If you’ll be changing your website’s host (here’s my recommendation), we will want to ensure there’s no interruption in your email. Here’s a quick summary of your options, followed by definitions of the technical terms I’m using.
Next Steps for Migration
Your new website is ready to launch, and with the launch we’ll be changing web hosts. Here is what needs to be done based on your specific situation.
Option 1: You’re already managing your DNS Settings through your Domain Registrar (they are also serving as your DNS Host) or another service like Cloudflare.
Simply change the A Record or CNAME to point to your new host (they will provide the details on this step). Your email will be fine because your MX Records won’t be affected.
Option 2: Your current host is also your DNS Host (you used their nameservers). Your email is set up through a third party (ex: Google Apps)
Sign up for a free Cloudflare account. During signup they’ll copy all the DNS records from your current DNS host to them. Confirm that MX Records were carried over. Point the A Record / CNAME to your new web host (this won’t affect your site right now because Cloudflare isn’t currently your DNS host).
When you’re ready to go live with the new site, update the nameservers on your domain to point to Cloudflare. Once this DNS change propagates, your new site will be visible.
Option 3: Your current host is your DNS Host and provides email for you (they are your Email Host).
Sign up for a free Cloudflare account. During signup they’ll copy all the DNS records from your current DNS host to them. Update the nameservers on your domain to point to Cloudflare. The records should be untouched (old host and old email still used) but you now control the records.
Set up email with a different service like G Suite, then in Cloudflare update the MX Records to your new email provider. If you are using IMAP to keep emails and contacts in sync, all of that will most likely be lost when you change email hosts so make sure you’ve backed up whatever information you’d like to save. Also, everything that is connected to your email host will need to be reconfigured (outlook, mobile email applications…).
When you’re ready to go live with the new site, update the A Record / CNAME in Cloudflare to point to the new host.
Terminology
- Domain Registrar. This is where you purchased your domain from. Common registrars include Godaddy and Namecheap. In the DNS Settings you can either manage through them (they will be your DNS Host) or you can point the nameservers somewhere else, to a different DNS Host.
- Website Hosting. This is where your actual website will be hosted. I recommend WPEngine. Many hosts (WPEngine included) only provide website hosting and do not provide email hosting.
- Email Hosting. This is where your email is hosted. I recommend Gmail for Work. If you just want email forwarding ([email protected] forwards to [email protected]) you can usually do that free of cost through your DNS Hosting.
- DNS Hosting Service. These is where your “Domain Name Server (DNS) Settings” are managed. It converts a domain name to an IP address based on the type of traffic (ex: web traffic goes to Host A, email traffic goes to Host B). You’ll wait to either use your Domain Registrar as your DNS Host, or use a third party DNS Hosting Service that you control. A third option (not recommended) is to let your website’s host serve as the DNS Host. The reason this isn’t recommended is if you change your hosting in the future, any additional DNS Records (like your email) will need to be set up again.
- A Record or CNAME. The type of DNS Record that describes where web traffic will go. This is what you’ll use to connect your domain to your Website Host.
- MX Record. The type of DNS Record that describes where mail traffic will go. This is what you’ll use to connect your domain to your Email Host.