Why Migrate a Website Using cPanel?

Whether you’re switching to a new hosting provider for better performance, more features, or a better price, cPanel makes the migration process more accessible with built-in tools and intuitive features. It helps you move files, databases, emails, and more without much hassle.

Steps to Migrate a Website in cPanel

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to migrate your website from one cPanel hosting account to another.

1. Backup Your Website on the Old Server

Before making any changes, the first and most important step is to back up your entire website. This ensures that if anything goes wrong during the migration, you have a copy of your data to restore.

1. Log in to cPanel of the old hosting provider.
2. Navigate to the Backup section under Files.
3. Click on Download a Full Website Backup.
4. Choose Home Directory as the backup destination.
5. Provide an email address to get notified when the backup is complete.
6. Once the backup is ready, download the backup file to your local computer.

This backup will include all the files, databases, and email accounts associated with your cPanel account.

2. Backup Databases Manually (Optional)

If your website relies on databases, such as MySQL, it’s wise to back them up separately as well.

1. In cPanel, go to the phpMyAdmin section under Databases.
2. Select the database you want to export.
3. Click on the Export tab and choose the Quick option.
4. Save the database as a .sql file on your computer.

3. Prepare the New Server

Before you can migrate your website, you need to ensure that the new hosting provider is set up and ready for the transfer.

1. Log in to the cPanel of your new hosting provider.
2. Ensure that your domain is added to the account. If it’s not, add the domain via Addon Domains or Parked Domains, depending on the situation.
3. You will need to point your DNS records to the new host once the migration is complete, but that can be done later.

4. Upload the Backup to the New Server

Now that you’ve backed up the website on your old hosting account, it’s time to transfer that backup to your new hosting account.

1. Log in to the new cPanel account.
2. Go to the Backup section.
3. Select Restore a Full Backup or Partial Backup.
4. Upload the backup file that you downloaded earlier.
   • If your new hosting provider allows you to upload the backup via FTP, you can use an FTP client like FileZilla to transfer the backup file to your home directory. Once uploaded, the hosting provider’s support team might need to assist with restoring it.
5. After uploading, the server will begin restoring your website automatically. This process can take a while, depending on the size of your backup.

5. Manually Upload Files (Optional)

If you didn’t use a full backup or if you need to migrate certain files manually:

1. Log in to the old cPanel and navigate to File Manager.
2. Compress the public_html folder (or relevant website folder) into a .zip file.
3. Download the compressed file.
4. Log in to the new cPanel, go to File Manager, and upload the .zip file into the public_html directory.
5. Extract the contents.

6. Import the Databases on the New Server

If you manually backed up your database, you will need to upload it on the new server.

1. In the new cPanel account, create a new MySQL database under the MySQL Databases section.
2. Create a MySQL user and assign it to the database with ALL PRIVILEGES.
3. Go to phpMyAdmin on the new server, select the newly created database, and click on the Import tab.
4. Choose the .sql file you exported earlier and import the database.

7. Update Your Website’s Configuration

If your website uses a CMS like WordPress or Joomla, you may need to update the configuration files to match the new server settings.

For example, in WordPress:

1. Go to the wp-config.php file in your public_html folder.
2. Update the database name, username, and password to match the new server’s database information.

phpCopy codedefine( 'DB_NAME', 'new_database_name' );
define( 'DB_USER', 'new_database_user' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'new_database_password' );
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );

Ensure the database connection details match the new server’s database setup.

8. Update Domain DNS Settings

To make your website live on the new server, you need to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the new hosting provider.

1. Log in to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).
2. Find the DNS settings for your domain.
3. Update the nameservers to those provided by your new hosting provider.
4. It may take up to 24-48 hours for DNS propagation to complete, but your website will be live once this is done.

9. Test Your Website

After the DNS changes propagate, test your website on the new hosting provider.

1. Ensure all pages are loading properly.
2. Check the database connections.
3. Test all plugins or custom scripts.
4. Make sure emails are functioning (if you’ve transferred email accounts).

If any issues arise, you can revert to the backup and retry the process or contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Conclusion

Migrating a website using cPanel is a relatively straightforward process, especially with the help of built-in tools and features. The key steps involve backing up your website, uploading it to the new server, and updating your DNS settings. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can ensure a smooth migration with minimal downtime.

By following this guide, you’ll be able to successfully migrate your website to a new hosting provider without losing data or experiencing unnecessary downtime. Happy migrating!