Migrating a website to new hosting sounds risky, but when done in the right order it's mostly copying and pointing. This guide covers a general website move — follow the linked guides for WordPress and email specifics.
The right order
- Download everything from the old host. Copy all website files and export every database. Your old host's cPanel Backup or FTP makes this easy — see How to Create a Manual Backup for the cPanel way of doing it.
- Upload to WebFulHost. Put files in public_html and import databases (in phpMyAdmin). If this is a WordPress site, use the dedicated guide below.
- Re-create settings that don't transfer. Email accounts, forwarded addresses, cron jobs, SSL — anything tied to the old server needs remaking here. The SSL is handled automatically once your domain points at us.
- Point your domain here. Change nameservers at your registrar to WebFulHost's — see How to Change Nameservers. Allow for propagation time.
- Test thoroughly. Browse pages, submit a form, check email. Use the "domain not pointing" check if anything looks odd.
- Only then cancel the old host. Once you're confident, cancel to avoid paying two providers — but keep your downloaded backups somewhere safe.
Tip: do the move at a quiet time. Even though a file-and-DNS migration needs no actual downtime window, low traffic keeps any hiccup invisible.
Will there be downtime?
Because the old site keeps working until DNS points elsewhere, there's usually no downtime at all. The only awkward window is the minutes just after propagation when newly-directed visitors hit a site you may still be testing.
Can WebFulHost help?
If the migration is complex or you'd rather not risk it, open a ticket before you start — our team can advise on the exact sequence for your setup and, where possible, help perform parts of the move.