The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Move the sites first, test them on the new server, and change DNS only after the copies work. Keep HostGator active throughout the transition, make independent backups of every file and database, and treat website content, databases, domain registration, DNS, and email as separate workstreams. That sequence minimizes downtime, but no migration can promise an absolutely interruption-free cutover because DNS propagation and last-minute database changes are outside your control.
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What actually moves in a hosting migration
A hosting account is not one indivisible package. Several services may be associated with the same domain, and each has its own migration procedure and failure points.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Workstream | What you move or change | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Website files | HTML, PHP, images, themes, plugins, uploads, and other files copied by FTP or a file manager | Files alone do not include the content stored in a database. |
| Databases | Exported database dumps imported into databases created at the new host | The application configuration must use the new database name, user, password, and host. |
| Domain registration | Either keep the registration where it is or transfer it separately to another registrar | Moving site content does not transfer registration, and transferring registration does not automatically copy DNS records. |
| DNS | Nameserver delegation or individual records such as A, CNAME, MX, TXT, and verification records | Resolvers update at different times, so visitors can reach the old and new servers during propagation. |
| Mailboxes, aliases, MX records, and archived messages | Messages and mailbox settings do not normally come across with a website-file move. | |
| Account configuration | Redirects, cron jobs, SSL certificates, runtime settings, and control-panel features | These may need to be recreated unless the destination supports a compatible full-account transfer. |
Plan each workstream explicitly. A site can display correctly while contact forms fail because an MX or SMTP setting was missed; a domain can resolve to the new server while an old cron job still runs at HostGator.
Prepare an inventory before changing anything
Create a migration worksheet for every domain and subdomain. Include the document root, CMS, database, PHP or other runtime version, and the person responsible for testing it. The inventory is your map when several sites share one account.
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Record domains and DNS dependencies
- List the primary domain, every subdomain, parked or addon domain, and any domain that redirects to another site.
- Write down where DNS is managed: HostGator, the registrar, or a separate DNS provider.
- Capture current records, including web records, custom MX records, TXT verification records, CDN endpoints, and services used for sending mail.
- Note redirects from the control panel, web-server configuration, or
.htaccess.
Record application and server dependencies
- Identify each database and the application that uses it.
- List scheduled tasks, queue workers, integrations, payment callbacks, webhooks, search indexes, and external API credentials.
- Record SSL certificates and whether they are issued automatically by the new host.
- List every mailbox, alias, forwarder, autoresponder, and shared address connected to each domain.
- Collect HostGator credentials and the new host’s account, FTP or SFTP, database, and control-panel details before the first transfer.
HostGator describes self-migration as technically challenging because it requires FTP, database, and domain-name knowledge. If you cannot identify these dependencies or cannot restore a backup, arrange skilled help before starting rather than discovering the gap during DNS cutover.
Back up every site while HostGator is still live
Make a fresh copy immediately before migration. Download all site files, export every database, and keep an independent copy that is not stored only inside either hosting account. A portable external drive is one practical way to retain that second copy.
File backup checklist
- Download the complete document root for each site, not just visible public pages.
- Include hidden files such as
.htaccesswhen they apply. - Preserve directory structure, file names, permissions where your tools support them, and uploaded media.
- Keep a dated archive so you can distinguish the pre-migration copy from later working files.
Database backup checklist
- Export each database through phpMyAdmin or another supported method.
- Store the dump outside HostGator and record which database belongs to which site.
- For a frequently changing site, plan a second, final export immediately before DNS changes so recent orders, comments, accounts, or other records are not lost.
- Do not delete the original database until the new site has passed verification.
Open a backup archive or inspect an export before proceeding. A file that merely completed a download is not useful if it is empty, truncated, or associated with the wrong domain.
Choose a transfer method
The right method depends on the number of sites, your control-panel access, database write frequency, acceptable downtime, and who will provide support if something fails.
| Approach | Best fit | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Manual file and database export | Different control panels, one or a few sites, or a need for a portable procedure | Requires FTP or file-manager work, database export/import, configuration edits, and manual recreation of account settings. |
| Full cPanel account transfer | A destination that supports compatible cPanel restoration and several related sites | Can preserve more account configuration, but compatibility and the destination host’s restoration process must be confirmed. |
| Professional migration | High-traffic sites, several databases, complex email, or a low tolerance for downtime | Costs money and still requires you to approve testing, DNS timing, and final verification. |
HostGator’s published migration guidance lists a $149.99 one-time fee for a single-website migration service and $99.00 one-time fee for one email account. These are vendor prices that can change, so confirm the current scope and price with HostGator before relying on them.
Build the destination before public traffic arrives
- Create the new hosting account and add each domain and subdomain. Do not change nameservers yet.
- Create a database and database user for each application. Give the user the permissions required by that application and record the exact names, password, and database host value.
- Match required runtime versions and settings, such as the PHP version and relevant upload or memory limits. Differences here can produce errors even when the files are identical.
- Recreate required email addresses, aliases, and forwarders if mail will be hosted by the new provider.
- Set up SSL issuance, redirects, scheduled jobs, and any control-panel integrations that are not included in a transfer.
- Confirm the destination provides a temporary URL, staging function, or another way to test before DNS is changed.
Do not point a domain at an empty account. Building the destination first gives you a working fallback at HostGator while you correct import or configuration errors.
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Copy website files with FTP or a file manager
- Connect to HostGator with FTP or use its file manager and download the complete site directory to your independent backup location.
- Connect to the new host and upload the files into the document root assigned to the matching domain. Keep the same relative paths so links, includes, and upload directories continue to resolve.
- Verify that hidden files, especially
.htaccesswhere applicable, were transferred. Missing rewrite rules commonly make valid pages return 404 errors. - Check ownership and permissions using the destination’s recommended settings; do not blindly copy permissions that are incompatible with the new server.
- Repeat the process for every addon domain, subdomain, and separate application rather than assuming one document root contains everything.
For a large site, compare file counts or archive checksums where your tools support them. A page that loads without its images, scripts, or downloadable files is an incomplete migration even if the home page looks correct.
Export and import the databases
- Open phpMyAdmin or the supported database tool at HostGator and select the database associated with the site.
- Export a complete dump using the tool’s standard export function. Keep the resulting file with the dated backup.
- At the new host, create the destination database and user. Copy the exact database name, username, password, and host value supplied by the provider.
- Import the dump into the empty destination database. Large dumps may require the provider’s import method or assistance if the web interface imposes limits.
- Open the application’s configuration file and replace the old database name, user, password, and host with the new credentials. Save a separate copy of the edited configuration.
- Load the site through the temporary address and verify that dynamic pages, logins, search, forms, and administrative screens can read and write data.
Never edit the old production configuration in place while you are still testing. Keeping HostGator’s working copy untouched gives you a known fallback and prevents a typo from taking both copies offline.
WordPress-specific checks
A WordPress move uses the same file-and-database process, but several settings deserve dedicated tests.
- Copy the entire WordPress directory, including
wp-content, uploaded media, themes, plugins, and the root.htaccessfile when present. - Import the WordPress database and update
wp-config.phpwith the destination database credentials. - Use the staging or temporary address to check the home page, an older post, a media attachment, a category or search page, and the login screen.
- Confirm that permalink rules work and regenerate them from the WordPress settings if the new server needs rewrite rules refreshed.
- Test forms, ecommerce checkout or other transactions, scheduled publishing, backups, caching, and external integrations.
- Do not make substantial content changes on both copies. If the site changes frequently, perform a final database export immediately before cutover and repeat the import.
Temporary URLs can create redirects or mixed-content behavior, so treat them as a functional test rather than proof that the final HTTPS URL is correct.
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Stage and test the new copy before DNS cutover
Use the new host’s temporary URL, staging feature, or a local hosts-file override to view the destination while public DNS still points to HostGator. Test representative behavior, not just the front page.
Functional test list
- Open the home page, several deep pages, media files, downloads, and custom 404 pages.
- Submit every important form and verify that the intended mailbox or service receives it.
- Log in as an administrator and an ordinary user; test password resets where relevant.
- Search the site, filter content, and test any user-generated or database-backed feature.
- Follow internal and external redirects and check that canonical URLs remain correct.
- Load the final HTTPS version and check certificates, secure asset loading, and redirect behavior.
- Run a representative transaction if the site accepts orders, bookings, registrations, or payments, using the application’s safe test procedure.
- Confirm cron jobs, scheduled publishing, queues, backups, analytics, webhooks, and third-party callbacks.
Record each check and its result. Fix errors on the destination before changing DNS. If you find a data mismatch on a frequently updated site, take the planned final export rather than trying to reconcile two live databases manually.
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Move email as a separate project
Website files do not normally include mailboxes or old messages. Archive messages from HostGator through a mail client or POP3 before changing mail records, and preserve that archive independently.
- List every mailbox, alias, forwarder, autoresponder, and shared address.
- Create the corresponding mailboxes and aliases at the new provider if you are moving mail there.
- Configure mail clients with the new incoming and outgoing server settings and verify authentication.
- Copy or download existing messages through the mail client or POP3. Confirm that folders and important sent mail are present in the archive.
- Recreate any provider-specific spam, forwarding, or autoresponder rules.
- Verify MX and related TXT records before and after DNS changes. Send test messages in both directions and check delivery to external recipients.
Keep the old mail service available during the transition. Messages sent while different resolvers hold different MX answers can arrive at either provider, so monitor both and retrieve mail from both until delivery has settled.
Choose between nameserver and individual-record changes
There are two common DNS strategies.
Change nameservers
Point the domain’s delegation to the nameservers supplied by the new host when you want the new provider to manage the whole DNS zone. Before doing so, reproduce every required record there, including custom MX, TXT, CDN, verification, and subdomain records. This approach can move the zone’s management in one change, but an omitted record can interrupt an unrelated service.
Change only web records
Keep DNS at the registrar or existing DNS provider and change only the records that direct web traffic to the new server. This is useful when another provider must continue managing mail or special records. Confirm the exact records and values with the new host and leave unrelated records intact.
In either case, DNS tells the internet where to find the new server; it does not copy files, databases, or mail. Propagation varies by resolver. During the transition, monitor the old and new endpoints and keep HostGator online.
Perform the DNS cutover last
- Choose a period when you can watch the sites and respond to errors.
- For a frequently changing database, take the final export, import it to the destination, and pause or limit writes if the application supports a safe maintenance mode.
- Confirm the destination copy, email setup, SSL, redirects, and scheduled tasks one more time.
- Apply either the new nameservers or the selected individual DNS-record changes.
- Check resolution from more than one network or resolver and open both the bare domain and common subdomains.
- Watch access logs, error logs, forms, transactions, and mail delivery while different visitors are still being directed to different servers.
- Keep HostGator active until traffic, HTTPS, scheduled jobs, and email consistently work on the new host.
Do not promise yourself zero downtime. DNS propagation, application differences, and a last-minute database write can create a transition window even when every planned step is correct.
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Decide whether to transfer the domain registration
Registration and hosting are independent. You may leave the domain registered with its current registrar and change DNS, which is often the quickest route. A separate registrar transfer changes who manages the registration but does not automatically move DNS records or website content. If you transfer registration, complete that process independently and verify that nameserver values and DNS records remain correct afterward.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the new host before closing HostGator
Use a written sign-off list rather than relying on a single successful page load.
- All domains and subdomains resolve to the intended destination.
- HTTPS works without certificate warnings, and redirects preserve the intended URLs.
- Representative pages, media, forms, logins, search, and transactions pass.
- Database writes, scheduled jobs, queues, backups, and integrations run on the new account.
- Every mailbox receives and sends mail, and archived messages are available.
- Traffic and error logs show no unexplained surge in failures.
- The final independent backups are stored somewhere you can access without either hosting account.
Only after this verification window should you cancel HostGator. Retaining the old account for the transition protects you from an overlooked record or a delayed DNS resolver; canceling early removes that fallback.
Troubleshoot the most common migration failures
The home page loads but internal links return 404
Check that the document-root structure and hidden rewrite files transferred, then review the new host’s rewrite support and regenerate CMS permalink rules where applicable.
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Compare the configuration file character by character with the destination database name, username, password, and host. Confirm the user has access to that database and that the import completed.
Images or downloads are missing
Verify that upload directories and other media paths were copied, including nested files and correct case. A partial FTP transfer can leave the HTML intact while assets are absent.
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HTTPS redirects loop or show a warning
Confirm the destination certificate covers the hostname, check application HTTPS settings and redirect rules, and test the final domain rather than only the temporary URL.
Forms submit but no mail arrives
Check the destination’s mail or SMTP settings, recreate the intended mailbox, and verify MX and TXT records. Test delivery to an external address and inspect spam folders and provider logs.
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This is expected while DNS propagation is in progress. Compare both endpoints, leave HostGator online, and avoid making conflicting content edits until resolution has converged.
Recent orders or comments are missing
The destination database was likely imported before the latest writes. Take a final export from the active copy, import it carefully, and retest the application before continuing the cutover.
When professional migration help is justified
Use a qualified migration service when you lack reliable FTP or database experience, manage many domains, operate a frequently changing database, depend on complex email records, or face a downtime cost that exceeds the service fee. Ask exactly what the service includes: files, databases, control-panel settings, DNS, mailboxes, archived messages, SSL, testing, and post-cutover support are separate deliverables. You still need to provide access, approve the DNS timing, retain independent backups, and verify the finished sites.
Quick Recap
Migration checklist
- Inventory domains, subdomains, databases, cron jobs, SSL, redirects, integrations, and mailboxes.
- Obtain both hosts’ credentials and document where DNS is managed.
- Download current files and export every database to an independent backup.
- Build domains, databases, users, runtime settings, mailboxes, and SSL at the new host without changing DNS.
- Transfer files, including hidden configuration files, and import databases.
- Update each application’s database configuration.
- Stage and test pages, media, forms, logins, search, redirects, HTTPS, transactions, jobs, and integrations.
- Archive old mail, recreate mailboxes, and verify mail records.
- Take the final database export for frequently changing sites.
- Change nameservers or selected DNS records, then monitor both servers and mail systems.
- Confirm traffic, HTTPS, forms, jobs, backups, and email on the new host.
- Cancel HostGator only after the transition window and verification are complete.
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