Moving from DreamHost

1. Point your domain to us Recommended

Your domain stays at DreamHost (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. DreamHost registrar nameserver change steps were not verified on an official page in this research

Official help page: help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/215249878-Transfer-a-domain-regis

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. Panel > Manage Domains: set Transfer Lock to Off (or Domain Dashboard toggle)
2. Transfer Domains page > 'Or transfer away from DreamHost' > Reveal Auth Code (or Domain Dashboard > Transfer widget > Get Auth Code)
3. Give us the code; start transfer at Cloudflare
4. DreamHost emails the account address: click the link and Approve the release in the panel
5. Also approve at the new registrar

Timing: No transfer within 60 days of purchase or transfer to DreamHost. Changing registrant name/org/email or privacy triggers a 60-day lock - opt out of the lock in the panel before starting. Completes in minutes to 7 days. Privacy need not be disabled. .uk: new registrar's IPS tag via DreamHost support.

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.

Official help page: help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/215249878-Transfer-a-domain-regis

3. Keep DreamHost, let us in to fix or rebuild

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

DreamHost calls it: Account Access page - Grant Privileges to a New Person; plus temporary server user / CMS user · Choose: Account privileges limited to the panel pages needed (not full admin). For files: DreamHost allows one user per domain, so create a temporary server user, move the site to it, share, then move back and delete. For WordPress: add a separate WP admin user.

Invite this email: hello@advancingwebsites.com

1. Open the DreamHost panel > Account Access
2. Start 'Grant Privileges to a New Person'
3. Enter our email and name and tick only needed privileges, Save (we get an email to set a password)
4. Make sure our email is not a secondary email under Profile & Privacy
5. For files: create a new server user for the domain, move the site to it (move files), share credentials, later move back and delete
6. Revoking removes the whole sub-account

Official help page: help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021977271-Allowing-developer-a

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 DreamHost's official help pages in October 2026. Screens change sometimes; if something looks different, tell us and we'll update this guide.