Domain names, generally, stay at the site of the registrar from whom you bought it. So in reality your domain name remains on the registrar’s server.
On that entity’s site there is a place where DNS settings for each domain are entered, including yours. That setting looks like: “ns1.yourwebhosting.com” and at least a second one reading like: “ns2.yourwebhosting.com”. (illustrative only.)
This setting registers the place where traffic and browsers can find your domain. So at those DNS locations is where your WP files actually reside. That is where you must go to look at the files; where everyone must go to see your domain by typing “yourdomain.com”.
On a server that hosts websites, in the section rented, there will be a root file for your purchased hosting package named something like: yourwebhosting.com/home/d0_0b .
In that directory there is, at many commercial hosting companies, a folder entitled “public_html/”. In this folder yourdomain.com will have its own file folder clearly labeled with the name of your domain. Within this directory, all of your WP files reside. You can view them/find them there: yourwebhosting.com/home/d0_0b/public_html/yourdomain.com/ (for illustration only). All of these directories and files act similarly to the files and directories on your computer; double clicking to open, right click functions, etc. You need FTP editor to view them. However,
Most hosting companies have cPanel for clients like you to use. Get that address from your hosting service if you do not have it. Log in and look for a menu made of a vertical string of rectangles (main interface). In one under the heading “FILES”, you can click on a folder icon labeled “file manager” to get to your hosting directory and find your files as outlined above.
Be very cautious about not deleting or editing any files unless you know what you are doing. Changes to a WP site should be made by logging onto your site and using the admin dashboard. That’s where building your site takes place after basic installation. Deleting or editing a file installed on the hosting server can break your installation and put your site off line.
If you have never been, finding the files is seemingly mysterious, perhaps even arduous. But after a few uses it will be familiar. DO NOT change anything on the hosting server unless you 100% certain you know what it is you are doing. Read all pop-ups closely–don’t just click through.
Good luck. Enjoy WP!
