Website migration checklist: move to a new host without downtime

A step-by-step plan for moving a website to a new host while keeping it online, with the DNS timing most people get wrong.

Moving a site is mostly careful ordering. If you copy first and switch DNS last, visitors never see a broken page.

Before you start

• Take a full backup of files and databases and keep a copy off the old server.
• Note the PHP version and extensions the site needs.
• List email accounts, cron jobs and any custom redirects.
• Lower the DNS TTL to 300 seconds a day before the move.

The move

1. Create the account on the new host.
2. Upload files and import the database.
3. Update the configuration file with the new database details.
4. Test the copy using a temporary URL or by editing your local hosts file.
5. Check forms, logins, uploads and email sending.
6. Change the DNS records or nameservers to the new host.

After the switch

Keep the old hosting active for several days. DNS changes spread unevenly, and some visitors will still reach the old server. Recheck SSL, sitemaps and search console, then cancel the old plan once traffic on it drops to zero.

Common mistakes

Switching DNS before testing, forgetting email records (MX), and canceling the old host too early are the three that cause most outages.