How to move your website between hosting accounts

Introduction

Moving a website between hosting accounts may seem complicated, but if you follow a clear order it is a fully manageable process.

A website is not made up only of what you see in the browser. It also includes files, email accounts, databases, internal settings, SSL certificates and DNS records. That is why, before pointing your domain to the new server, it is worth following a clear sequence to avoid errors, lost email or unnecessary interruptions.

In this guide, you will learn how to move your website between hosting accounts step by step, whether you are moving from another provider to miHosting.com or between your own hosting accounts within our services.

Steps to move your website between hosting accounts

1. Review what you need to migrate before you start

Before copying files or changing the domain DNS, make a full review of your current account.

Check whether your site uses:

1. Website files, usually inside the public_html folder.
2. Databases, for example in WordPress, PrestaShop, Joomla or other CMS platforms.
3. Email accounts.
4. Subdomains, redirects or additional domains.
5. SSL certificates.
6. Cron jobs or special settings.
7. Specific PHP versions or required extensions.

This inventory will help you avoid leaving anything behind during the migration.

Important: do not cancel your old hosting until you confirm that the website and email are working correctly on the new server.

2. Download the website files from the old hosting account

Your website files are the main part of the move. To transfer them, one of the most common methods is to use FTP or the file manager in your hosting control panel.

You can do it like this:

1. Open an FTP client such as FileZilla.
2. Connect to the old hosting account with that account’s FTP details.
3. Find the main website folder. In most cases it is called public_html.
4. Download all files and folders to your computer.
5. Check whether there are important files outside public_html, such as backups, configuration files or private folders.

If your website is large, the download may take from several minutes to a few hours, depending on the site size and your connection speed.

3. Upload the files to the new hosting account

Once you have the files on your computer, you need to upload them to the new hosting account.

1. Connect by FTP to your new account at miHosting.com.
2. Open the public_html folder in the new hosting account.
3. Upload all files downloaded from the previous hosting account.
4. Check that files such as index.php, .htaccess or folders such as wp-content are in the correct location.

If you are migrating a WordPress site, make sure the wp-content folder was copied completely, because that is usually where themes, plugins and images are stored.

4. Create the email accounts on the new hosting account

Before syncing messages, create on the new hosting account the same email accounts that existed on the previous server.

For example, if you previously had:

• info@yourdomain.com
• sales@yourdomain.com
• support@yourdomain.com

You should also create them in your new hosting account from DirectAdmin or cPanel.

1. Access the control panel of your new account.
2. Go to the email accounts section.
3. Create each address with the same name.
4. Assign a secure password to each account.
5. Write down the server, username and password for each email account for the synchronization step.

Using new and secure passwords is also a good chance to improve the security of your email accounts.

5. Migrate the email accounts through IMAP

To avoid losing messages, folders or sent mail, the most recommended method is to copy the account contents using IMAP.

A practical option is to use a synchronization tool such as Imapsync Online. You will need the access details for both the old and the new account:

1. Old email address.
2. Old account password.
3. Old IMAP server.
4. New email address.
5. New account password.
6. New IMAP server.

The tool will copy messages and folders from the old server to the new one.

IMAP synchronizes the email stored on the server, which is why it is useful for migrating messages without manually exporting them from every device.

If you use an email client such as Outlook, Thunderbird or Apple Mail, do not remove the old configuration until you confirm that all messages appear correctly in the new account.

6. Export the database from the old hosting account

If your website uses WordPress, PrestaShop, Moodle, Joomla or another content management system, it probably depends on a database. The database stores information such as posts, pages, products, users, orders or settings.

To export it:

1. Access the old hosting control panel.
2. Open phpMyAdmin.
3. Select your website database.
4. Click Export.
5. Choose the SQL format.
6. Download the .sql file to your computer.

If you have several websites in the same account, make sure you export the correct database.

7. Create the database in the new account

Now you need to prepare the destination in your new hosting account.

1. Access DirectAdmin or cPanel in your new miHosting.com account.
2. Go to the MySQL databases section.
3. Create a new database.
4. Create a database user.
5. Assign that user to the database with all permissions.
6. Save the database name, username and password.

You will need these details to connect the website to the new database.

8. Import the database into the new server

Once the database has been created, import the .sql file you downloaded earlier.

1. Open phpMyAdmin from the new hosting account.
2. Select the new database.
3. Click Import.
4. Upload the .sql file.
5. Run the import.
6. Wait until the process finishes without errors.

If the SQL file is very large and you cannot import it through phpMyAdmin, contact miHosting.com technical support to review assisted import options.

9. Update your website configuration file

After moving the files and the database, you need to tell the website what the new connection details are.

In WordPress, this file is called wp-config.php and is located in the main site folder. You should review these values:

define('DB_NAME', 'database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'database_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'database_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

In other CMS platforms, the file may have a different name. For example, some applications use files such as .env, configuration.php or settings.php.

In most shared hosting accounts, the database host is usually localhost, unless the panel or technical support indicates another value.

10. Test the website before changing the DNS

Before pointing the domain to the new hosting account, it is a good idea to verify that the website works correctly on the new server.

You can do this in several ways:

1. Using a temporary URL, if that is available in your service.
2. Editing the hosts file on your computer to preview the domain on the new server.
3. Reviewing the website from the control panel or with the help of technical support.

Check in particular:

• That the home page loads correctly.
• That internal links work.
• That images are displayed.
• That forms send email.
• That the administration area opens without errors.
• That there are no database connection errors.

Running this test before the DNS change helps reduce the risk of visible interruptions for your visitors.

11. Change the domain DNS

Once everything has been reviewed, you can point the domain to the new hosting account.

If the domain is registered at miHosting.com, you can review or change the DNS from the client area. If the domain is with another registrar, you will need to change the DNS from that provider’s panel.

After the change, DNS propagation may take a few hours. During that time, some visitors may see the website on the old server and others on the new one.

Avoid making important website changes or handling critical orders during propagation, especially if it is an online store.

12. Enable or review the SSL certificate

Once the domain points correctly to the new server, review that the SSL certificate is active.

SSL allows your website to load with https:// and helps protect the information sent between the visitor and the server.

1. Access the hosting control panel.
2. Go to the SSL or certificates section.
3. Activate the available certificate for your domain.
4. Check that the website loads correctly with https://.
5. Review whether there are redirects from http:// to https://.

If you need a specific SSL certificate for your project, at miHosting.com you can review the available options for your domain or website.

Would you prefer miHosting.com to handle the migration for you

If you do not want to carry out the migration manually, the miHosting.com technical team can help you move your website with assistance.

Depending on the case, you may have options such as:

1. Free migration from cPanel: if you come from another hosting provider with cPanel and you have a compatible full backup, we can restore it on our servers at no additional cost.
2. Assisted manual migration: if you do not have a full backup, use another panel or need a custom migration, our team can review the case and help you with the transfer. This service may have a cost depending on the number of websites, email accounts and databases to be migrated.

This option is especially recommended if you have an online store, many email accounts, a high-traffic website or you simply do not want to take risks during the change.

Useful tips for a safe migration

Make a backup before you start

Even if you are going to copy everything manually, keep a full backup of the old hosting account.

Migrate in the right order

The most recommended order is to move the files first, then the databases, then the email accounts and finally change the DNS.

Do not delete anything from the old server right away

Keep the previous hosting account active until you confirm that the website, email, forms and SSL all work properly on the new server.

Write down all important details

Save FTP users, databases, email accounts, temporary passwords and IMAP servers in a safe place.

Check the PHP version

If your website is old, it may require a specific PHP version to work correctly.

Test the contact forms

After a migration, it is common to forget to check whether the forms are still sending messages.

Plan the change for a quiet time

If your website gets a lot of traffic, do the migration at a time of lower activity.

Frequently asked questions about moving a website between hosting accounts

Can I move a website without it going offline

Yes. The best method is to prepare everything on the new hosting account before changing the DNS. That way you can test files, the database and email before sending traffic to the new server.

Do I also need to migrate the email accounts

Yes, if you use email with your domain inside the previous hosting account. If you do not migrate it, you could lose old messages or stop receiving email when you change the DNS.

What if my website uses WordPress

In WordPress, you need to move the files, export and import the database, and update the wp-config.php file with the new connection details.

Can I move only the domain without moving the website

Yes, but they are different processes. Changing the registrar of a domain does not automatically move the website, email or databases. For the site to work on another hosting account, you also need to migrate its content.

When should I change the DNS

You should change the DNS only after uploading the files, importing the database, creating the email accounts and confirming that everything works on the new hosting account.

Conclusion

Moving a website between hosting accounts is much easier when you follow a clear order: review what you have, copy files, migrate databases, sync email, test the site and finally change the DNS.

If your website is small, you can complete the process manually by following this guide. If you have an online store, many email accounts or prefer to avoid risks, the miHosting.com support team can help you with an assisted migration.

Review your client area, prepare a backup and, if you have doubts during the process, contact technical support so we can guide you step by step.