How to Change Web Hosting: A Guide to Moving Your Website

Changing web hosting takes 3 to 7 days and involves backing up your site, moving files and databases, updating your domain’s nameservers, and testing everything before cutting off your old host. Most people can do this themselves, though it’s not difficult if you follow the right steps.

Let’s walk through exactly what you need to do.

Why You Might Need to Change Web Hosting

Before we dive into the how, it helps to understand why you’d want to switch hosts in the first place.

Your hosting provider directly affects your website’s speed, reliability, and customer support quality. If your site is slow, crashes often, or you’re getting poor service, moving makes sense.

Common reasons to switch include:

Performance issues. Your pages load slowly or your hosting can’t handle traffic spikes.

Poor customer support. You can’t reach anyone when you have problems, or responses take days.

Limited features. Your current host doesn’t offer the tools you need, like email accounts, SSL certificates, or database management.

High costs. You found a better deal elsewhere or your renewal rates jumped unexpectedly.

Outgrowing your plan. Your business grew and you need more resources like storage or bandwidth.

Technical limitations. You want to use specific software like WordPress, WooCommerce, or custom applications your current host won’t support.

Understanding your reason helps you pick the right new host and avoid the same problems.

The Timeline: How Long Does Changing Web Hosting Take

Most hosting changes take 3 to 7 days total. Here’s the realistic breakdown:

Preparation phase (1 day). Backing up your site and gathering login information.

Migration phase (1 to 2 days). Uploading files and databases to the new host.

Nameserver update (1 day). Pointing your domain to the new host. This propagates globally in 24 to 48 hours.

Testing and verification (1 to 2 days). Making sure everything works before canceling your old account.

Your site might have some downtime during the nameserver switch, usually under 1 hour, though it can be up to 24 hours in rare cases. Some hosts offer zero-downtime migration, which costs extra but keeps your site live the entire time.

Step 1: Choose Your New Web Hosting Provider

Don’t skip this step. The wrong choice creates more problems later.

When comparing hosts, look for these essentials:

Server reliability. Check uptime guarantees. 99.9% uptime is standard and acceptable. Anything less means your site goes down regularly.

Speed and performance. Look for hosts using SSD storage and modern server technology. Read reviews mentioning load times.

Support quality. Test their support before signing up. Can you reach someone via live chat? Phone? How quickly do they respond?

Scalability. Make sure you can upgrade resources as your site grows without major hassle.

Specific feature needs. If you use WordPress, ensure they offer managed WordPress hosting. If you need databases, email, or specific programming languages, verify they support them.

Backup systems. Does the host automatically back up your site? What’s their backup frequency and retention policy?

Migration assistance. Many hosts now offer free migrations. This saves time and reduces risk.

Use review sites like G2 or Capterra for honest feedback, but also read actual customer reviews on independent sites. Watch out for obviously fake reviews (all 5-stars or all 1-stars).

Popular reliable options across different budgets include SiteGround (excellent support), Bluehost (WordPress-focused), and A2 Hosting (performance-oriented). Your specific needs determine which fits best.

Step 2: Back Up Your Entire Website

This is your safety net. Never skip it.

What you’re backing up:

All files in your website’s root directory and subdirectories. Usually in a folder called public_html or www.

Your database. If you use WordPress, this stores your posts, pages, comments, and settings. Other platforms like Drupal or custom applications use databases too.

Your email accounts and their data (if hosted with your current provider).

Configuration files and settings.

How to back up:

Using your hosting control panel. Most hosts provide a backup button in cPanel or similar control panels. Click it and download the full backup file to your computer. This is the easiest method.

Using an FTP client. Programs like FileZilla let you connect to your server and download all files to your computer. This takes longer but gives you granular control.

For databases, use phpMyAdmin. Most hosts provide this tool. Find your database, click export, and save the SQL file to your computer.

Using plugins if you run WordPress. Plugins like UpdraftPlus or Duplicator automate the process and create downloadable backup files.

Store backups in at least two places. Keep one on your computer and one in cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox. If something goes wrong during migration, you’ll have your original data.

Download your backup files to your computer before you do anything else. This step takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on your site size.

Step 3: Gather All Necessary Login Information

You’ll need these details before migration starts. Write them down or keep them in a secure password manager.

Hosting login credentials. Username and password for your current host’s control panel.

FTP or SFTP credentials. If you need to manually transfer files.

Database login. Usually in your hosting control panel, but some hosts give it separately.

Domain registrar login. Username and password for wherever your domain is registered. You’ll need this to change nameservers later.

DNS records. Take a screenshot of your current DNS settings. If you have custom email, SSL certificates, or other services pointing to your domain, you need these records for reference.

SSL certificate information. If you have an SSL certificate beyond what comes standard, note its details.

Email account information. List any email accounts and their forwarding settings.

Any third-party services. If you use CDNs, email services, or other tools connected to your domain, gather their settings.

Keep this information in a secure location. You’ll reference it during migration.

Step 4: Set Up Your Account at the New Hosting Provider

Create your account and configure your new hosting environment before transferring anything.

What to do:

Log into your new hosting account’s control panel.

Create the same directory structure as your old host if needed. Most hosts provide a public_html folder by default where your site files live.

Set up any email accounts you need. Most hosts let you create multiple email addresses tied to your domain.

Check for backup features. Enable automatic backups if available.

Install any required software. If moving to managed WordPress hosting, the host usually installs WordPress for you.

Create a temporary domain or subdomain. Some hosts give you a temporary domain like yoursite.newhostdomain.com. This lets you test your site before updating nameservers. Write down this temporary address.

Note any important settings in your control panel. Familiarize yourself with how everything is organized.

This setup takes about 30 minutes. Once done, you’re ready to move your files.

Step 5: Transfer Your Files and Database

This is the actual migration. There are several methods depending on your situation.

Method 1: Using Free Migration Service (Easiest)

Many hosts now offer free migrations. If your new host provides this, use it.

What happens:

You provide your old hosting login credentials to the new host.

Their technical team handles the file and database transfer.

They test everything and notify you when it’s complete.

You verify everything works on the temporary domain.

Advantages: You don’t do the technical work. Less chance of human error.

Disadvantages: You’re waiting for their team. Timeline varies by host. Usually 1 to 3 days.

If your new host offers this, it’s genuinely worth choosing them just for this service.

Method 2: Manual File Transfer Using FTP

If you’re doing this yourself, here’s how:

Step by step:

Download and install an FTP client like FileZilla (it’s free).

Get your new host’s FTP details from their control panel.

Open FileZilla. Enter your new host’s FTP address, username, and password.

Navigate to your old host’s files through the local side of FileZilla. Connect to your old host’s FTP first.

Select all files and folders in your old host’s public_html directory.

Drag them to the new host’s public_html folder on the right side.

Wait for the transfer to complete. Larger sites take several hours.

Verify all files transferred. Check that folder structures look the same.

This method is straightforward but time-consuming for large sites. Small sites under 100MB transfer in under an hour. Large sites with thousands of files take much longer.

Method 3: Using Migration Plugins (For WordPress)

If you’re moving a WordPress site, plugins make it easier.

Using the Duplicator plugin:

Install Duplicator on your current WordPress site.

Create a package. This bundles your entire WordPress installation (files, database, and settings).

Download both the installer and archive files.

Upload them to your new host using the control panel’s file manager or FTP.

Run the installer on your new host. It unpacks everything and reconfigures the database.

Delete the installer files when done.

This method typically takes 30 minutes for small sites and up to 2 hours for large ones.

Transferring Your Database

If your new host didn’t handle database transfer automatically:

Using phpMyAdmin:

Access phpMyAdmin in your old hosting control panel.

Find your database and click export.

Choose SQL format and click go. Download the SQL file.

Access phpMyAdmin in your new hosting control panel.

Create a new database with the same name (or note the new name).

Click import and select your SQL file.

Wait for the import to complete.

The process takes just a few minutes. Importing large databases (over 10MB) sometimes hits server limits. If that happens, ask your new host to import it for you.

Testing on the Temporary Domain

Before changing your actual domain’s nameservers, test everything on your temporary domain.

What to check:

Load your site. Does it look correct? Do images appear?

Click links. Do they work or show 404 errors?

Test forms. Can you submit contact forms or other interactive elements?

Check backend. Log into WordPress or your site’s admin panel. Does everything function?

Review databases. Verify your content is there and displays properly.

Test email. If you transferred email accounts, send test messages.

Look for broken links. Use tools like Broken Link Checker to scan for dead links.

Take screenshots of anything that looks wrong. You’ll need this info if you have to troubleshoot.

If anything is broken, you’ll fix it before pointing your actual domain at this new host. This prevents problems for your real visitors.

This testing phase takes 30 minutes to an hour. Don’t skip it. It’s much easier to fix issues now than after your domain points to the new host.

Step 6: Update Your Domain’s Nameservers

This is where your domain actually points to your new host. Once you do this, your site goes live on the new server.

What Are Nameservers

Nameservers are like a phone directory for the internet. They tell browsers where to find your website. When someone types your domain name, their browser asks the nameservers, which server should I look for this site on. The nameservers respond with your new host’s server address.

How to Change Nameservers

Find your new host’s nameserver addresses.

Log into your new hosting account’s control panel. Look for nameserver information. It’s usually under DNS settings or domain management. Write down the addresses. They typically look like ns1.newhostname.com and ns2.newhostname.com.

Log into your domain registrar.

This is wherever you registered your domain. It might be GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, or your hosting company if they also handle domains.

Find DNS or nameserver settings.

Look for a section called nameservers, DNS, domain management, or something similar.

Replace the old nameservers with the new ones.

Delete the old nameserver addresses.

Enter your new host’s nameserver addresses.

Save the changes.

Wait for propagation.

Nameserver changes take time to propagate across the internet. Typically 24 to 48 hours, though sometimes just a few hours.

During this period, some people might see your old site and others your new one depending on which nameservers their internet service provider queries. This is normal.

You can check propagation at sites like WhatsMyDNS.net. Enter your domain and it shows which nameservers different servers worldwide are using.

Important

Once you change nameservers, keep your old hosting account active for at least 24 to 48 hours. Some email or services might still connect to the old host. Canceling too early causes problems.

Step 7: Verify Everything Is Working

After nameserver propagation completes, verify your live domain works on the new host.

Check these things:

Load your actual domain. Go to yoursite.com in your browser. Does it load the new site?

Check page load speed. Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. Is it faster than before?

Test all functionality. Click links, submit forms, log into admin panels. Everything should work.

Verify email. Send test emails to any email accounts you transferred.

Check SSL certificate. Your domain should show a green padlock and https in the browser.

Search rankings. Your Google rankings shouldn’t change, but monitor them for a few days.

Analytics. If you use Google Analytics, verify it’s tracking correctly.

Backups. Confirm your new host is backing up your site.

If something isn’t working, troubleshoot while your old host is still active. You might need to manually adjust DNS records or contact support.

Step 8: Cancel Your Old Hosting Account

Wait at least 48 hours after changing nameservers before canceling. This ensures everything has propagated and nothing still points to the old server.

Before you cancel:

Verify your new host is definitely working. Don’t trust just one test.

Check that all email accounts have transferred if needed.

Confirm your backup of everything is secure on your computer.

Some hosts charge for early termination if you’re under contract. Know the policy before canceling.

How to cancel:

Log into your old hosting control panel.

Find account settings or billing section.

Look for a cancel or delete account option.

Follow the prompts. You might be asked why you’re leaving. Honest feedback helps improve their service.

Confirm the cancellation. You should get an email confirmation.

Your old account closes and billing stops.

Some hosts offer a grace period before fully deleting your account. This is helpful in case something goes wrong and you need to restore from their servers.

Common Problems During Change Web Hosting Migration

Site Shows Old Version After Nameserver Change

This usually means your browser cached the old site.

Clear your browser cache completely. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac, then clear all time periods.

Try a different browser. If the site loads correctly in a different browser, it’s a caching issue.

Try from a different device like your phone. Different devices often have separate caches.

If it still shows the old site everywhere, wait a bit longer for nameserver propagation. Check propagation status at WhatsMyDNS.net.

Broken Links or Missing Content

This happens when files didn’t transfer completely or the database import failed.

Re-transfer the files completely. Sometimes partial transfers happen with large sites.

Check file permissions. Files need proper permissions (usually 644) to be readable by the web server.

Verify the database imported successfully. Check phpMyAdmin on your new host.

Update your domain URL in settings if you changed domain names.

Manually fix broken links if only a few are affected.

Email Not Working After Migration

Email settings are separate from your website files.

Verify email accounts exist in your new host’s control panel.

Check that you’re using the correct new SMTP and POP3 server addresses from your new host.

Update email client settings on all devices.

If your new host doesn’t support email transfer, you might need to reconfigure email accounts from scratch.

Site Running Slower on New Host

Sometimes sites are actually slower on the new host despite better specs.

Check if PHP version is different. Older versions are slower.

Enable caching. Install caching plugins like WP Super Cache for WordPress.

Ask your new host about server load. If it’s high, you might be on an overloaded server.

Move to a different server or upgrade your plan if performance is genuinely bad.

Database Connection Errors

This usually means your site can’t connect to the new database.

Verify the database name, username, and password are correct.

Update your configuration files with the new database credentials.

Check that the database user has proper permissions.

Verify the database server address in your config files. It might be different from the old host.

Ask your new host’s support team for the correct database connection details.

Pro Tips for Smooth Hosting Migration

Plan During Off-Peak Hours

Schedule your nameserver change for a time when your site gets the least traffic. Weekday mornings are usually slower than evenings.

Document Everything Before You Start

Take screenshots of your current hosting setup, DNS records, and email configurations. Having reference materials prevents mistakes.

Use a Staging Environment First

If your new host offers staging, test your site there before going live. This catches problems without affecting visitors.

Keep Your Old Host’s Backup Intact

Even after migration succeeds, keep your old host’s backup for at least 30 days. It’s an extra safety net.

Have a Rollback Plan

Know how to revert nameservers to your old host if something catastrophic happens. This takes 30 minutes and stops most problems.

Test From Multiple Locations

Have a friend in a different country check your site. Nameserver propagation varies by location and ISP.

Monitor for 7 Days After Migration

Watch your site’s performance, error logs, and user reports for the first week. Issues sometimes surface days later.

Choosing Between DIY and Professional Help

You can handle migration yourself if you’re comfortable with basic technical tasks like using FTP or logging into control panels. The process is straightforward and well-documented.

Consider hiring professional help if:

You’re moving a large, complex site with custom code or multiple databases.

Your site generates significant revenue and downtime costs money.

You’re uncomfortable with technical processes.

Your current host won’t provide access to backups or data.

You’re migrating multiple domains at once.

Professional migration services cost between 200 and 1000 dollars depending on complexity. Many new hosts offer free migrations, so you might not need to pay.

Summary of the Hosting Migration Process

Changing web hosting is manageable when you follow these 8 steps:

1. Choose your new host carefully. Research uptime, speed, support, and features.

2. Back up everything. Your files, database, email accounts, and configuration.

3. Gather login information. For your old host, domain registrar, and any connected services.

4. Set up your new hosting account. Configure email, directories, and test settings.