Moving your website to a new host: a simple checklist
Short answer: Copy first, switch later. Back up, copy the site, test on the new host, then change the domain settings and email.
- 1Back up
- 2Copy site
- 3Test new host
- 4Switch domain
- 5Check email
Moving a site is like moving house: pack first, move second, cancel the old place last.
The plan at a glance
The checklist
Tap a step to open it.
1 Back up everything
Download all site files and the database from your old host. Keep two copies.
2 Copy the site to the new host
Upload the files and import the database. For WordPress, a migration plugin can do both for you.
3 Test before you switch
Open the copy on the new host (use a temporary address if you have one). Click through the pages, forms and checkout.
4 Switch the domain settings
Change the nameservers at your domain registrar to the ones your new host gave you. This can take some hours to spread.
5 Check email and keep the old host a while
Make sure your mailboxes work on the new host. Keep the old hosting for about a week, then cancel it.
Do not cancel the old host until the new site and email both work.
Questions people ask
Will my website go offline?
Not if you copy and test first and only then change the domain settings. Visitors may see the old or new site for a few hours while the change spreads.
What about my email?
Email lives with your domain settings. Create the same mailboxes on the new host before you switch, and move old mail if you need it.