Move Your Website to a New Host

What This Guide Helps You Do

This guide explains how to move your website to a new host, from copying its files and databases through to switching the domain. It is for owners changing providers or plans who want the site to work on the new server before visitors see it. You need admin access to the old and new hosts, the database login details and a recent backup, or the time to make one.

Steps to Move the Site

1. Back up everything first. Copy the site's files, databases and mailboxes to a safe place outside the old host. This protects you if something goes wrong during the move.
2. Prepare the new host. Set up the account or plan, install the software versions the site needs, and create empty databases with their own users and permissions. Matching the versions and settings reduces surprises later.
3. Copy the files and databases. Transfer the site files and import the database export. Check file permissions and the database connection details, and update any configuration values that still name the old host or address.
4. Test the site on the new host. Before changing any domain records, check the site through a temporary address or a local preview, if your host provides one. Test key pages, forms, logins, any checkout or booking steps and scheduled jobs.
5. Move email separately. Copy the mailboxes and their settings to the new host, then confirm that messages send and arrive correctly. Email is a separate service, so it is easy to lose if you do not plan for it. Read what a free website migration includes for what hosts often leave to you.
6. Switch the domain. Update the domain's DNS records to point to the new host. If you can, lower the record's time-to-live (TTL) beforehand so the change spreads faster. Keep the old host running afterwards so visitors who still reach it are not left with an error.
7. Verify and then clean up. Check that the site loads correctly, that forms and email work and that the SSL certificate is valid on the new host. Close the old account only after the switch has been stable for a while and you hold a final backup.

Common Mistakes and When to Ask for Help

• Cancelling the old host before the domain has moved and the new site is verified.
• Forgetting that changes made on the old host after the copy will not appear on the new one.
• Leaving email behind, so messages sent during the switch are lost or rejected.
• Skipping the test, so broken links and configuration differences appear only after visitors arrive.

Ask the new host's support for help if you are unsure about the database import, the email move or the SSL setup. Ask too whether it offers migration assistance and what that covers, since hosting and domain names are separate services that each need checking.

Can I move a website to a new host myself?

Yes, many owners do, especially for small sites built on standard software. It takes careful copying of files and databases, testing on the new host and managing the domain switch. Complex sites, online stores and sites with important email may benefit from help from the new host or a specialist.

How long does it take to move a website?

It depends on the size of the site, the number of databases and mailboxes, and how much testing you do. Simple sites can often move in a few hours, while larger sites with email and custom setups can take days. DNS changes also need time to reach visitors, so the switch itself is rarely instant.

Will my search rankings change when I move hosts?

They should not, if the content, page addresses and redirects stay the same and the site stays online during the move. Problems usually come from missing pages, broken redirects or downtime. Check your key addresses on the new host, and keep the old one running until the change has settled.