Switching my domain from Bluehost to WordPress.com

  • Unknown's avatar
    bmonacella · Member ·

    I bought my domain, dcskimom.com, through Bluehost. I installed WordPress and picked a theme and built my site. After struggling with the interface that seems to come with it for quite a while, I became aware that it’s different than what I would normally see if I was hosted through WordPress.com. I made a free wordpress.com site and it was so easy. Am I correct in thinking the interfaces are different? It sure seems like it. It seems like Jetpack, which comes with the Bluehost site, has its own dashboard, with less functionality. I’m sure I don’t fully understand this situation, but if I am correct about the different interfaces, then I’d like to quit Bluehost and transfer my content and my domain to wordpress.com. How do I do this?

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • staff-zinnia · Staff ·

    Am I correct in thinking the interfaces are different?

    Yes. WordPress.com is separate from the WordPress installation that you use with a hosting company.

    The details are at: https://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

    Jetpack is a tool that connects a self hosted WordPress site to the WordPress.com dashboard. These sites are still using a separate host and not WordPress.com.

    I’d like to quit Bluehost and transfer my content and my domain to wordpress.com. How do I do this?

    You’ll use domain mapping as WordPress.com is unable to accept incoming domain transfers. Here are those instructions: https://en.support.wordpress.com/map-existing-domain/

    The first step is to pick which WordPress.com plan is the best for you. You’ll do that at wordpress.com/pricing/

    Once the plan is added to the account you’ll map your domain by clicking on My Sites > Domains > Map it!

    The domain is going to stay registered with BlueHost and you’ll edit the Name Servers there and point the domain to WordPress.com.

    Please reply with any other follow up questions. I’ll be happy to help.

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