A ByTheWeb API Key, subscription, and credit balance are associated with a specific registered website domain.
A registered ByTheWeb domain cannot be renamed, changed, or transferred into another domain.
A different domain is treated as a separate domain in the ByTheWeb system and requires its own registration, API Key, and package.
This guide explains the differences between:
- Disconnecting the API Key from WordPress
- Connecting another valid API Key for the same domain
- Cancelling subscription renewal
- Permanently deleting a registered domain
- Deactivating a ByTheWeb plugin
- Permanently deleting the entire ByTheWeb account
Your API Key Is Domain-Specific
A ByTheWeb API Key is associated with its registered website domain.
When ByTheWeb AI verifies an API Key, the plugin sends:
- The API Key
- The current WordPress website domain
If the API Key is invalid or does not match the current website domain, ByTheWeb AI rejects the new key and does not save it.
For initial connection instructions, see:
A Registered Domain Cannot Be Changed to Another Domain
ByTheWeb does not provide a domain-transfer or domain-rename workflow.
A registered domain remains its own domain record.
If you use ByTheWeb on another website domain, that domain is treated as a separate domain and requires:
- Its own ByTheWeb registration
- Its own API Key
- Its own package
The subscription and credit balance of one registered domain are not transferred to another domain.
Where Can I See or Edit the Connected API Key?
In WordPress, open:
ByTheWeb AI > API Connection & Credits
The API Key field displays the key currently stored on that WordPress website.
When a key is already connected, select:
Edit
to unlock the field.
You can then change or remove the saved value and select:
Save
How Do I Disconnect the API Key from WordPress?
Open:
ByTheWeb AI > API Connection & Credits
Then:
- Select Edit
- Remove the current value from the API Key field
- Select Save
Saving an empty API Key removes the connected API Key from that WordPress installation.
What Does Disconnecting the API Key Do?
Removing the API Key disconnects that WordPress installation from ByTheWeb Cloud functionality that requires an authenticated connection.
Cloud AI actions that require the connected account cannot use that connection while no valid API Key is saved.
Disconnecting the API Key does not:
- Permanently delete the registered domain from the ByTheWeb account
- Cancel subscription renewal
- Permanently delete locally stored ByTheWeb data
- Delete normal WordPress posts or media
These are separate actions.
Does Disconnecting the API Key Cancel My Subscription?
No.
Removing the API Key from WordPress and cancelling a subscription are separate actions.
The API Key controls the Cloud connection stored in the WordPress website.
Subscription renewal is managed separately through the ByTheWeb account and billing system.
If your goal is to stop automatic renewal, use the subscription-management controls.
See:
Plans, Billing & Credit Resets
Can I Connect Another API Key?
You can edit the API Key field and save another ByTheWeb API Key.
Before accepting it, ByTheWeb AI verifies the new key against the current website domain.
If verification succeeds, the new key is saved.
If the key is invalid or does not belong to the current domain, the plugin rejects it.
Can I Use One Domain’s API Key on Another Website?
No.
The ByTheWeb AI connection verifies both the API Key and the current website domain.
An API Key registered for another domain does not become valid simply because it is entered into a different WordPress installation.
What If I Use ByTheWeb on a Different Domain?
The different domain is a separate ByTheWeb domain.
It requires its own:
- Registration
- API Key
- Package
ByTheWeb does not transfer the existing registered domain, subscription, or credit balance into the new domain.
Where Are My Registered Domains Managed?
Log in to your ByTheWeb account:
Then open:
My Domains
Each registered domain is displayed separately with its own account information and available management actions.
For a broader explanation of the account dashboard, see:
Managing Your ByTheWeb Account
What Is Permanently Delete Domain?
Permanently Delete Domain is an account-level action that removes the registered domain from the ByTheWeb account.
It is different from:
- Removing the API Key from WordPress
- Cancelling automatic subscription renewal
- Deactivating ByTheWeb AI
- Deactivating ByTheWeb GEO
Permanent deletion should only be used when you actually intend to permanently remove that registered domain from the account.
When Is Permanently Delete Domain Available?
The ByTheWeb account displays domain-management actions according to the current state of the domain and subscription.
For an active paid subscription, the account provides the applicable subscription-management controls.
Depending on the subscription, these can include:
- Cancel Auto Renewal
- Manage Billing (Lemon Squeezy)
When the registered domain is eligible for permanent removal, the account can display:
Permanently Delete Domain
Is Cancelling a Subscription the Same as Deleting the Domain?
No.
These actions have different effects.
Cancelling Subscription Renewal
Cancelling stops automatic renewal of the subscription.
Under the current ByTheWeb Terms, access to the paid plan continues until the end of the current paid billing period.
Permanently Deleting the Domain
Permanent deletion removes the registered domain from the ByTheWeb account and forfeits its associated unused credits.
If you only want to stop future subscription renewal, use the subscription cancellation controls rather than permanently deleting the domain.
What Happens to Credits If I Permanently Delete a Domain?
Under the current ByTheWeb Terms, permanently deleting a registered domain forfeits the unused credits associated with that domain.
This includes unused Extra Credits.
The forfeiture is immediate and irreversible.
Permanent deletion should therefore not be used as a temporary disconnect.
What Happens to My Website Content If I Delete the Domain from My ByTheWeb Account?
Permanently deleting the registered domain from the ByTheWeb account affects the ByTheWeb Cloud account record and its associated credits.
It does not automatically delete content already stored in the WordPress website.
There is an important difference between the Cloud account and the data stored locally in WordPress.
If the relevant ByTheWeb plugins remain active, supported locally stored content and plugin output can continue to use the data already stored in WordPress.
This can include locally stored information such as:
- AI Summary
- Short Answer
- FAQ questions and answers
- GEO settings
- Schema configuration
- Entity information
- Other supported ByTheWeb data
The loss of Cloud access does not by itself remove this locally stored information.
What Happens If My Subscription or Credit Package Ends?
Ending a trial, subscription, or available Cloud credit balance does not automatically delete the content already stored in WordPress.
Cloud AI actions that require an active connection and available credits may no longer be available.
However, locally stored ByTheWeb data remains in WordPress.
As long as the relevant plugin remains active, its supported local functionality can continue to use and display that stored data.
What Happens If I Deactivate a ByTheWeb Plugin?
Deactivating a plugin is different from ending a subscription or deleting the domain from the ByTheWeb account.
Deactivation does not by itself delete the data already stored by the plugin.
However, features that depend on the plugin to render or output them may stop appearing while that plugin is inactive.
For example, plugin-rendered output such as:
- AI Summary
- Short Answer
- FAQ display
- Schema output
- Other supported frontend output
may no longer appear while the plugin responsible for that functionality is deactivated.
The underlying stored data is not deleted simply because the plugin is deactivated.
What Content Remains Even If the Plugins Are Deactivated?
Content that has already been saved as normal WordPress content remains independently of the plugins.
This includes:
- AI-generated WordPress posts
- AI-generated images saved to the WordPress Media Library
- Image Alt Text
- Image Title
- Image Caption
- Image Description
These items have already been saved as normal WordPress posts, media attachments, or attachment metadata.
They remain part of the WordPress website even if ByTheWeb AI or ByTheWeb GEO is later deactivated.
What About FAQ, AI Summary and Short Answer?
FAQ content, AI Summary, and Short Answer can be stored locally in WordPress by the ByTheWeb plugins.
The stored information is not automatically deleted because:
- AI credits run out
- A trial ends
- A subscription ends
- The registered Cloud domain is removed
- The relevant plugin is deactivated
However, displaying these elements on the frontend can depend on the relevant ByTheWeb plugin being active.
If the plugin responsible for registering or rendering that output is inactive, the stored information can remain in WordPress while the corresponding frontend output no longer appears.
What About Schema Output?
Schema generated dynamically by a ByTheWeb plugin depends on that plugin being active to output it.
The locally stored settings and data are not automatically deleted simply because the plugin is deactivated.
However, if the responsible plugin is inactive, its dynamic Schema output is not available on the frontend.
What About AI-Generated Articles?
Articles created by ByTheWeb AI are saved as normal WordPress posts.
Once saved, the article itself is WordPress content.
It remains in WordPress even if:
- The AI credit balance is exhausted
- The subscription ends
- The ByTheWeb domain is removed from the account
- ByTheWeb AI is deactivated
The plugin is not required simply for the saved WordPress article to continue existing.
What About AI-Generated Images?
Images generated and saved by ByTheWeb AI are stored in the WordPress Media Library.
Once saved there, they remain normal WordPress media items.
They are not removed merely because the Cloud subscription ends or the plugin is deactivated.
What About Image Metadata?
Image metadata already saved to WordPress remains with the WordPress media attachment.
This includes supported saved fields such as:
- Alt Text
- Title
- Caption
- Description
Once those values have been saved to the WordPress media item, they do not depend on ByTheWeb AI remaining active simply to continue existing.
Does Removing the API Key Remove the Domain from My Account?
No.
These are separate actions in separate parts of the system.
The API Key under:
ByTheWeb AI > API Connection & Credits
is the WordPress-side connection.
The registered domain under:
ByTheWeb Account > My Domains
is the account-side domain record.
Clearing the WordPress API Key does not perform the Permanently Delete Domain action.
Does Deactivating ByTheWeb AI Remove the Registered Domain?
No.
Deactivating the WordPress plugin does not perform an account-level domain deletion.
The registered domain remains a separate ByTheWeb account record until an account-level action changes or removes it.
Disconnecting, Cancelling, Deactivating and Deleting
These actions should not be treated as the same thing.
| Action | Cloud Connection | Registered Domain | Subscription Renewal | Local WordPress Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remove API Key from WordPress | Disconnected | Remains | Not cancelled by this action | Remains |
| Cancel subscription renewal | Connection is not removed by this action | Remains | Stops renewal | Remains |
| Deactivate a ByTheWeb plugin | Plugin functionality becomes inactive | Remains | Not cancelled by this action | Stored data remains, but plugin-rendered output may stop |
| Permanently Delete Domain | Cloud domain record is removed | Deleted | Domain is removed | Existing WordPress data is not automatically deleted |
Permanent domain deletion also forfeits unused credits associated with that registered domain.
What About Extra Credits?
Extra Credits are associated with the registered domain.
Normally, they do not expire through the standard monthly credit reset.
If the base subscription becomes inactive, remaining Extra Credits can remain dormant according to the current account rules.
However, if the registered domain itself is permanently deleted, unused Extra Credits associated with it are forfeited.
For complete Extra Credit rules, see:
Can a Cancelled Subscription Be Reactivated?
The ByTheWeb account interface provides:
Reactivate Subscription
for supported subscriptions in the Cancelled state.
This allows the existing registered domain subscription to return to the supported active state without deleting the domain.
What If My Domain Is a Free Trial?
Trial domains are also registered domains in the ByTheWeb account.
The free trial is available once per eligible domain.
Permanently deleting the registered domain does not change the rule that the free trial is available only once per eligible domain.
If You Only Want to Temporarily Disconnect ByTheWeb AI
You do not need to delete the registered domain.
Remove the API Key from:
ByTheWeb AI > API Connection & Credits
The registered domain in the ByTheWeb account remains a separate account record.
If You Only Want to Stop Future Billing
Do not permanently delete the domain merely to stop automatic renewal.
Use the applicable subscription-management control.
Depending on the subscription, the ByTheWeb account can provide:
- Cancel Auto Renewal
- Manage Billing (Lemon Squeezy)
For complete billing information, see:
Plans, Billing & Credit Resets
If You Want to Permanently Remove the Registered Domain
Use:
ByTheWeb Account > My Domains > Permanently Delete Domain
when the action is available.
Before confirming the deletion, remember:
- The registered Cloud domain record is permanently removed
- Its unused associated credits are forfeited
- Unused Extra Credits associated with the domain are also forfeited
- Existing content already stored in your WordPress website is not automatically deleted by the Cloud-domain deletion
What About Deleting the Entire Account?
Deleting a registered domain and deleting the entire ByTheWeb user account are separate actions.
The account includes a separate Delete Account action.
The current account workflow requires registered domains to be removed before the account itself can be permanently deleted.
Under the current ByTheWeb Terms, permanent account deletion also forfeits associated unused credits.
For more information, see:
Managing Your ByTheWeb Account
Summary
The main rules are:
- A ByTheWeb domain cannot be changed or transferred into another domain.
- A different domain is a separate domain with its own registration, API Key, and package.
- API Keys are domain-specific.
- Removing the API Key disconnects WordPress from ByTheWeb Cloud but does not delete the registered account domain.
- Removing the API Key does not cancel subscription renewal.
- Cancelling a subscription is different from permanently deleting the registered domain.
- Ending a credit balance, trial, or subscription does not automatically delete locally stored WordPress content.
- Permanently deleting the Cloud domain does not automatically delete content already stored in WordPress.
- Locally stored ByTheWeb data remains in WordPress.
- Plugin-rendered output may stop appearing if the plugin responsible for that output is deactivated.
- AI-generated WordPress posts remain as WordPress posts.
- AI-generated images saved to the Media Library remain as WordPress media.
- Image metadata already saved to WordPress remains with the media item.
- Permanently deleting the registered domain forfeits its unused associated credits, including unused Extra Credits.
Where Should I Go Next?
To connect or reconnect an API Key:
To manage registered domains and account settings:
Managing Your ByTheWeb Account
To understand subscription cancellation and billing:
Plans, Billing & Credit Resets
To understand Extra Credits:
For the current account and credit terms: