Moving your Web Hosting Provider

If you are planning to move your website to another web hosting provider, it can get quite messy if you don’t do it right! If you have not done this before, then please read on and we will try to explain the motions to you as best we can so it can go as smoothly as possible. First things first! Do you have all your web files backed up onto your computer? Make sure that all of it is stored and it would probably be best if you placed it in a folder on your desktop so you can find it easily. Remember, moving a web site it much like moving a house. Think of your files as your furniture and that you need to move it to the new house. Once you have done this, then proceed to your domain name and make sure you understand how to transfer it. Where did you register the domain name? If your current web host has it, then you will need to inform them that the Domain name servers need to change or if you have registered it at a domain name registrar then make sure that you have the login information ready so you can login to the domain name interface at a later date. You do not want to transfer the domain name yet!

What now to finalize moving your web hosting provider?

Now that you have the files on your computer, log into the new account you just signed up for and start uploading your files. Your domain name is not pointing or should not be pointing to the new hosting provider, but you will be given access to the account anyway and you should be able to see your web site via a temporary URL that is given to you by the new web hosting provider. When the files are uploaded, you can now view it and see if everything is ok.

Now it’s time to transfer your domain name. If you bought the domain name from your old hosting provider, you will need to contact them and let them know that you wish to transfer the domain name with the new domain name servers (DNS) that your new hosting company has given to you. If you registered your domain from a registrar, it is much easier to change DNS. Find your domain name login (this is NOT your web hosting login) and sign in. Once there, look for something like 'manage DNS' or 'edit DNS'. In there you will find the old DNS servers. They look something like ns1.oldhostingcompany.com. Delete them and change them to the new name servers. It should take about 24 to 48 hours before your website will switch over. In that time, you may experience fluctuations in the uptime of your email and your website, but it won’t last for long. AFTER it successfully transfers over, THEN you contact your old hosting company and cancel your account.

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