How to Change Your WordPress Site's Domain Name

Prerequisites

• Active WPCloud hosting account

• Ownership/control of the new domain

• Access to domain DNS management

Important Warnings

⚠️ Critical: Do not make any of these changes yourself:

Step-by-Step Process

1. Submit Change Request
• Open a support ticket at support.wpcloud.ca
• Include:
• Current domain name
• New domain name
• Preferred timeline

2. Await Confirmation
• Our team will review your request
• You'll receive scheduling confirmation
• Migration team will provide a specific time slot

3. Schedule Confirmation
• Migration team operates on a first-come, first-served basis
• Typical scheduling window: 24-48 hours
• You'll receive a specific time slot for the change

4. During the Change
• Server team will configure new domain
• Migration team will perform database search/replace
• Process typically takes 15-30 minutes
• Brief site downtime may occur during the change

5. Post-Change Steps
• You'll receive confirmation when changes are complete
• Only then should you update your domain's DNS settings

Common Issues and Solutions

• Issue: Domain pointing to server before approved
• Solution: Revert DNS settings until receiving confirmation from our team
• Impact: May trigger firewall blocks

• Issue: WordPress settings changed manually
• Solution: Contact support immediately for assistance
• Impact: Site accessibility issues

What Not to Do

1. Don't modify WordPress site URL settings in wp-admin

2. Don't update DNS records prematurely

3. Don't attempt database search/replace operations

4. Don't assume the change is instant

Scheduling Notes

• Migration team works on a slot-based schedule

• Requests are processed in order of submission

• Emergency requests may require additional fees

• Standard processing time: 24-48 hours

Post-Change Verification

1. Check site accessibility with new domain

2. Verify all internal links are working

3. Test site functionality (forms, logins, etc.)

4. Clear browser cache when testing

Old Domain Management

Planning for Your Old Domain

1. Keep and Forward
• Redirect all traffic to new domain
• Preserves SEO benefits
• Maintains access for existing bookmarks
• Configuration Options:
• 301 Permanent Redirect (recommended for SEO)
• 302 Temporary Redirect

2. No Forwarding
• Old domain stops working
• Potential loss of traffic
• Bookmarks will break
• SEO impact on existing rankings

Implementation Choices

1. WPCloud Management
• We can set up and manage forwarding
• Requires keeping old domain in our system
• Additional fees may apply

2. Self-Management
• Handle forwarding through domain registrar
• More control over forwarding rules
• No additional hosting fees

Support Options

• Support Portal: support.wpcloud.ca

• Email: support@wpcloud.ca

• Response Time: Typically within 15 minutes