As a general rule, the larger the physical distance between you and the server where your website is hosted, the longer response time you may expect. Therefore, it is recommended that you choose a server location for your hosting plan that is closest to your users.
The server location can be changed once every 30 days 💡
When to change your server location
Before changing your server location, consider the following:
Select a location that is the closest to your website visitors. You can use the detailed information on the Analytics page to verify it. If most of them are located far from your current server, perform a server transfer.
If you have visitors from all over the world, a better solution is a CDN. It will store multiple copies of your website in proxy servers worldwide, improving your website speed regardless of physical location. This will also help improve SEO and provide additional DDoS protection.
Websites created with Hostinger Website Builder have integrated CDN features by default. Therefore, the server location cannot be changed.
How to initiate a server transfer
You can select the server location after purchase while setting up your order. If your hosting plan is already active, you can change your server location by following these steps:
Navigate to Websites → Dashboard, and search for Plan details on the sidebar:
On the Plan details page, find the Server Details section, and click on the pencil icon next to the current server location:
Open the drop-down menu to find the available options and select the preferred one; click on Next, double-check all the transfer details, and press Start to initiate the transfer.
If you're looking for more sustainable options, these data centers run on renewable energy: USA (PHX), USA (Boston), Germany, Lithuania, UK, Brazil, and France 🌱
For a detailed list, check out Hostinger server locations.
What happens during server transfer?
Server transfer can take up to 4 hours to complete. During that time, your hosting panel will be locked to prevent any changes.
In addition, your hosting IP will change. You will receive an email after the transfer is completed indicating the new IP value. You can also check it on the Plan details page:
If your domain is pointed to Hostinger by A record, you will need to update the IP manually.
If your domain is pointed to Hostinger by nameservers, the change is automatic.
You will also need to manually update to the new IP any remote connections, APIs, or scripts that require the use of your IP.
Since this change will be applied to your domain's DNS records, your website and email may temporarily stop working during propagation – it requires a few hours to complete.
How to change the location of a VPS
The location of your virtual private server is fixed after selecting it during the VPS setup process. As an alternative, you can reinstall it on a different location.
Reinstalling the VPS on a different location will permanently delete all your current data. Make sure to download a backup via FTP beforehand if you wish to keep your information.
To initiate the reinstall, navigate to the VPS section and click on the server in question. On the left, select Overview, open the VPS information tab, and click on the pen icon:
Select the preferred server location from the dropdown, note the warning regarding data loss. When all is good to go, click on Next to initiate the reinstall on the new location.