How to Transfer Your Domain from WordPress to Hostinger (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Hostings

Share:

Table of Contents

Sometimes, when you have a website, you need to change your hosting. One big change you might consider is moving your domain—the web address people use to find your site—from one service to another. Maybe you started with WordPress.com but now want to move to Hostinger because it suits your needs better, offers more control, or is more cost-effective. Whatever the reason, transferring a domain might seem tricky, but don’t worry! We’ll walk you through the process step by step.

What is a Domain Transfer?

First things first, let’s clear up what a domain transfer means. When you transfer your domain, you’re moving the management of your domain name from one service provider (in this case, WordPress.com) to another (Hostinger). This is about who controls the settings of your domain and where it points to, not moving your website content. That’s a different process!

Why Transfer Your Domain?

There are several reasons why you might want to transfer your domain to Hostinger:

  • Better Pricing: Hostinger might offer lower prices for domain renewals.
  • Convenience: Managing your hosting and domain under one roof makes things simpler.
  • More Features: Hostinger may offer more advanced domain management features that WordPress.com doesn’t.

Step-by-Step Guide to Transfer Your Domain from WordPress to Hostinger

Transferring a domain takes about five to seven days, so you’ll need patience. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Prepare Your Domain for Transfer

  1. Check Your Domain’s Eligibility:
  • Domains need to be at least 60 days old to be transferred. Also, they shouldn’t be close to expiring. Make sure your domain has been registered with WordPress.com for over 60 days and has more than two weeks before it expires.
  1. Unlock Your Domain:
  • Log into your WordPress.com account.
  • Go to ‘My Sites’ and select ‘Domains’.
  • Choose the domain you want to transfer.
  • In the domain settings, turn off the ‘Lock’ setting. This step is crucial because locked domains cannot be transferred.

Step 2: Get Your Authorization Code

  1. Request an Authorization Code (Also Known as an EPP Code):
  • If you are still in the domain settings on WordPress.com, look for an option to transfer your domain.
  • You’ll see an option to ‘Get Authorization Code’. Click it.
  • WordPress will send the code to the email address associated with your domain. Check your email for this code.

Step 3: Initiate the Transfer on Hostinger

  1. Log Into Your Hostinger Account:
  • If you don’t have a Hostinger account, you’ll need to create one.
  1. Start the Domain Transfer Process:
  • Navigate to the ‘Domains’ section.
  • Select ‘Transfer Domain’.
  • Enter your domain name and the authorization code you received from WordPress.com.
  1. Verify the Transfer:
  • Hostinger will ask you to verify the transfer. This usually involves clicking a link in an email sent to the domain’s registered owner.

Step 4: Pay for the Domain Transfer

Complete the Payment:

  • Transferring a domain to another provider costs a bit of money. This fee often includes an extension of your domain registration by one year.
  • Complete the transaction as instructed by Hostinger.

Step 5: Wait for the Transfer to Complete

  • Domain transfers don’t happen instantly. It usually takes about five to seven days. During this time, your domain will continue to work as usual.

Step 6: Confirm the Transfer

  • Once the transfer is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Hostinger.
  • Log into your Hostinger account to see if the domain is listed under your domains.

Conclusion

Transferring your domain from WordPress.com to Hostinger isn’t as daunting as it sounds. Follow these steps, and your domain will be moved over in about a week. This change can give you better control over your domain settings, lower costs, and the convenience of managing your domain and hosting in one place. Remember, transferring your domain doesn’t move your website content; that’s a separate process. If you’re moving your entire website to a new host, make sure to handle both. Happy transferring!

 

Get Your Website Up and Running with Ease!

Hostinger offers a range of affordable, easy-to-manage hosting solutions optimized for all kinds of websites, whether launching a personal blog, a business site, or an online store. Setting up your hosting with Hostinger before initiating your domain transfer can make the entire process smoother and ensure your site is up and running without interruptions.

Hostinger Logo Homepage
Starting from $2.99 per month + 3 months FREE

Use Our Discount Code: MYFIRSTWEBSITE

Key Features

Extremely affordable
User-friendly control panel
LiteSpeed Cache for faster loading times

Storage and Bandwidth:
30 GB SSD storage
100 GB bandwidth

Extras:
Free SSL certificate

Free Basic Website Setup: If you’re starting and need an essential website, our free setup service will get you online quickly! While we don’t offer design or ongoing management, we ensure your site has everything essential.

Get Your Free Website Setup

FAQs About Transferring Your Domain from WordPress to Hostinger

  • How long must I wait to transfer my domain from WordPress to Hostinger?

    Your domain must be at least 60 days old before you can transfer it to another hosting provider like Hostinger. ICANN (the organization that oversees domain names) sets this rule to prevent fraud and ensure stable domain ownership.

  • Will my website be down during the domain transfer process?

    No, your website should remain up and running during the transfer process. The transfer only affects where the domain is managed, not where your website’s files are hosted, unless you decide to move those. However, informing your visitors about the transfer is always good if any unexpected issues arise.

  • What happens if I don't receive my authorization code from WordPress?

    If you don’t receive your authorization code in your email after requesting it, first check your spam or junk mail folder. If it’s not there, return to your WordPress domain settings to ensure your contact email address is correct and up-to-date. You can request the code again or contact WordPress support for further assistance.

  • Can I transfer my domain to Hostinger if it’s about to expire?

    You should initiate the domain transfer well before the expiry date—ideally, at least two weeks prior. The transfer process can take up to a week, and you don’t want your domain to expire during the transfer. If a domain expires before the transfer completes, it could complicate the process or cause your website to go offline.

  • After transferring my domain to Hostinger, will I need to renew my domain registration immediately?

    Generally, when you transfer a domain, the registration is extended by one year from its current expiration date. So you won’t need to renew it immediately after transferring. However, it’s a good idea to check the new expiration date in your Hostinger account to confirm when you’ll need to renew it next.

Follow us on Social Media

Related Articles:

kinssta vs bluehost
Kinsta vs Bluehost: Best WordPress Hosting for 2024 – Which One to Choose?
Digital stickers
How to Start Selling Digital Stickers on Squarespace in 2024 – Step-by-Step Guide
email automation
How to Use ConvertKit with Kajabi for Powerful Email Automation and Personalization

Web Setup Form

Web Setup Order Form

Maximum file size: 67.11MB

Checkboxes