How to Transfer Your Web Hosting to a New Provider (Without Losing Your Website)

The fear of “breaking” your website is the main reason Australian business owners stay with a bad hosting provider longer than they should. The reality is that website migrations are a routine task, and when done correctly, your visitors never notice a thing. This guide explains how the process works and what to expect if you are switching to a new Australian hosting provider.

Why Do Businesses Switch Hosting Providers?

The most common reasons Australian businesses decide to transfer their hosting:

  • Slow page load times affecting Google rankings and user experience
  • Poor or offshore support with long response times
  • Price increases at renewal without improved service
  • Repeated downtime or reliability issues
  • Moving from a US-based host to an Australian host for better local performance
  • Needing features their current host does not offer (e.g. staging, LiteSpeed, cloud infrastructure)

Before You Start: What to Check

Before beginning any migration:

  • Back up your current website: Download a full backup of your files and database from your current cPanel or hosting dashboard. Even if your new host is handling the migration, having your own backup is good practice.
  • Note your current DNS settings: Screenshot or record your current DNS records (A record, MX records, any CNAMEs) in case anything needs to be manually recreated.
  • Check your domain registrar: Your domain registration is separate from your hosting. You are moving your hosting, not your domain. The domain stays where it is unless you choose to transfer it.
  • Check your email: If your email is hosted on your current server, the migration needs to include your emails too. Confirm this with your new host before they begin.

The Migration Process: Step by Step

Option A: Your New Host Handles It (Recommended)

This is the AHS approach. When you sign up for a new plan, our team handles the full migration:

  1. You sign up for an AHS hosting plan
  2. You provide your current cPanel login or FTP credentials
  3. Our team copies all your website files, databases and email accounts to our servers
  4. We test the site on our servers using a temporary URL to confirm everything works
  5. Once confirmed, we update your DNS A record to point to our servers
  6. DNS propagates worldwide (typically 1-24 hours) and your site is live on AHS
  7. After propagation is complete, your old hosting can be cancelled

Your live site stays online throughout this process. Visitors hit your old server until the DNS update completes, then they seamlessly switch to the new one.

Option B: DIY Migration (For WordPress Sites)

If you prefer to handle it yourself, the most reliable method for WordPress sites uses a migration plugin:

  1. Install the Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration plugin on your current WordPress site
  2. Create a full backup package (files + database)
  3. Set up your new hosting account and install a fresh WordPress instance
  4. Use the same plugin to import your backup package into the new WordPress installation
  5. Test the site on the new server (your new host can provide a temporary preview URL)
  6. Update your domain’s DNS A record to point to the new server’s IP address
  7. Wait for DNS propagation and confirm the live site is running correctly

Understanding DNS Propagation

When you update your DNS records, the change does not happen instantly worldwide. Different internet service providers around the world cache DNS records for varying periods. Propagation typically takes 1-24 hours, with most users seeing the change within 4-6 hours.

During propagation, some visitors will see your old server and some will see the new one. This is normal and temporary. Because the content is identical on both servers during this window, visitors experience no disruption.

What About My Emails?

If your email is hosted on your current server, there are two approaches:

  • Migrate email to the new server: AHS migrates your email accounts and email history as part of the free migration. Your email addresses stay the same. Set up your email clients to use the new server settings after migration.
  • Move to Google Workspace or Microsoft 365: If you have been considering upgrading your email to a cloud platform, a hosting migration is a good time to make the switch simultaneously. This keeps your email separate from your hosting going forward.

How Long Does It Take to Transfer Hosting?

The actual file transfer and setup takes a few hours for most sites. Factor in:

  • Migration and setup: 2-8 hours depending on site size
  • Testing on new server: 1-2 hours
  • DNS propagation: 1-24 hours
  • Total timeline: 24-48 hours from start to finish

Your hosting transfer to AHS is free and handled by our team. You do not need to be involved beyond providing your current hosting credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions: Transferring Web Hosting

Will I lose my website when I transfer hosting?

No, if the migration is done correctly. A proper migration copies all your files and database to the new server and tests them before updating DNS. Your live site stays online on the old server until the DNS switch is complete and tested.

Can I keep my domain name when I transfer hosting?

Yes. Your domain name is separate from your hosting. When you transfer hosting, you are only moving your website files and database. Your domain stays registered with your current registrar and you simply update its DNS records to point to your new hosting server.

How do I know if my website has been successfully transferred?

Your new hosting provider should give you a temporary URL to view your site on the new server before DNS is updated. Once DNS propagation is complete, visit your live domain and check that everything displays and functions correctly including forms, images and any dynamic content.

What happens to my email during the hosting transfer?

If you migrate your email to the new server, there will be a brief period during DNS propagation where new emails may arrive on either the old or new server. For most business email volumes, this results in no missed emails. After migration, update your email client settings to the new server’s incoming and outgoing mail server details.

Is it free to transfer hosting to AHS?

Yes. AHS provides free website migration for all new hosting customers. Our team handles the full transfer including files, database and email accounts at no cost.