Switching WordPress hosting providers can be a daunting task especially when it comes to DNS settings.

It’s crucial to understand how to manage your DNS records to ensure a seamless transition and avoid any downtime for your website.

Today I’m going to break down the process of updating DNS settings when you switch hosts focusing on the two most common scenarios.

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Managing Your Own DNS Records: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s say you’re the one in charge of your domain’s DNS records which is often the case with self-hosted WordPress sites.

In this scenario you’ll be directly responsible for configuring those records to work with your new hosting provider.

This usually involves making changes in your domain registrar’s administrative console – think GoDaddy Namecheap or Network Solutions.

However you might be using a third-party DNS service like Cloudflare.

Before you start making any changes let me highlight the crucial steps to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Migrate Your WordPress Site

First things first you need to migrate your WordPress site – its database and files – to your new hosting provider.

This is typically done using a migration tool offered by your new host or a third-party service.

The idea is to have your site running on both the old and new hosts concurrently to test the new environment and identify any potential issues.

Here’s where I recommend using a free migration tool offered by Pressable. It’s simple to set up and provides an extra layer of protection with ongoing website backups just in case something goes wrong.

2. Ensure Accessibility with Staging URLs

Make sure your new hosting provider offers a way to access your site before you change your DNS settings.

At Pressable for instance we provide staging URLs to all our clients.

This lets them test their WordPress site and make any necessary adjustments in a safe environment.

3. Implement a Content Freeze

Once you’re confident that your site is working smoothly on the new hosting provider it’s time for a content freeze.

This involves stopping all activity on the old site including posting commenting and any online transactions.

This step is vital because you’ll be migrating any new content from the old site to the new one.

4. Migrate Latest Changes

Now with the content freeze in place you’ll need to migrate the latest changes from your old WordPress site to the new one.

Again a tool like VaultPress can make this process a breeze.

After the final migration test everything again to ensure everything is working as expected.

5. Update Your A Records

The next step is to update your A records which map your domain name to your new hosting provider’s IP address.

This essentially tells the internet where to find your website.

If you want your website to be accessible at both www.yourdomain.com and yourdomain.com you’ll need to update the A records for both versions of your domain.

6. Understanding DNS Propagation

After making these changes it will take some time for the new DNS settings to take effect across the entire internet.

This is known as DNS propagation.

It’s not that DNS is literally propagating; it’s being cached by various servers including DNS servers and visitors’ devices.

This caching process leads to a delay in the updates.

You can expect most visitors to see your site at its new IP address within a few hours sometimes even minutes. The impact on your business should be minimal if you set up a special offer page on your old site during the transition.

When Your Old Host Provider Manages Your DNS

Now let’s look at the scenario where your old hosting provider manages your domain’s DNS records.

In this case you need to change your nameserver (NS) records to point to the nameservers of your new hosting provider.

This allows the new host to configure your domain’s A records correctly and direct visitors to your new server.

Changing Nameserver Records

To change your nameserver records you’ll need to log in to your domain registrar’s account find your domain in their account management interface and select the option to change nameservers.

Your registrar will provide specific instructions on how to do this.

A quick Google search for “change nameservers ” will usually provide detailed guides for popular registrars like GoDaddy Network Solutions and Namecheap.

Importance of Testing

As with DNS records the most important thing is to ensure your website is operational on the new server before updating your nameserver records.

This will prevent any downtime for your visitors during the transition.

Conclusion

Understanding DNS and managing your DNS records effectively is crucial for a smooth and successful WordPress hosting migration.

By following these steps you can ensure that your website remains accessible and continues to perform optimally even after switching hosting providers.

Remember there are many other scenarios involving DNS changes and we’ll explore them in future posts.

But for now you should have a good grasp of how to update DNS settings when switching WordPress hosting providers giving you the confidence to manage your website’s online presence effectively.

How to Update DNS Settings When You Switch WordPress Hosting Providers ⚠️