GoDaddy Domain Forwarding: 301 vs 302, Masking & Steps

By Umair Ali Sadaqat · Updated November 6, 2026 · Editorial policy

How to set up GoDaddy domain forwarding: pick 301 or 302, decide on masking, follow the steps, and avoid the DNS record conflicts that break a forward.

Short answer: In GoDaddy, open your domain's DNS settings, choose Forwarding, add the domain or subdomain, enter the destination URL, and pick a forward type. Choose Permanent (301) for a lasting move, Temporary (302) for short-term pages, and avoid masking unless you really need the old address to stay in the browser bar. Changes usually take about an hour but can take up to 48 hours (per GoDaddy's help pages, checked November 2026).

For the general concept behind this, see our guide to domain forwarding and the glossary entry on what domain forwarding is.

301 vs 302 vs masking: which should you pick?

GoDaddy offers two redirect types plus a masking option. The choice mostly depends on whether the move is permanent and whether you care about search.

Option	What visitors see	Best for	Search impact
Permanent (301)	Address bar changes to the destination	Old domain to new domain, extra domains to your main site	GoDaddy says search engines treat it as a long-term move, so rankings carry over
Temporary (302)	Address bar changes to the destination	Short-term situations, such as a "Coming Soon" page	GoDaddy warns that a 302 left in place too long could hurt search results
Forwarding with masking	Your original domain stays in the address bar	Cases where the original address must stay visible	GoDaddy says masked domains do not rank as well as 301 or 302 redirects

Rule of thumb: if you are unsure, pick 301. GoDaddy describes it as the most common setting and the default it uses when you set up forwarding. Pick 302 only if you honestly plan to remove or change the forward soon.

What masking really does

With masking, the destination loads while your domain stays in the address bar. GoDaddy's masking option also lets you add a title and description for search engines, limited to 80 and 150 characters respectively. The trade-offs:

Search engines do not index the destination, so masked domains rank less well than 301 or 302 redirects.
Some destination sites block masking, and visitors then see a blank white page. GoDaddy says this is controlled by the destination, not by GoDaddy.

If you land on the blank page, the fix is to switch to Forward only or ask the destination's host to allow masking.

How to forward a GoDaddy domain: step by step

GoDaddy's menu labels differ a little by account type and region, so treat these as the general path.

Sign in to your GoDaddy account and open the domain you want to forward.
Open the domain's DNS settings and select Forwarding.
Next to Domain or Subdomain, select Add.
Enter the full destination URL, including the page if you are not sending visitors to the homepage.
Choose the Forward type: Permanent (301) or Temporary (302).
Choose Forward only (the redirect) or Forward with masking.
Save, then test the domain in a private browser window after a few minutes.

To change a forward later, go to DNS, then Forwarding, and select Edit.

Forwarding a subdomain

For something like blog.example.com, enter the subdomain in the Subdomain field when you add the forward. GoDaddy updates the DNS for an existing subdomain or adds one if it is missing.

Pitfalls with existing DNS records

Most "GoDaddy domain forwarding not working" problems come from records that were already there.

The @ A record gets locked. GoDaddy says adding forwarding updates and locks the @ A record. If you later want to point the domain at a host by editing that A record, delete the forwarding first.
www needs to follow the root. If you want www.example.com to forward too, GoDaddy says to point the www record to @.
Old records can conflict. If the domain was already pointed at a host, a leftover A or CNAME record for the same name can send visitors somewhere unexpected. Review the DNS table before and after you add the forward.
Forwarding and a live site do not mix. A forward replaces what the root domain serves. If you want the domain to host a site, remove the forward and point the domain at your host instead.
Email records are separate. MX records are a different record type from the A record, so check them in the DNS table if mail matters on that domain.
Propagation is not instant. Wait up to 48 hours before assuming the setup is broken, and test in a private window to avoid cached redirects.

Pre-flight checklist

Copy this before you save the forward:

[ ] The destination URL loads in a browser and is the exact page you want
[ ] I picked 301 for a permanent move or 302 for a short-term one
[ ] I chose Forward only unless I truly need masking
[ ] I know which A, CNAME, and MX records already exist on the domain
[ ] www is set to point to @ if I want www to forward as well
[ ] I will test in a private window after an hour, and again before 48 hours pass

When forwarding is the wrong tool

Forwarding is a one-line redirect. It is a good fit for parked or secondary domains, retired brand names, and typo variants. If you want the domain itself to carry a website, forwarding is a detour. Point the domain at a host or builder instead.

If you are weighing where to host the site, our comparisons of Wix vs GoDaddy, Squarespace vs GoDaddy, and Hostinger vs GoDaddy cover the trade-offs. If you are thinking about moving the domain itself, see best domain registrars and GoDaddy alternatives. For budgeting, read how much a domain costs.

If the real goal is a site on that domain, We.Inc's free plan lets you publish up to three sites from ready-made templates; the AI builder that drafts a site from a prompt starts on the Starter plan at $20 a month. You can start at my.we.inc/signup.

Quick troubleshooting

Still shows the old site: the A record or a cached redirect is the usual cause. Wait, clear cache, and recheck DNS.
Blank page on a masked domain: switch to Forward only.
Cannot edit the A record: delete the forwarding first.
Wrong page after redirect: edit the forward and correct the destination URL.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use a 301 or 302 redirect on GoDaddy?

Use 301 (Permanent) when the move is lasting, such as sending a secondary domain or an old domain to your main site. GoDaddy describes 301 as its most common forwarding setting and the default when you set up forwarding. Use 302 (Temporary) only for short-term cases, like pointing a domain at a coming-soon page. GoDaddy warns that leaving a 302 in place too long could hurt your search results.

Does GoDaddy domain forwarding hurt SEO?

A 301 or 302 forward is the better choice for search. GoDaddy says masked domains do not rank as well in search as domains using a 301 or 302 redirect, because search engines do not index the destination of a masked forward. A 301 is treated as a long-term move, so rankings carry over if you change the forwarding later.

Why does my masked GoDaddy domain show a blank page?

Some destination sites block being displayed inside a masked frame, so visitors see a blank white page. GoDaddy says it cannot fix this because the destination controls it. Switch to Forward only (a 301 or 302 redirect), or ask the destination's host to allow masking.

Why can't I edit my A record after adding forwarding?

GoDaddy's help pages say that adding forwarding updates and locks the @ A record. To change that record, delete the forwarding first, then edit the record.

How long does GoDaddy forwarding take to start working?

GoDaddy says changes usually take about an hour but can take up to 48 hours to spread globally. If it still fails after that, re-check the forward type, the destination URL, and any conflicting DNS records.

Can I forward just a subdomain, like blog.example.com?

Yes. In the Forwarding section of your domain's DNS settings, add a forward and enter the subdomain. GoDaddy updates the DNS for an existing subdomain or adds one if it is missing.

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