How to Transfer Web Hosting From One Company to Another

Web hosts are companies offering services that make your website accessible to Internet users. They provide a space on their servers to store your crucial files and information and make them viewable for users visiting your platform. But these web hosts can be prone to security vulnerabilities, slow load periods, and frequent downtime, which may affect your website’s performance and require you to transfer your web hosting to a new provider.

Besides these technical issues, you may also consider transferring your site to a new host if you are unhappy with the features and support from your current provider or if there is an affordable alternative. But, without proper planning, switching between web hosts may lead to problems like data loss, disruptions, and performance issues. Irrespective of why you want to migrate your website to a new host, it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure the transition is smooth and doesn’t cause downtime.

Can We Transfer a Website to a New Host?

Yes, it is possible to move web hosting to a new provider. Individual users and businesses switch to a new provider every few years to upgrade speed and storage or when an alternative company offers better features, reliability, customer support, and pricing plans.

How to Transfer a Website to a New Host

When you try to manually move your website’s files and data to another web host, certain missteps may cause your platform to go offline or lose important data. A clear list of actions is important while transferring web hosting from one company to another to prevent this and to also prevent common mistakes that could cause revenue loss and customer dissatisfaction.

1. Look For a New Web Host

Before switching to a new provider, you must first determine your requirements. Look at companies that offer features like concierge migration or migration tools that help make the transfer smooth. Concierge migration is a personalized assistance service through which a hosting company provides a dedicated team of experts to guide you through the transition. Along with this, the web hosting company also needs to have a staging tool that makes it easier to do multiple tests on the new host. Other features to look for include technical support, disk space, data transfer availability, database setup, performance, service reliability, scalability, and ease of website migration.

Also read: Best Web Hosting Services

2. Confirm the Ownership of Your Domain

The domain name is the digital address that helps internet users find your website. You must maintain a consistent domain name ownership with all the necessary registration details, like payment method and contact information. Once the domain ownership details are added, decide if you want to move the domain registration to the new provider or switch the old domain name server to the new host.

3. Open an Account With the New Hosting Provider

While opening your account with a hosting service, you must provide basic details like your domain name, contact information, and payment method. You should also specify whether you want to transfer your domain registration or just switch your domain name server. Signing up also involves choosing a pricing plan, which can cost anywhere between $4.95 and $9.95 every month.

4. Download the Website Files

Using an application that has a file transfer protocol (FTP), ensure all your website files are downloaded offline. If you do not have FTP enabled with your existing hosting account, you should set it up before starting the migration process.

5. Export the Website Databases

Skip this step if your website is static. But if you have a dynamic website that uses any content management system (CMS), you need to download all the databases connected to your site. You can export the databases and save their copies offline through the admin section of your existing host.

6. Set Up a New Database on Your New Host

Once you configure a blank database with the new hosting account, upload the database you exported from your former host. Most web hosting services provide a user-friendly interface that will allow you to do this step by step.

7. Update the Website Files

You can now upgrade your downloaded website files with the new database information. Once this is done, update your website files with the correct database information. Depending on your CMS, you will have to find the specific file where the database needs to be updated. For example, WordPress sites require updates in the wp-config.php file. Meanwhile, sites that rely on Joomla use the configuration.php file to store the database information. Find the suitable file and make sure you update the name of the database with the username and password.

8. Upload the Updated Website Files

To do this, you must first set up an FTP account with the new hosting service to allow you to export your updated website files to your new host.

9. Test the Website

Finally, carry out multiple rounds of testing to ensure your website is functioning correctly. During these tests, your website will stay active on your previous host. So, you will have to use a temporary domain during the testing process. Once testing is successful, you can update your domain’s DNS records. With this, your customers will be directed to your updated server on your new host. The hosting company usually provides the information needed to update the DNS records.

Other Ways to Transfer to a New Host

There are various options that help you switch your website host. If you are new to website hosting, a convenient and easy way is to directly send a transfer assistance request to the new provider. Another way is to manually download the backups of your website and then upload them to the new server. This can be time-consuming and demands a basic level of technical knowledge. You can also install migration plug-ins on your current site to transfer the web hosting services. These plug-ins come with instructions that guide you through the process.

FAQ

1) How long does it take to transfer a website from one host to another?

Shifting your website to a new web host can take anywhere between a couple of hours and a few days. It generally depends on several factors, including the size of the website, the complexity of the website, and the quality of services of the hosting provider.

2) How do I transfer hosting from one server to another?

To transfer your website to a new hosting server, you must download all the relevant files and databases from the existing host, move them to the new server, and direct the domain name to the new host.

3) Can I switch hosting companies without losing my website?

Yes, this is possible. To ensure you do not lose your website during the transition, you have to create backups of your files and database. Move these to the new hosting server and then update the DNS settings of your domain with the new host.

4) Do I need to move my domain when transferring web hosts?

No, it is not necessary to move your domain name while changing web hosts. You can just update your domain’s name servers so that they direct web visitors to the servers of the new hosting service. This allows your domain to stay with your existing registrar while using a different hosting service.

Moving a site to a new host can be tricky or straightforward, depending on how carefully you follow the process. By taking it one step at a time, you can ensure that the transition is done seamlessly while keeping your website in good shape and your customers happy.