Moving from HostGator

1. Point your domain to us Recommended

Your domain stays at HostGator (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. Domain registered at HostGator: Customer Portal > Domains > the domain > Nameservers tab > Change Nameservers
2. Enter Cloudflare nameservers, save (24-48 hours)
3. Domain registered elsewhere: HostGator cannot edit it; change at that registrar

Official help page: www.hostgator.com/help/article/i-bought-my-domain-from-hostgator-how-d

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. Log in to the Customer Portal > Domains and select the domain
2. Turn the lock off (Overview tab)
3. Open Move & Access tab, click Request Auth Code, then Send Auth Code
4. Code goes only to the REGISTRANT email
5. Give us the code; start transfer at Cloudflare
6. Approve the verification email sent to the registrant

Timing: Domains locked by default. Changing registrant name/org/email triggers ICANN Change of Registrant 60-day lock. May take a few days; some pages say 60 days since registration and up to 7 days.

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: www.hostgator.com/help/article/how-to-transfer-my-domain-away-from-hos

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

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

HostGator calls it: Customer Portal > Users & Roles; domain-level Move & Access > Add User to manage Domain; WordPress-only user · Choose: Technical Contact (manage/renew products, no payment, users or purchases).

Invite this email: hello@advancingwebsites.com

1. Log in to the Customer Portal
2. Profile icon (top right) > Users & Roles
3. Select the account and click Manage
4. Scroll to User Roles & Permissions, click + Add User
5. Enter name and email, choose Technical Contact, click Invite
6. We accept the emailed invite and set our own ID, password and PIN

Official help page: www.hostgator.com/help/article/customer-portal-user-roles-permissions

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