The records that must change.
WHAT CHANGES
The A records for the domain, www and every subdomain, to the new server's address.
Mail records, if mail moves too.
WHAT STAYS
Verification records for third-party services TXT records unrelated to mail Anything pointing at an external service
THE PREPARATION
Get the new server's address Note every existing record Lower TTLs a day in advance
THE SAFE ORDER
- Set up the site fully on the new server
- Test with a hosts file entry
- Lower TTLs
- Change the A records, or the nameservers
- Monitor
- Confirm everything works
- Only then cancel the old hosting
WHAT PEOPLE GET WRONG
Cancelling the old hosting before propagation completes. Some visitors are still being directed there.
Forgetting a subdomain.
Forgetting mail.
IF YOU CHANGE NAMESERVERS RATHER THAN RECORDS
Every record must exist at the new provider before switching. The zone does not travel with the domain.
AFTERWARDS
Run AutoSSL once the domain resolves to the new server.
