Moving Hosting Providers: How to Migrate Your Website Without Downtime

Changing hosting is often worthwhile for better speed, support or security. Done carefully, visitors will not notice anything. The key is to build and test the new copy before switching anything.

1. Choose the new host

Look at performance, backups, security features, support quality and whether the plan suits your traffic. Make sure it supports the software versions your site needs.

2. Back up everything

Take a complete backup of files and the database, and keep one off the old server. See our backup guide.

3. Set up the new account and copy the site

Install the site on the new host, using a migration tool or manual copy. Do not change the live DNS yet.

4. Test on the new server

Use a temporary address or your computer’s hosts file to view the new copy. Check pages, forms, logins, checkout, images and scheduled tasks.

5. Prepare DNS

A day or two ahead, lower the DNS time-to-live (TTL) for your records so changes spread quickly. Note all existing records, especially email.

6. Switch DNS

Point your domain to the new host at a quiet time. Freeze content changes on the old site while the change spreads, so no orders or comments are lost.

7. Email, SSL and checks

• Confirm email still works. If email is hosted with the old provider, keep it running or move it deliberately.
• Make sure the SSL certificate is active on the new host.
• Check the site loads over HTTPS everywhere.

8. Keep the old host for a short time

Leave it active for a few days in case you need to roll back or retrieve something, then cancel it.

Common pitfalls

• Forgetting email records
• Missing scheduled jobs or caches that need clearing
• Hard-coded addresses pointing to the old server
• Accidentally blocking search engines on the live site

Keep your logins private

You do not need to share your hosting password. Use the host’s team or sub-user features. We can manage moves for you. See our migration service and the migration checklist.