How to transfer a website to another hosting or domain without loss: step-by-step instructions

Why you may need to transfer your website

Most business owners face a situation when they need to transfer a website to another hosting or domain.
 There are different reasons for this:

  • slow operation or frequent failures of the old one This is a service that allows you to store your website files on a server so that they are available on the Internet.hosting;
  • opt-in This is the unique address of your website on the Internet that users enter in their browsers to find your site.domain name (for example, for an international version);
  • business expansion and transition to VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a type of hosting where the server is divided into several virtual machines, each of which has its own resources (RAM, CPU, disk space).VPS or cloud server;
  • the need to optimize website performance or security.

Incorrectly performed migration can lead to loss of data, SEO positions, or damage to the databaseso it is important to proceed in stages and be technically competent.

Step 1. Prepare a backup copy of your website

Before making any changes, make a full backup of the site files and database.
 This is the most important step to ensure that in case of an error, you will be able to return the site to working order.

How to make a backup:

  • for sites on WordPress – use plugins UpdraftPlus, Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration plugins;
  • for sites on other CMS – create an archive using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a protocol for transferring files between computers via the Internet or a local network.FTP and export the database via phpMyAdmin;
  • also save a copy locally or in the cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox).

💡 Tip: if you have a large website, it is better to order professional website transfer without losses from developers or hosting specialists.

Step 2. Prepare a new hosting

After creating the backup, you need to set up a new hosting account.
 It should meet the technical requirements of your CMS (PHP version, memory size, MySQL support, etc.).

Check it out:

  • access to FTP/SFTP;
  • creation a new database;
  • PHP version and HTTPS/SSL certificate settings.

💡 Tip: if the site is on WordPress, make sure that the server supports wp-cli and has SSD storage – it affects the speed.

Step 3. Upload website files to a new server

Next you need to transfer the site files to the new hosting.

How to do it:

  1. Connect via an FTP client (for example, FileZilla).
  2. Copy all files from the old hosting.
  3. Upload them to the root folder (public_html or www) of the new server.

 

For WordPress sites you also need to update the file wp-config.phpfile by specifying:

  • a new database,
  • username,
  • password and host.

Step 4. Import the database

Go to. This is a web application for managing MySQL or MariaDB databases through a browser interface.phpMyAdmin of the new hosting and import the previously saved one This is a file that contains a set of SQL commands (Structured Query Language) that are used to interact with databases.SQL file.
 Make sure that all tables are loaded without errors.
 After that, the site is technically ready for launch.

Step 5. Update DNS records

Now you need the domain to point to the new hosting.
 To do this, update the following in your domain registrar DNS records (A-record or NS-servers).

💡 Please note:

  • the DNS update process can take up to 24 hours;
  • during this time, the site may be partially opened or from the old server.

Stage 6. Testing and verification of the site

After updating DNS, be sure to check:

  • whether all pages are working correctly;
  • whether the site is opened via HTTPS;
  • whether there are any 404 or 500 errors;
  • whether forms, payments, and integrations work correctly.

💡 Tip: use the services of GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insightsservices to make sure that your loading speed hasn’t deteriorated after the migration.

Step 7. If you are moving your website to another domain

When you change not only your hosting, but also your domainit is important to maintain your SEO position.
 To do this, you need:

  • customize permanent redirects (301) from the old domain to the new one;
  • update all internal links, sitemaps, and robots.txt files;
  • notify Google via the Google Search Console about the domain change.

When to contact a specialist

If you are not sure how to transfer a website on your own, it is better to entrust this process to professionals.
 Website development team will do it:

  • full site audit before transferring;
  • correct DNS and SSL configuration;
  • testing after migration;
  • security and performance testing.

This way you avoid the risk of data loss and business downtime.

Bottom line.

To transfer your website to another hosting or domain without losing it, follow three main rules:

  1. Make a a full backup before taking any action.
  2. Transfer files and database in sequence.
  3. Be sure to check DNS, HTTPS, and redirects after the migration.

 

A properly executed migration is not only about technical stability, but also about maintaining SEO positions, conversions, and customer trust.
 And if you need confidence in the result, order professional website transfer and technical support from our web development team.