To transfer website to new host safely, back up your website, prepare the new hosting account, move your files and database, test everything, and update your DNS settings.
A website migration does not have to be complicated. With proper planning, you can move your website while protecting your files, database, emails, configurations, and SEO.
If you’re planning a migration to TezHost, register here to get started.
Need help deciding which hosting plan you need? Talk to a TezHost sales agent for assistance.
Why Should You Transfer Your Website to a New Host?
When you transfer website to new host, you may be looking for better performance, improved support, additional resources, stronger security, or more suitable pricing.
Common reasons for changing hosts include:
- Slow website performance
- Frequent downtime
- Limited storage or resources
- Poor customer support
- Lack of scalability
- Expensive renewal prices
- Need for VPS, cloud, or dedicated resources
- Better hosting features
Before starting your migration, it’s important to understand exactly what you want to improve.
You can also read 7 Tips to Find a Reliable Hosting Provider before choosing your new host.
Step 1: Choose Your New Hosting Provider
Before you transfer website to new host, select a hosting provider that can meet your website’s current and future requirements.
Consider server resources, performance, security, backups, scalability, support, and pricing.
Your new provider should also offer a hosting environment compatible with your website.
TezHost provides several options, including cPanel Hosting, VPS Hosting, Cloud Servers, and Dedicated Servers.
If you’re unsure which option is appropriate, talk to a TezHost sales agent.
Step 2: Create a Complete Backup
The most important preparation when you transfer website to new host is creating a complete backup.
Your backup should include:
- Website files
- Databases
- Images and media
- Themes and plugins
- Configuration files
- Email data, where applicable
- DNS records and other important settings
A backup gives you a recovery point if something goes wrong during migration.
For WordPress websites, follow this guide to backing up and restoring your WordPress website.
Never begin a major migration without verifying that your backup is complete and usable.
Step 3: Set Up Your New Hosting Account
Before you transfer website to new host, create your new hosting account and configure the required environment.
Depending on your website, this may include creating:
- A hosting account
- Databases
- Email accounts
- FTP/SFTP access
- SSL certificates
- DNS settings
- Required PHP or application versions
If you’re moving to a different type of hosting, make sure the new environment supports your website’s software and applications.
For example, a growing website may benefit from moving from shared hosting to VPS Hosting.
Learn more about VPS vs. shared hosting before making the switch.
Step 4: Move Your Website Files
When you transfer website to new host, the next step is moving your website files from the old server to the new one.
For a typical website, this includes your website’s core files, themes, plugins, images, media, and configuration files.
Depending on your hosting environment, you may use FTP, SFTP, cPanel’s file management tools, or another migration method.
The goal is to make sure the new server contains the same website files as the old server.
TezHost’s Precise Transfer Method provides additional information about transferring website data.
Step 5: Move Your Database
If you transfer website to new host and your website uses a database, the database must also be migrated.
WordPress websites, eCommerce platforms, content management systems, and many custom applications rely on databases.
After importing the database, update the relevant configuration settings so your website can connect to the new database correctly.
A missing or incorrectly configured database can result in errors even when all website files have been transferred successfully.
Step 6: Test Your Website Before Changing DNS
Before you transfer website to new host completely, test the website on the new server.
Check important areas such as:
- Homepage
- Internal pages
- Images
- Forms
- Login functionality
- Database-driven features
- Plugins
- Shopping carts
- Checkout
- Email forms
- SSL certificate
- Mobile responsiveness
Testing before changing DNS helps identify problems while your old website is still online.
This is an important part of a website migration guide because it can significantly reduce the risk of downtime.
Step 7: Update Your DNS
Once you transfer website to new host and confirm that everything works correctly, update your domain’s DNS records to point to the new hosting server.
DNS changes can take some time to propagate across the internet.
During this period, some visitors may still reach the old server while others reach the new one.
For this reason, keep your old hosting account active until you are confident that traffic has moved successfully.
If you are also moving your domain registration, see How to Transfer a Domain Name.
You can also explore TezHost Domains for domain services.
How Can You Change Web Host Without Downtime?
To transfer website to new host with minimal downtime, keep the old website running while you prepare and test the new server.
A common approach is:
- Back up the existing website.
- Set up the new hosting account.
- Copy the website files and database.
- Test the new server.
- Update DNS.
- Monitor the website after the DNS change.
- Keep the old hosting active until the migration is confirmed.
This approach gives you time to identify and resolve problems before completely shutting down the old hosting environment.
For migration assistance, talk to a TezHost sales agent.
What About Your Domain and Email?
When you transfer website to new host, your domain and email services require separate consideration.
Moving website hosting does not necessarily mean you need to transfer your domain registration. You can keep the domain with your existing registrar and simply update its DNS records.
If your email is connected to the old hosting account, make sure your MX records and email accounts are correctly configured before making DNS changes.
If you plan to move the domain itself, follow the appropriate domain transfer process.
Will Moving My Website Affect SEO?
When you transfer website to new host, the migration itself does not have to cause permanent SEO problems.
However, incorrect migrations can result in broken links, missing pages, downtime, incorrect redirects, lost content, or indexing problems.
To protect your SEO:
- Keep your URLs unchanged whenever possible.
- Check internal links.
- Test important pages.
- Maintain your redirects.
- Make sure your robots.txt file is correct.
- Verify your XML sitemap.
- Monitor Google Search Console after migration.
- Avoid unnecessary URL changes during the hosting migration.
A carefully planned migration can help you change web host without downtime while maintaining your existing website structure.
How TezHost Is Revolutionizing Website Migration
When businesses transfer website to new host, the biggest concern is often the complexity of moving everything safely.
TezHost takes a more customer-focused approach by offering multiple hosting environments and helping customers choose infrastructure according to their requirements.
Businesses can use cPanel Hosting for traditional website hosting, move to VPS Hosting for greater control, or choose Cloud Servers and Dedicated Servers for larger workloads.
This gives businesses room to grow without being locked into one hosting environment.
TezHost also focuses on making hosting decisions easier through its sales and support teams. If you’re planning a migration and aren’t sure which infrastructure is right for you, talk to a TezHost sales agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to transfer a website to a new host?
It depends on the size and complexity of the website. A small website can often be migrated relatively quickly, while larger websites, databases, and applications may require more preparation and testing.
Can I transfer my website without losing data?
Yes. When you transfer website to new host, creating and verifying a complete backup before migration can significantly reduce the risk of data loss.
Can I transfer my website without downtime?
Yes, in many cases. By setting up and testing the new server before changing DNS, you can keep the old website online during most of the migration process.
Do I need to transfer my domain to the new host?
No. Website hosting and domain registration are separate services. You can keep your domain with your current registrar and update its DNS records to point to the new host.
Will changing hosting affect my SEO?
A hosting change does not automatically hurt SEO. However, downtime, broken URLs, missing content, incorrect redirects, or technical errors during migration can affect search performance.
Can TezHost help with website migration?
Yes. If you are planning to transfer website to new host and need help selecting a suitable hosting solution, talk to a TezHost sales agent.
Conclusion
To transfer website to new host safely, plan the migration before making any DNS changes. Back up your website, prepare the new server, move your files and database, test everything, and monitor the website after switching DNS.
The right hosting provider can also make the process easier and provide room for future growth.
TezHost offers cPanel Hosting, VPS Hosting, Cloud Servers, Dedicated Servers, and Domain Services.
Ready to move your website? Register with TezHost and explore your hosting options.
Need help deciding where to start? Talk to a TezHost sales agent and discuss your migration requirements.
