Hosting a Wix Website on Another Server

Greetings, Dev! In this article, we will be discussing the process of hosting a Wix website on another server. This might be necessary for various reasons such as better performance, more control over the server, or integrating third-party services. We will cover all the important steps, including transferring the domain and setting up the new server.

Step 1: Exporting the Wix Website

The first step in moving a Wix website to another server is to export the website. This can be done easily from the Wix editor by following these steps:

1. Login to your Wix account and open the website you want to export.
2. Click on the “Site” menu and select “Settings”.
3. Click on the “Export Site” button and follow the instructions to download the ZIP file containing your website files.

Once you have the ZIP file, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Setting up the New Server

Before you can host your Wix website on a new server, you need to have a server and a domain name. There are many hosting providers that offer server hosting and domain registration services. Choose a provider that suits your needs and budget.

Once you have access to the new server, you need to upload the website files. You can do this via FTP or a file manager provided by the hosting provider. Create a new folder for your website files and upload the files to that folder.

Choosing a Web Server

When setting up your new server, you need to choose a web server. Apache and Nginx are the most popular web servers, and most hosting providers offer both options. Apache is easier to configure and has better support for .htaccess files, while Nginx has better performance and is more lightweight.

Configuring the Web Server

Once you have chosen a web server, you need to configure it to serve your Wix website. This involves creating a new virtual host or modifying an existing one. The exact steps depend on the web server you are using, but here are some general guidelines:

1. Create a new virtual host or open the configuration file for the existing one.
2. Add a ServerName directive with your domain name.
3. Add a DocumentRoot directive with the path to your website files.
4. Configure any necessary options such as PHP support, SSL, or caching.

Save the configuration file and restart the web server to apply the changes.

Step 3: Transferring the Domain

Now that you have set up the new server and uploaded the website files, you need to transfer the domain from Wix to the new hosting provider. Here’s how:

1. Login to your Wix account and open the website you want to transfer.
2. Click on the “Site” menu and select “Settings”.
3. Click on the “Domain” tab and select “Transfer Domain”.
4. Follow the instructions to unlock the domain, get the transfer code, and initiate the transfer.

Once you have initiated the transfer, it may take up to a few days for the domain to be transferred to the new hosting provider. During this time, the website may be unavailable or show an error message.

Step 4: Setting up Email Accounts

If you are using email accounts associated with your Wix website, you need to set up new email accounts on the new server. Most hosting providers offer email hosting as part of their hosting plans. You can use an email client such as Outlook or Thunderbird to access your email accounts.

Setting up MX Records

When setting up email accounts on the new server, you need to configure the MX records to point to the new server. This involves updating the DNS settings for your domain. Here’s how:

1. Login to your domain registrar account and open the DNS settings for your domain.
2. Edit the MX records to point to the new server. The exact values depend on the hosting provider and server configuration.

Save the DNS settings and wait for the changes to propagate. This may take up to a few hours.

Step 5: Testing the Website

Once you have completed all the steps and the domain has been transferred, you need to test the website to make sure it is working properly. Here are some things to check:

• Load the website in a web browser to make sure it loads without errors.
• Navigate through the website to make sure all pages and links work as expected.
• If the website uses forms, submit a test form to make sure it is delivered to the correct email address.
• If the website has any third-party integrations such as payment gateways or social media plugins, test them to make sure they work properly.

FAQ

Can I host a Wix website on any server?

No, you can only host a Wix website on a server that supports PHP and MySQL, which are the technologies used by Wix.

Do I need to transfer my domain to a new provider to host my Wix website on another server?

Yes, you need to transfer your domain to a new provider if you want to host your Wix website on another server. This is because the domain is currently managed by Wix, and you need to transfer it to a new provider to point it to the new server.

Will my website look the same after I transfer it to a new server?

Yes, your website should look and function the same after you transfer it to a new server, as long as you have correctly exported the website files and configured the new server. However, there may be some minor differences due to differences in server configurations or caching mechanisms.

Can I still edit my website after I transfer it to a new server?

Yes, you can still edit your website after you transfer it to a new server. However, you need to edit the website files directly instead of using the Wix editor. You can use a code editor such as Visual Studio Code or Notepad++ to edit the files.