How to see a moved WordPress on a new hosting
When you migrate a WordPress website to JetHost, you often need to preview it on the new hosting account before updating nameservers. Many users try to open the site through an IP address, temporary link, or server hostname. However, WordPress will not load correctly this way. You may see missing images, broken layouts, incorrect redirects, or login problems.
This behavior is normal and happens because of how WordPress handles its internal URLs.
Why WordPress cannot load with an alternative URL
WordPress stores two critical values inside the database:
- WordPress Address (Site URL)
- Home URL
Both contain the real domain name.
These values are not cosmetic. WordPress uses them everywhere in the system, including:
- theme files
- CSS and JavaScript
- images and media paths
- internal links
- form actions
- login and admin pages
Because of this, WordPress always loads content through the exact domain stored in the database. When you attempt to view it using:
- your JetHost server IP
- a temporary hosting preview URL
- a custom hostname
- the old host’s preview link
WordPress immediately tries to rewrite that request back to the stored domain.
As a result:
- your test site loads from the old hosting
- the layout breaks (CSS/JS loading from the wrong server)
- images appear missing
- you cannot log in because the login form redirects
- some pages may loop endlessly
This is why a WordPress site cannot be viewed correctly without using its actual domain name.
The correct solution: modify your computer’s hosts file
To preview your WordPress website privately on JetHost without changing DNS for everyone, you need to update your hosts file. The hosts file forces your computer only to load your domain from your JetHost server IP.
Visitors will still see the live site on the old hosting until you change nameservers.
This allows you to:
- test your migrated WordPress installation
- confirm your theme and plugins work correctly
- verify that internal links and images load from JetHost
- finish adjustments before going live
Follow the full step-by-step guide here:
How to see your website from your hosting by modifying the hosts file
When to use this method?
Use the hosts file preview when:
- migrating a WordPress website to JetHost
- rebuilding a site on JetHost before launch
- testing performance and configuration
- correcting errors before nameserver changes
- avoiding downtime during a move
JetHost Experts Tip
When you update your hosts file, make sure you use the server IP address assigned to your hosting plan. You can find it easily inside your JetHost Client Area -> Services -> Manage. Look for the Nameserver information and IP Address section.
Need more help?
If you need help finding your server IP or the site still loads incorrectly after editing your hosts file, please contact JetHost team. We will check your hosting settings and guide you.
If you have not moved your website yet, we can handle the migration for you. JetHost offers free website migration, and our team will transfer your WordPress site safely to your hosting account.
