Site Migration Guide: Move Web Hosts Without Downtime

Switching hosts sounds scary, but done in the right order it's safe and invisible to your visitors. The golden rule: never change your DNS until the new site is fully working on the new host. Here's the exact process.

Before you start

• Take a full backup of your current site (files + database).
• Note where your email is hosted — many people lose email by moving DNS carelessly.
• Have logins ready for both your old host and your new host.

Step 1: Set up the new host first

Create your account, add the domain as an "addon" or primary site, and make sure PHP/database versions match (or exceed) your old setup. Don't touch DNS yet.

Step 2: Copy your files and database

Move all website files via SFTP or the host's migration tool, then export your database from the old server and import it on the new one. Many hosts offer a free migration service — use it if available.

Step 3: Test on a temporary URL

Most hosts give you a preview URL or let you edit your local hosts file to view the site on the new server. Click through key pages, test forms, and check that images and links load. Fix anything broken now — while your live site is untouched.

Step 4: Lower your DNS TTL in advance

A day before switching, reduce your domain's TTL (e.g. to 300 seconds). This makes the eventual switch propagate fast instead of taking up to 48 hours.

Step 5: Point your domain to the new host

Update your A record (or nameservers) to the new host. Because you tested in Step 3, visitors see the same site whether they hit the old or new server during propagation — zero downtime.

Step 6: Verify, then decommission

• Confirm the site loads from the new host (check with our DNS Lookup and Headers Inspector).
• Test email sending and receiving.
• Wait 48–72 hours for full propagation before cancelling the old plan.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Changing DNS too early — before the new site is tested and ready.
• Forgetting email — if email lives with your old host, move it or keep MX records pointed correctly.
• Cancelling the old host immediately — keep it for a few days as a safety net.

Picking the new host is half the battle — compare your options in our hosting comparisons or read the full reviews first.