moving my existing site and domain name
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I have an existing wordpress website – suewaterworth.com – hosted by Bluehost. I want to move to a free wordpress.com site, and continue to use my domain name. When I have tried to set up a site, it tells me I can’t have that name because it is reserved. How do I move my site and retain the domain? Can I get some help to do it?
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Hi there,
You can follow the instructions below to transfer your domain from your current host over to WordPress.com:
https://en.support.wordpress.com/incoming-domain-transfer/
Were you following the instructions here?:
Keep in mind that your domain will have to be registered with your current host for 60 days before you are able to transfer it. If you want to use the domain with your WordPress.com site before that time, you can update the nameservers and map the domain to WordPress.com:
https://en.support.wordpress.com/map-existing-domain/
Hope that helps.
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I have followed the steps taking me to “upgrades”, including changing the nameservers and unlocking the domain, but there is no “domains”, only “plans” under the Upgrade tab. And now my site doesn’t work at all.
Help, please?
Sue -
Hi Sue,
There’s no need to change your domain’s nameservers or alter any DNS settings.
I see that your current registrar is Bluehost, so first, you need to follow these instructions to prepare the domain for the transfer:
https://www.bluehost.com/help/article/transfer-your-domain-to-another-registrar
Then, you need to initiate the transfer on our end by following these step-by-step instructions:
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Hi there, and thanks for the links.
I actually followed them to the letter, but…. now I am unable to access the site or the backend.
I really need some help.
Thanks
Sue -
I believe that it’s best to contact Bluehost and ask them for assistance on how to transfer your domain. Once the domain is ready for transfer and you have the transfer code in hand we’ll be able to assist.
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Hello again,
Now several days since I spoke to Bluehost who checked and assured me the name servers had been transferred to you. Again today, and they say the propagation is still in progress, but it is WordPress which is the problem!
I really am not sure what to do next. Are you able to help?
Sue -
So, you’re not transferring the domain over to us, you’re keeping it with Bluehost and only pointing it here to your WordPress.com site.
For this, to work you need to purchase one of our plans and map your domain:
https://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/
Please note that you cannot use a custom domain as the primary address of a free site. You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan for that.
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As far as I know, the domain name is in the process of being transferred to you…..but seems to be taking a very long time. That’s what Bluehost told me.
I want to transfer my site to wordpress, and use my domain name. But I think I need some help to do it. -
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Hello Sue,
From what I can see the domain, suewaterworth.com is not associated with WordPress.com and we’re not awaiting any transfers.
It doesn’t look like there’s any name servers in place either: https://www.whatsmydns.net/#NS/suewaterworth.com
The first port of call would be to contact Bluehost Support to see what’s happened there and to get the domain back up and running.
Once that’s done, we can help with transferring/domain mapping where possible.
I hope this helps.
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