localhost means files on your own computer, so when everyone else goes to that, they’re being directed to the files on their own computer, not yours.
You need to put your site publicly online with a hosting provider and a domain name if you want others to access it.
If you don’t have a hosting provider yet, we have some recommendations at https://wordpress.org/hosting/
Thread Starter
hcox22
(@hcox22)
Oh okay, thanks for the recommendations. How do I change it from a localhost then?
First, you’ll need a hosting provider. We have some recommendations here: https://wordpress.org/hosting/
Most hosting providers will offer you a free domain to get started.
Now, depending on how much work you did on the localhost site, you may just want to start over with a new installation on the hosting provider.
If you did extensive customization though, follow this guide to move your site: https://wordpress.org/support/article/moving-wordpress/#changing-your-domain-name-and-urls
Thread Starter
hcox22
(@hcox22)
Okay once I chose a hosting provider and create a domain name then what?
Now, depending on how much work you did on the localhost site, you may just want to start over with a new installation on the hosting provider.
If you did extensive customization though, follow this guide to move your site: https://wordpress.org/support/article/moving-wordpress/#changing-your-domain-name-and-urls
Thread Starter
hcox22
(@hcox22)
So I chose Siteground since it was the cheapest and just want to do the WordPress Automigrator and it’s now asking for aa cPanel login. I know I never set up a cPanel login but I’m not seeing an option for creating a login.
You don’t have cPanel on your localhost, and it wouldn’t be able to move content from your localhost anyway. Think of your current site as something that is only ever accessible to you, and only on that particular computer.
You will need to follow the steps at https://wordpress.org/support/article/moving-wordpress/#changing-your-domain-name-and-urls
It is a complicated process, that’s why I recommended just starting over with a new installation at the hosting provider.
This is also why we generally only recommend localhost for developing WordPress itself, or for people who are familiar with working directly in a server environment.
