Transferring your domain to a new hosting provider doesn't have to mean downtime or lost data. The key is a simple rule: migrate your files first, then change your DNS — and your site will stay live throughout the entire process.
This guide covers every step, in the right order, plus common mistakes to avoid.
Two Things People Often Confuse
Before diving in, it helps to clarify two related but distinct actions:
- Transferring a domain registration: moving the ownership record of the domain from one registrar to another (e.g., from GoDaddy to Namecheap).
- Changing hosting: keeping the domain at its current registrar but pointing its DNS to a new hosting server.
Most people asking "how to transfer a domain to another host" actually need to change the DNS, not move the registration. This guide covers both, starting with the most common case.
Option A — Change Your DNS (The Most Common Route)
If you want your domain to point to a new hosting server without moving the registration, the process has three phases:
Phase 1 — Upload Your Site to the New Host First
Don't touch your DNS until the new hosting server is ready. Changing DNS first guarantees downtime — your site won't exist on the new server yet.
- Purchase your new hosting plan and add your domain as the primary or an additional domain.
- Download a full backup of your current site: files (via FTP or the cPanel File Manager) and database (from phpMyAdmin → Export).
- Upload the files to
public_htmlon the new hosting account. - Import the database on the new server (phpMyAdmin → Import) and update your CMS config file (e.g.,
wp-config.phpfor WordPress) with the new database credentials.
Phase 2 — Verify the Site on the New Server
Before flipping DNS, you can preview your site on the new host by temporarily editing your computer's hosts file to point the domain to the new server's IP address. This confirms everything works correctly before you make the official switch.
Phase 3 — Update Your DNS (Nameservers)
Once the new server is confirmed and ready:
- Log into the control panel where your domain is registered (GoDaddy, Namecheap, your current host's dashboard, etc.).
- Find the DNS or Nameservers section.
- Replace the current nameservers with the ones provided by your new host (usually in the format
ns1.newhost.comandns2.newhost.com). - Save the changes.
DNS propagation takes 1–48 hours. During that window, some visitors will see the old server and others the new one — but since both hold identical copies of your site, no one will notice a difference.
Once propagation is fully complete, you can safely cancel the old hosting account.
Option B — Transfer the Domain Registration to Another Registrar
If you also want to move the domain's registration (for example, to consolidate everything with your new provider), follow these steps:
- Unlock the domain: in your current registrar's dashboard, find "Transfer Lock" or "Domain Status" and disable the transfer lock.
- Get the EPP/Authorization code: your current registrar provides this in the control panel. It's a string of characters that authorizes the transfer.
- Initiate the transfer at the new registrar: enter your domain name and the EPP code. The new registrar handles the rest.
- Confirm via email: you'll receive a confirmation email at the domain owner's address. Approve the transfer.
- Wait for completion: per ICANN rules, domain transfers take 5–7 business days.
Note: you cannot transfer a domain registered less than 60 days ago, or one expiring within 15 days. Renew first if needed.
If the technical steps feel overwhelming, the team at elenlace.com can handle the entire migration for you — zero downtime guaranteed.
Don't Forget Your Business Email
If you have email accounts hosted on your current server ([email protected], [email protected], etc.), those are part of your hosting — not the domain registration. When you change hosts, email migration is a separate task:
- Create the same email accounts on the new hosting account before changing DNS.
- Download existing emails using a mail client (Thunderbird, Outlook) via IMAP, then re-upload them to the new server.
- Verify that the MX records in your DNS point to the new mail server.
If you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for email, your MX records don't change — only the website hosting moves.
Zero-Downtime Migration Checklist
| Step | Action | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create a full backup (files + database) | Before anything |
| 2 | Upload files and database to new host | Before changing DNS |
| 3 | Verify site on new server (hosts file trick) | Before changing DNS |
| 4 | Create email accounts on new host | Before changing DNS |
| 5 | Update nameservers at your registrar | Once new server is ready |
| 6 | Confirm propagation (use whatsmydns.net) | 1–48 h after DNS change |
| 7 | Cancel old hosting account | Only after confirming propagation |
Not sure what some of these terms mean? Browse our hosting glossary for plain-English definitions of DNS, nameservers, TTL, and more.
Key Takeaways
- The golden rule for zero downtime: get the new server ready before changing your DNS — never the other way around.
- "Transferring a domain" and "changing hosting" are different things: registration transfer moves ownership; DNS change moves where the domain points.
- DNS propagation takes up to 48 hours — during that time, both servers serve identical copies of your site with no visible disruption.
- Business email accounts hosted on your current server must be migrated separately alongside the website files.
- Domain registration transfers take 5–7 business days and require the EPP auth code from your current registrar.
Want a stress-free migration? The experts at elenlace.com handle every step of the domain and hosting transfer so your site never misses a beat.
FAQ
Will changing hosts hurt my SEO?
Not if you keep the same URLs. SEO is tied to your domain and content, not your server. Prolonged downtime or changing your URL structure could affect rankings, but a properly executed migration is invisible to Google.
How long does DNS propagation take?
It depends on the TTL (Time to Live) setting on your current DNS records. Typically 1–24 hours, though it can stretch to 48 hours in rare cases. To speed it up, lower your TTL to 300 seconds (5 minutes) a few hours before you make the change.
Can I transfer my domain registration while the site is still live?
Yes. Transferring the registration record has no effect on your live site as long as you don't change the DNS settings at the same time. You can transfer the registrar and keep the existing DNS pointing to your current host without any interruption.
What happens to my SSL certificate when I switch hosts?
SSL certificates are tied to the server, not the domain, so you can't transfer them. You'll need to issue a new certificate on the new host. If you use Let's Encrypt (the free standard), activate it via cPanel → SSL/TLS → AutoSSL once DNS propagation is complete.
Further reading
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