saved correctly. For CNAME records, make sure the target matches your request page exactly. For nameservers, make sure you’ve set exactly the nameservers listed on the request page, with no extra ones.

**Somebody else is already releasing the domain.** Only one release request can be open for a domain at a time. You’ll need to wait until their request is completed or expires, which takes up to 48 hours or 7 days depending on the method.

**You already have 5 open release requests.** You can have up to 5 open requests at a time, and requests can’t be cancelled. Once one of them is completed or expires, you can start a new one.

**Your request expired.** Just start a new request. If you’re asked to add a CNAME record, you’ll get a new target, so make sure to update your record.

> **Note:** Releasing domains is a new feature. If you run into a problem that isn’t covered here, please ask for help on the [forum](https://forum.infinityfree.com).