Changing Domain Name

Also I have been advised to do this before the registrar processes my new domain name?

Get a new registrar, that one isn’t very smart. ??

After the domain and accompanying DNS records have propagated and you can resolve that new URL, then make the changes to your WordPress address and Site address.

If you do it before the domain and DNS records exist then you’ll just cause yourself grief when you can’t load your WordPress installation on your browser.

This is what I’ve been told;

“When you get to the screen for all your details, click: Already Registered? Click here to login
Login and pay your invoice, we’ll order the domain name and swap it over on your hosting.

Can I recommend that you use the WordPress Admin to change your site’s URL to the new one before we change the hosting, otherwise you’ll find that it breaks.
”

I plan to purchase a new domain name

If the domain exists, the DNS name for your host (in that domain) exists, and points to the IP address of your WordPress installation, THEN it’s safe to change the WordPress settings.

But if you change it to something that does not currently exist and do that, then you’ll have problems.

I would hold off on making any changes until your new domain propagates.

If you end up making the changes and find yourself locked out of your WordPress site just remember that you can change your WordPress address and Site address via FTP. Add the following two lines to your current config file and upload it to your server:

define(‘WP_HOME’,’https://example.com’);
define(‘WP_SITEURL’,’https://example.com’);

The above will override the URLs you have placed in your general settings.

UPDATE:

I’ve purchased the new domain name and I am now waiting for them to swap it onto my existing hosting.

Tom

“We’ll switch the account over for you if you can give us the go ahead.

If you don’t change the configured domain to the new one, you’ll find the site breaks and you won’t be able to login without editing the database in PHPMyAdmin. So long as you’re comfortable editing the database in PHPMyAdmin it can be done afterwards.”

Please don’t bump. Seriously.

If the domain exists, the DNS name for your host (in that domain) exists, and points to the IP address of your WordPress installation, THEN it’s safe to change the WordPress settings.

But if you change it to something that does not currently exist and do that, then you’ll have problems.

If everything is ready, then as I already wrote go ahead. BUT if you make the change to your setup and the DNS name doesn’t exist then you’ll have a problem.

I’m not sure what you mean by ‘exists’ ?

How will I make the changes once the account has been switched over?

I’m being told two different things, it’s very confusing.

I am not familiar with the terminology in the coding world.

Do I, enter the new domain into both the “WordPress address (URL) and Site address (URL)” boxes before the registrar processes my new domain name?

If I do not and allow them to switch over to the new domain name, will my site work? And what will I need to change, if anything?

Change your URLs and then ask your provider to point the domain. Your site will be down until your host makes the changes. If you have hardcoded links within your posts such as an image linked as OldURL.jpg you will have to do a search and replace to change the OldURL to NewURL.

From Changing the Site URL
On the Settings->General screen in a single site installation of WordPress, there are two fields named “WordPress address (URL)” and “Site address (URL)”. These are also known as the “Home” and “Site URL” settings. They are important settings, since they control where WordPress thinks your site is located. They control the display of the URL in the admin section of your page as well as the front end, and are used throughout the WordPress code.

The “Home” setting is the address you want people to type in their browser to reach your WordPress blog.
The “Site URL” setting is the address where your WordPress core files reside.