It could be time to pick up and learn how to switch web hosts if you’ve finally had it with your present host. There are a tonne of different options available that are prepared to give you entire hosting delight, whether you’re not obtaining what you need or are tired of the always rising costing structures.
Even better, if you follow the appropriate steps, relocating a site to a new hosting provider doesn’t have to be as difficult as moving to a new home or flat. Do not worry about downtime or file loss. Transferring a website is simple enough for amateurs to do, and many hosting will even handle it for no charge.
Consider moving hosts instead of continuing to rip out your hair about your existing hosting arrangement. The migration will just take a day or two, without breaking a sweat, with some assistance from a helpful host and some guidance from a reliable web hosting specialist (yours truly).
Option A: Select a Host Who Will Move Your Website Free Of Charge
Due to the intense competition in the web hosting market, several hosts provide free help to customers who want to migrate from another host to one of their plans. This implies that you can move all of your databases and files to the new host for free without having to do any labour-intensive lifting. Most of the time, after opening an account with the new provider, all you have to do is ask for a migration; the provider will take care of the rest.
If your new web host uses the same control panel system, migration specialists may be able to transfer your data by setting up a new account on your web server control panel. If not, they’ll probably have to do it manually, which will take extra work from them but, depending on the size of your site, can be finished in a few days. Whatever the approach, you should choose a provider who can ensure a smooth transfer with no downtime.
Option B: Transfer Your Website Yourself to a New Host
You can independently relocate your website files if your new web server doesn’t offer migration assistance or if you prefer to handle it yourself. Utilize your internal IT team’s expertise at this point since they probably have knowledge of file backup and transfer procedures. A lot of web servers also provide documentation that includes step-by-step instructions for moving your website. Continue reading to learn the best methods for swiftly and safely transferring your website to a new host.
Select a New Web Host (Before Closing Your Current Account!)
As there are features in a hosting service, there are as many reasons to switch web providers. It depends on whatever web hosting features are most crucial for the person or business, and whether those goals are being met by their existing host. The quality of customer service is quite important to some people. Others prioritise cost while making decisions. When considering about transferring hosts, it’s a good idea to take your web hosting requirements into account.
If you find yourself contemplating your options, identify the factors that would motivate you to relocate your company. Performance of security systems, server storage, mailbox and email features, uptime, and the availability of control panels, website builders, and shopping carts are a few factors that businesses typically take into account. While most web servers offer identical services, some put more money into particular features than others. Make your choice based on your responses to the questions of which features you absolutely must have and which ones must function at their peak.
Backup the databases and files on your website.
You must completely back up your website and transfer it to your new server after purchasing your new hosting plan and before cancelling your old one. Download all of your files from the old server; their platform should have detailed instructions on how to do this; then transfer them over FTP to the new site. Databases must also be backed up using SSH or a control panel to restore the database after obtaining the files and uploading them. Emails can occasionally be transferred, but they should at the very least be archived so they can be kept. This step is essential to keeping your site’s integrity exactly as it was on the previous host.
Change the DNS Record for your domain to the new host or registrar.
Your DNS (domain name system) server also changes when you move web hosts. The DNS directs the connection to your site so that it may load in the user’s browser by informing the user’s internet service provider (ISP) of the location of the site files. You will need to request the change from the company from which you bought your domain name after your website’s files and databases have been transferred to the new host. Make sure to get in touch with your new host to obtain the updated DNS details for the previous host. Usually, it takes 48 hours (two days) for this change to take effect, after which your website will start loading from the new web host.
Perform a last quality assurance when the DNS change request is approved.
After fully migrating your website and changing your DNS name, what comes next? Don’t assume that everything arrived in tact just because it did. Verify your website thoroughly for missing files by doing a quality control check. Before cutting the cord on the old host, double-check that everything is in order because there’s no assurance you’ll get those files back once your account has been cancelled. Review all the files and databases you transferred over in great detail as you browse through each page of the website.
Close Your Previous Account!
The final step in changing hosts is to close down your account with the former web host, just like closing on an old property when relocating to a new location. You shouldn’t have any trouble crossing off this last action once you’ve verified that you have all of your files and databases and changed your DNS record. Remember to preserve the domain name registration if you initially bought it from the previous host, but you can get rid of your hosting account. Don’t look back; you’ve already taken all the necessary steps to continue your website’s story into its next phase.
It’s not necessary to be intimidated while switching to a new web hosting provider.
Changing web hosts should feel like an improvement, albeit how that would look for your website may vary from another’s. Recall the essential elements of your web host that will improve your site’s performance and simplify your life. Stephanie, the attorney who migrated to a cloud-based server with unlimited email storage and mailboxes, made her decision to convert to a new host after carefully considering her options and weighing her goals. Find out which web hosting companies offer the features that are most important to you by using these host versus host comparisons.
