Posted on October 24, 2026 by Markus

Maybe your current host is slow to answer support tickets, your renewal invoice came in higher than you expected, or you simply want everything in one place. Whatever the reason, the fear is always the same: “What if my website goes down while I move it?”

This guide shows you the exact order of steps that keeps your WordPress site online throughout a move, plus the shortcut that lets someone else do the heavy lifting for free.

Why websites go down during a move (and how to avoid it)

Downtime during a migration almost always comes from doing steps in the wrong order. The classic mistake is cancelling the old hosting, or pointing the domain at the new server, before the site has been fully copied and tested there.

The safe principle is simple: your old site keeps running until the new copy is proven to work. Only then do you switch traffic across. Because both copies exist at the same time, visitors always reach a working site, whichever server they land on.

The zero-downtime migration plan

Step 1: Take a full backup of your current site

Before you touch anything, back up two things: your WordPress files (including the wp-content folder with your themes, plugins and uploads) and your database (where your pages, posts and settings live). Download both to your computer. This is your safety net if anything goes wrong.

Step 2: Set up your new hosting account

Choose a plan that fits the site you’re moving. A good rule of thumb is to check how much space your current site uses (your old cPanel will show this) and choose a plan with comfortable room above that:

• Small (R26.80/month, 5 GB SSD) – a portfolio or simple brochure site.
• Medium (R44/month, 10 GB SSD) – most service business sites with a blog and gallery.
• Large (R88/month, 20 GB SSD) – online stores with large product catalogues.

Step 3: Copy your site to the new server

Upload your files and import your database on the new host, or use a migration plugin to package and restore the whole site. If both hosts use cPanel, a full cPanel backup can often be restored in one go, which also brings across email accounts and other settings.

Step 4: Test the new copy before anyone sees it

This is the step people skip, and it’s the most important one. You want to see your site running on the new server while your domain still points to the old one. There are two common ways:

• Edit your computer’s hosts file so that only your computer loads the domain from the new server’s IP address.
• Use a temporary URL or preview link if your new host provides one.

Click through every page, submit your contact form, log in to wp-admin and, if you run a shop, put a test product in the cart. Fix anything broken now, while customers are still happily using the old site.

Step 5: Lower your DNS TTL a day in advance (optional but helpful)

TTL (time to live) controls how long internet providers cache your domain’s DNS records. If you can, lower it to a short value, such as five minutes, a day before you switch. When you change DNS, the update spreads faster.

Step 6: Switch your domain to the new host

Update your domain’s nameservers (or its A record) to point to your new hosting. During propagation, which can take anywhere from minutes to a day or so, some visitors reach the old server and some reach the new one. Because both have an identical working site, nobody sees an error.

Step 7: Freeze changes during the switch

For a day or two, avoid publishing new posts or changing settings, because they’d only be saved on whichever server you happen to be connected to. If you run a WooCommerce store, choose a quiet time to switch, such as late on a weekday evening, and check for any orders on the old server afterwards.

Step 8: Check email and SSL

Two things catch people out after a move:

• Email: if your email is hosted with your website, make sure your mailboxes exist on the new host and your MX records are correct. If you’re setting up mailboxes fresh, see our business email hosting options.
• SSL: confirm the free SSL certificate is active on the new host so visitors see the padlock, not a security warning.

Step 9: Only then cancel the old hosting

Wait at least a few days after the switch, confirm everything is working and download one final backup from the old host. Then cancel. Keeping both running for a short overlap costs very little and protects you completely.

“Switching sounds like a lot of hassle”

It can be, if you do it all yourself. That’s why Grow Host includes a free WordPress/cPanel website transfer with every hosting plan. You tell us where your site is, we copy it across and you check it before the domain is switched. You keep running your business while the move happens in the background.

“What about the price after the first term?”

It’s a fair question, especially if surprise renewal increases are why you’re moving. With Grow Host, new customers get 60% off their first term, and your renewal price is confirmed on your invoice before you pay. You’ll always know what you’re paying before you pay it.

FAQs

Will I lose my Google rankings if I change hosts?

Not if your domain, URLs and content stay the same. A clean move with no downtime and no broken links is invisible to search engines.

How long does a WordPress migration take?

Copying a typical small business site takes a few hours at most. DNS propagation can then take up to a day or so, during which both copies keep working.

Can I move my email at the same time?

Yes. If your old host uses cPanel, mailboxes can usually be moved with the site. Otherwise, create the mailboxes on the new host before switching DNS.

Do I need to change my domain name when I switch hosts?

No. You keep your existing domain and simply point it to the new hosting.