Moving from Generic cPanel host

1. Point your domain to us Recommended

Your domain stays at Generic cPanel host (you keep paying them for it). We host the new site. You just swap two settings.

Before you start: we'll email you two nameservers that look like xxxx.ns.cloudflare.com. Have that email open.

1. Change nameservers or A/CNAME records at the registrar, not in cPanel (unless the cPanel host is the registrar)

Changes usually show up within a few hours, at most 24 to 48. Your old site keeps working until the switch finishes.

2. Move your domain to us

We take over the domain itself, so you get one bill (ours) for website, hosting and domain. It stays registered in your name and we renew it at cost.

1. Domain transfer is done at whoever registered the domain; most cPanel hosts are not the registrar. Use that registrar's steps from this file.

Timing: See registrar entry.

Then send us: the authorization code (also called the EPP or transfer code). Paste it in your dashboard or reply to our email. Don't post it anywhere public.

3. Keep Generic cPanel host, let us in to fix or rebuild

Best if you only want fixes or a rebuild and want to stay on Generic cPanel host. You invite us; we never need your login.

Generic cPanel host calls it: cPanel > Files > FTP Accounts (directory-restricted), optional cPanel Manage Team / MySQL user · Choose: FTP account restricted to the site's folder (least access to edit files). Add a MySQL user + remote MySQL only if the site needs DB changes. Do NOT share the hosting-provider account (billing) login.

Invite this email: hello@advancingwebsites.com

1. Log in to cPanel
2. Files > FTP Accounts
3. Enter a username, choose the domain, set and confirm a strong password
4. In Directory enter the site's folder (document root) so access is limited to it
5. Set quota (or unlimited) and click Create FTP Account
6. Send us username@domain, the password, server host and port through a safe channel (not plain email if possible)
7. Optional DB: Databases > Manage My Databases (MySQL Databases on cPanel 118 and earlier) > Add New User > Add User to Database > privileges > Make Changes
8. When finished you deletes the FTP/DB user (or resets the cPanel password)

Official help page: docs.cpanel.net/cpanel/files/ftp-accounts/

Stuck?

Reply to any email from us, or send a note with a screenshot of what you see. We'll walk you through it, or hop on a quick call.

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Steps checked against Generic cPanel host's official help pages in October 2026. Screens change sometimes; if something looks different, tell us and we'll update this guide.