How to Migrate a Template Website to New Host: No Downtime Checklist

Why Migrate Your Template Website to New Hosting?

There are many legitimate reasons to move your website to a new hosting provider: better pricing, faster servers, improved support, or features your current host doesn't offer. Whatever the reason, migration doesn't have to be scary.

The key to successful migration is preparation and following a proven checklist. Done correctly, your visitors won't notice anything—no downtime, no lost data, no broken links.

Pre-Migration Checklist

Step 1: Create Complete Backup of Current Site

Never start migration without a full backup. This is your safety net if something goes wrong.

What to Backup:

• All website files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, videos)
• Database (if using WordPress, Drupal, or custom backend)
• Email accounts (if hosted with current provider)
• Configuration files (.htaccess, wp-config.php, etc.)

How to Backup Files:

Method 1: Using cPanel File Manager

1. Log into your current hosting cPanel
2. Go to File Manager
3. Select public_html folder
4. Click "Compress" and create a ZIP file
5. Download the ZIP to your computer

Method 2: Using FTP

1. Connect to your site via FTP (FileZilla)
2. Navigate to public_html or www folder
3. Select all files
4. Right-click and download to local folder

How to Backup Database:

1. In cPanel, open "phpMyAdmin"
2. Select your database from left sidebar
3. Click "Export" tab at top
4. Choose "Quick" export method
5. Click "Go" to download SQL file

Step 2: Set Up New Hosting Environment

Before moving files, prepare your new hosting account to receive them.

1. Log into new hosting account
2. Create database (if needed):
   • Go to MySQL Databases in cPanel
   • Create new database
   • Create database user
   • Add user to database with all privileges
   • Note down: database name, username, password, host (usually localhost)
3. Set up email accounts (if you use hosting email):
   • Recreate all email addresses you had on old host
4. Note new hosting nameservers (you'll need these later)

Step 3: Upload Website Files to New Host

Using cPanel File Manager:

1. Log into new hosting cPanel
2. Open File Manager
3. Navigate to public_html
4. Click "Upload"
5. Upload your backup ZIP file
6. After upload, right-click ZIP and select "Extract"
7. Move extracted files to public_html root if needed
8. Delete the ZIP file to save space

Using FTP (Faster for Large Sites):

1. Connect FileZilla to NEW hosting using FTP credentials
2. Navigate to public_html on remote server
3. On local side, select all your backed-up files
4. Drag to remote side to upload
5. Wait for transfer to complete (may take 30 min to 2 hours)

Step 4: Import Database (If Applicable)

If your site uses a database (WordPress, custom CMS, etc.):

1. Log into new hosting cPanel
2. Open phpMyAdmin
3. Select the database you created in Step 2
4. Click "Import" tab
5. Click "Choose File" and select your backup SQL file
6. Click "Go" to import
7. Wait for "Import has been successfully finished" message

Update Database Connection Info:

If your database credentials changed, update your configuration file:

• WordPress: Edit wp-config.php with new DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, DB_HOST
• Other CMS: Look for config.php or similar file

Step 5: Test on New Host Before Going Live

This is the crucial step that prevents downtime. Test everything on new hosting BEFORE changing DNS.

Method 1: Using Temporary URL

Most hosts provide a temporary URL like:

• http://yourdomain.tempurl.com
• http://IP-ADDRESS/~username/

Visit this URL and test your entire site.

Method 2: Modify Hosts File (More Reliable)

This tricks your computer into thinking DNS has already changed:

On Windows:

1. Run Notepad as Administrator
2. Open: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
3. Add line: [NEW-HOST-IP] yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com
4. Save file

On Mac:

1. Open Terminal
2. Type: sudo nano /etc/hosts
3. Add line: [NEW-HOST-IP] yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com
4. Press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter

What to Test:

Step 6: Update DNS to Point to New Host

Once testing confirms everything works, it's time to point your domain to the new hosting.

1. Log into your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
2. Find your domain's DNS/Nameserver settings
3. Replace old nameservers with new ones provided by new host
4. Save changes

Typical nameserver format:

• ns1.newhostingcompany.com
• ns2.newhostingcompany.com

Step 7: Monitor and Verify Migration

Track DNS Propagation:

• Visit whatsmydns.net
• Enter your domain
• Check if most locations show new hosting IP

Test from Multiple Locations:

• Ask friends in different cities to visit your site
• Use mobile data (different network than your home)
• Check your site from a VPN in another country

Monitor for Issues:

• Check Google Analytics for traffic drops
• Monitor error logs in new hosting cPanel
• Test contact forms and functionality daily

Step 8: Cancel Old Hosting (After Verification)

Don't rush to cancel your old hosting! Wait at least 7-14 days after migration to ensure:

• DNS has fully propagated worldwide
• No unexpected issues arise
• All data transferred correctly
• Email migration is complete

Once you're confident everything works, you can safely cancel the old hosting account.

Special Case: Migrating Email

If you use email accounts hosted with your website, you need to migrate them too:

1. Create accounts on new host with same names
2. Configure email client (Outlook, Thunderbird) to connect to new server
3. Download old emails using IMAP before canceling old host
4. Update MX records if needed (new host usually does this automatically)

Common Migration Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Changing DNS Before Testing

Always test on new hosting using temporary URL or hosts file before changing DNS. Otherwise, you risk downtime if something doesn't work.

Mistake 2: Forgetting Database Configuration

If you import your database but forget to update database credentials in config files, your site will show errors.

Mistake 3: Not Backing Up Emails

Email data isn't automatically transferred. If you cancel old hosting without backing up emails, they're lost forever.

Mistake 4: Canceling Old Hosting Too Quickly

Keep old hosting active for at least 7-14 days after DNS change. This gives you a fallback if issues arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does website migration take?

File transfer takes 1-3 hours for most template sites. DNS propagation adds 4-48 hours. Total time: 1-2 days from start to complete worldwide migration.

Will my site be down during migration?

If you follow this checklist (test before changing DNS), there should be zero downtime. Your old site stays online until DNS switches to new host.

Do I need technical skills to migrate my website?

Basic skills help, but this checklist guides you through each step. If you can copy files and follow instructions, you can migrate. Many hosts also offer free migration services.

Will migration affect my SEO rankings?

If done correctly with minimal downtime and no broken links, migration shouldn't hurt SEO. Google treats it as a server change, not a site change.

What if something goes wrong during migration?

This is why you keep old hosting active! If new site has issues, you can revert DNS to old nameservers and troubleshoot before trying again.

Final Migration Checklist

Final Thoughts

Website migration might seem daunting, but it's a manageable process when broken into steps. The key is preparation: backup everything, test thoroughly, and don't rush.

If you prefer hands-off migration, many hosts (including SiteAmplify) offer free professional migration services. Their team handles everything—you just point them to your old hosting and they do the rest.