You can move a website from HostGator with little or no interruption, but only if you treat the move as several separate jobs: copying the site, recreating databases, handling email, and directing DNS to the new server. Keep HostGator active until the replacement site, mailboxes, forms, scheduled tasks, and HTTPS have been verified. A DNS change alone does not move files, databases, domain registration, or old email.
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What actually moves when you change hosts
“Hosting” is not one interchangeable package. A typical site has separate assets and services that may be managed by different companies. Map each one before you begin so an overlooked subdomain, mailbox, or DNS record does not break after the cutover.
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| Workstream | What you must do | What does not happen automatically |
|---|---|---|
| Website files | Download the document root and upload it to the new server, preserving paths and hidden files. | Changing nameservers does not copy files. |
| Databases | Export each database, create a destination database and user, import the dump, and update application credentials. | A file transfer does not include database records. |
| DNS | Recreate records or change nameservers after testing the new server. | DNS records are not transferred automatically with a domain registration transfer. |
| Domain registration | Keep the registration where it is or start a separate registrar transfer. | Moving site content does not transfer the domain. |
| Recreate mailboxes, archive old messages, and verify MX, SPF, DKIM, and other mail records. | Website files normally do not contain your old messages. | |
| Scheduled and integrated services | Recreate cron jobs, SSL certificates, redirects, CDN settings, webhooks, and verification records. | Control-panel settings and third-party integrations may not exist on the new account. |
HostGator warns that a self-managed migration can be technically challenging because it involves FTP, databases, and domain-name settings. That is an accurate description of the work, not a reason to rush the DNS change.
Before you start: make an inventory and choose a cutover plan
List every site and dependency
Create a worksheet for each account. Record the primary domain, parked and addon domains, subdomains, document-root directories, database names, PHP or other runtime versions, cron schedules, SSL coverage, redirects, contact forms, payment or membership integrations, analytics tags, CDN configuration, and every mailbox. Note where DNS is currently managed: at the registrar, in HostGator, or with a separate DNS provider.
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Collect working credentials for the old hosting account, FTP or SFTP, the control panel, phpMyAdmin, the registrar or DNS provider, and the new host. You also need the new server’s IP address or nameservers, database details, and mail-server instructions. Do not put passwords in a public document; use a password manager and rotate temporary credentials after the move.
Choose a migration window
Pick a period when traffic and database activity are relatively low, but do not assume a quiet period eliminates risk. A blog with comments, a store with orders, a membership site, or an application with background jobs can receive writes at any time. Keep the old account paid and online throughout testing and DNS propagation.
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Several hours or a day before the cutover, you may reduce the TTL on the records you plan to change. A lower TTL can make resolvers ask for the new answer sooner, but it cannot force every resolver to update immediately. Existing cached answers can remain visible until their prior TTL expires.
Back up HostGator before touching DNS
Make an independent copy of files
Download every site’s files through FTP/SFTP or HostGator’s file manager. Include hidden files such as .htaccess when the site uses Apache rules. Preserve the original directory structure and file permissions where the destination supports them. Keep the download on a separate device or storage location; a portable external hard drive is a practical additional copy.
Open the archive and spot-check images, uploads, themes, plugins, configuration files, and any files outside the public document root that the application needs. A backup that exists only inside the old hosting account is not independent: a billing, account, or filesystem failure could remove both the live site and the backup.
Export every database
Use phpMyAdmin or another supported tool to export each database. For a large database, use the host’s command-line or backup utility if available. Save the SQL dump with the database name and export date, and confirm that the export completed without timeout or truncation errors.
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Preserve mail and configuration evidence
Export or archive important mail before changing MX records. Also save screenshots or a text copy of current DNS records, cron commands, redirects, SSL settings, and PHP version settings. This gives you a reference when rebuilding the destination and a recovery record if a custom setting is forgotten.
Build the new hosting account without changing public DNS
Add domains and match the runtime
Add each domain and subdomain at the new host, assigning the intended document root. Match the old PHP version and required extensions first; upgrade only after the migrated copy works. Check upload limits, memory limits, URL rewriting, maximum execution time, and database engine or version requirements for the CMS.
Create databases and users
Create a separate destination database and least-privilege database user for each application where practical. Record the exact database name, username, password, and database host. Some hosts use localhost; others provide a hostname or socket, so use the value supplied by the new host rather than assuming it.
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Enable the new host’s SSL process for every hostname, including www and important subdomains. Recreate redirects, custom error pages, URL-rewrite rules, password protection, and any server-level settings. A certificate may not issue until DNS points to the new server, so plan to test HTTPS after the cutover or use the host’s staging certificate or temporary hostname where available.
Copy website files from HostGator
- Connect to the old account. Use the HostGator FTP/SFTP details or open the file manager. Download the complete document root, not just the homepage files.
- Check the archive. Confirm hidden files, uploads, themes, plugins, media, and configuration files are present. Exclude temporary cache files only if you understand that they are disposable.
- Upload to the destination root. Use FTP/SFTP or the new host’s file manager and preserve the same relative paths. Uploading into an extra nested directory is a common cause of a blank or incorrect homepage.
- Apply permissions supported by the new host. Keep files readable by the web server while avoiding world-writable permissions. Follow the destination host’s documented ownership and permission model.
- Disable conflicting caches during testing. Clear application and server caches after configuration changes so you are testing the copied files rather than an old cached response.
If the new account supports a compatible cPanel restoration, a full account transfer may preserve more control-panel configuration than a manual copy. Compatibility matters: a backup made for one panel or server environment may not restore cleanly to another, so retain the manual files and database exports as a portable fallback.
Move databases and reconnect the application
- Export the final pre-test copy from HostGator. Use the verified SQL dump created during backup, and create a newer export later if the database continues to receive writes.
- Import into the destination database. Select the newly created database in phpMyAdmin or the supported import tool. Watch for size limits, character-set warnings, duplicate-table errors, and timeouts.
- Update connection settings. Replace the old database name, user, password, and host in the CMS configuration. For WordPress, these values are typically in
wp-config.php; other applications may use.envor an administrative settings file. - Update site URLs only when necessary. If the domain name is unchanged, do not perform a broad search-and-replace merely because the server changed. If the domain is changing too, use an application-aware method that handles serialized data safely.
- Verify write access. Log in to the application, create a harmless test record or draft, upload a test image, and then remove the test data. This confirms that the database user and writable directories work together.
WordPress-specific checks
Confirm that the copied wp-content directory, active theme, plugins, uploads, and .htaccess arrived intact. In the WordPress dashboard, visit Settings > Permalinks and save the existing structure once the site is reachable; this refreshes rewrite rules without changing the intended URL pattern. Test administrator login, media uploads, search, comments if enabled, contact forms, scheduled publishing, and any commerce or membership workflow. Update hard-coded host paths or API callbacks only when an integration actually depends on them.
Stage and test the new copy before DNS cutover
Use the new host’s temporary URL, a staging feature, or a local hosts-file override to preview the destination while the public domain still resolves to HostGator. A hosts-file override changes resolution only on your computer, making it useful for testing without exposing an unfinished site to visitors.
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Run a representative test, not just the homepage
- Load the homepage, several content types, category or archive pages, and a deep URL.
- Open images, downloadable files, embedded media, and responsive layouts.
- Test administrator and ordinary-user logins, password resets, search, comments, forms, and transactional email.
- Submit a non-production transaction or use the provider’s sandbox where payments are involved; never place a real order merely to test routing.
- Check redirects from old URLs, canonical tags, robots directives, XML sitemaps, analytics, and verification files.
- Confirm HTTPS behavior, mixed-content warnings, certificate coverage, and both apex and
wwwhostnames. - Run scheduled jobs manually or inspect their logs, then recreate the cron entries at the destination.
- Compare response times and server error logs for missing files, PHP errors, database failures, and permission problems.
Keep a written pass/fail list. Do not cut over because the front page looks correct; a missing upload directory, broken webhook, or failed cron job can be invisible until a customer needs it.
Take a last database export for active sites
If visitors can submit comments, orders, registrations, messages, or other records, freeze or minimize writes during the final switch and export the database immediately before changing DNS. Import that final dump into the new server. Otherwise, records created on HostGator after your earlier export can be lost when the new site becomes authoritative.
Move email as its own project
Email accounts and old messages are not normally included in a website-file migration. Decide whether mail will remain with the current provider or move to the new host. If it moves, create every mailbox, alias, forwarder, autoresponder, and quota before changing MX records.
Archive existing messages
Use an email client with IMAP synchronization or a supported POP3 download to keep a local archive. Verify that folders, sent mail, and attachments are present. Do not delete the old mailboxes until users have confirmed that their historical mail is available.
Recreate mail DNS and security records
Enter the new provider’s MX records and verify SPF, DKIM, DMARC, autodiscover or autoconfig records, and any provider-specific verification records. A website can work while email silently fails, so send test messages in both directions from multiple external accounts after DNS changes.
Plan for messages during propagation
During DNS propagation, different senders may use different MX answers. Keep the old mail service available for the transition and monitor both providers. If the old mailbox receives mail after the new MX record is published, retrieve or forward it according to the providers’ supported process.
Change DNS last and monitor both servers
Choose nameservers or individual records
| Approach | Best fit | What to verify first |
|---|---|---|
| Change nameservers | The new host will manage the whole DNS zone. | Recreate custom MX, TXT, verification, CDN, subdomain, and service records in the new zone before the switch. |
| Change individual records | A registrar or third-party DNS provider should remain authoritative. | Update the web A/AAAA or CNAME records while leaving unrelated mail and verification records under existing management. |
Use the exact nameservers or record values supplied by the new host. DNS tells resolvers where to find a service; it does not copy content. Propagation varies by resolver and geography, so some visitors can reach the new server while others still reach HostGator for a period of time.
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Cut over in a controlled sequence
- Confirm the final file and database copy is present and the new site’s tests pass.
- Confirm mailboxes, MX records, SSL preparation, redirects, and cron jobs are ready.
- Take the final database export for any site that changes during the day and import it to the destination.
- Change the selected nameservers or web records at the authoritative DNS provider.
- Monitor DNS from several networks and locations, and check requests arriving at both old and new servers.
- Watch access logs, application errors, form submissions, orders, scheduled jobs, and inbound and outbound email throughout propagation.
Do not promise zero downtime. DNS caching, an application mismatch, a missed final database write, or a last-minute configuration error can create a transition window. Keeping HostGator online gives users who still resolve the old address a working endpoint while you correct the destination.
Decide whether to transfer the domain registration
Changing hosting and transferring a domain are separate decisions. You can leave registration at the current registrar and point DNS to the new host. If you also want a new registrar, start that transfer only after confirming the domain is unlocked, the registrant contact can receive approval messages, and any transfer authorization requirements are satisfied. A registrar transfer does not automatically carry DNS records, so preserve and recreate the zone independently.
Keeping registration in place during the hosting move reduces the number of simultaneous changes. Transfer the registration later if there is a clear administrative or cost reason, after the site and mail migration are stable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.DIY migration versus professional help
| Factor | DIY | Professional service |
|---|---|---|
| Technical skill | You handle FTP/SFTP, SQL imports, configuration files, permissions, and DNS. | A migration specialist performs or guides those tasks. |
| Best for | One or a few well-understood sites with tested backups and a flexible cutover window. | Many sites, complex integrations, high-write databases, or an expensive outage. |
| Responsibility | You own backup validation, troubleshooting, and rollback decisions. | Confirm exactly what the service covers, including email, DNS, testing, and post-cutover support. |
| Vendor example | HostGator describes self-migration as technically challenging. | HostGator’s listed price is $149.99 one time for a single-website migration and $99.00 one time for one email-account migration; these vendor prices can change and should be rechecked before purchase. |
Professional assistance is sensible when you cannot independently restore a database, the site handles continuous orders or registrations, the account contains many domains, or your acceptable downtime is close to zero. Before authorizing work, ask whether the provider will perform a final database sync, migrate historical mail, recreate DNS records, test forms and cron jobs, and keep the old account available for rollback.
Full cPanel transfer or manual export?
Use a full account transfer when compatibility is strong
A compatible cPanel-to-cPanel restoration can preserve more account-level configuration, including domains, mail settings, databases, and some control-panel metadata. It is most useful when the destination explicitly supports the source backup format and both hosts allow the required access.
Use file and database exports for portability
Manual FTP/file-manager and SQL exports work across a wider range of control panels and hosting platforms. They require more rebuilding, but each component is visible and independently restorable. For a mixed environment, unfamiliar panel, or one site rather than a whole account, manual export is often easier to audit.
Whichever method you choose, retain independent file and database backups. A transfer tool is not a substitute for a recoverable copy.
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Common failure symptoms and fixes
The new site shows a directory listing or the wrong homepage
Check that files are in the assigned document root, that the index file exists, and that the domain or subdomain points to the intended directory. Remove an accidental extra folder level created during upload.
WordPress reports “Error establishing a database connection”
Recheck the database name, username, password, and host in the configuration file; verify that the user has privileges on the imported database; and confirm that the destination database service is running. Do not assume the old localhost value applies to the new host.
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Pages return 404 errors but the homepage works
Confirm that rewrite rules and .htaccess were copied, URL rewriting is enabled, and the application has regenerated its permalink or routing configuration. Check for a mismatch between the old and new web-server software.
Images, downloads, or uploads are missing
Compare the old and new upload directories, verify case-sensitive path names, and inspect permissions. A database can contain references to files that were never copied.
Email stops arriving
Inspect the authoritative MX records, recreate every mailbox, and verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC values. Test from more than one external sender because cached MX answers can direct different senders to different providers during propagation.
Some visitors still see the old site
This is normally resolver caching during DNS propagation. Confirm that the new endpoint is correct, keep the old account online, and monitor both servers rather than repeatedly changing records. Repeated DNS edits can extend confusion and make diagnosis harder.
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Final shutdown checklist
- All domains and subdomains resolve to the intended destination.
- HTTPS works for the apex domain,
www, and required subdomains. - Representative pages, media, search, logins, forms, redirects, and transactions pass.
- Scheduled jobs run and logs show no recurring application or permission errors.
- New mail arrives and sends successfully; historical mail is archived.
- Backups run on the new host and can be restored.
- Traffic and error logs show the expected server receiving requests.
- No late records remain on HostGator’s database or mail service.
Only after this verification period should you cancel HostGator. Keep the final backup, DNS record inventory, migration notes, and credentials for the new account in a secure place.
Bottom line
The safest HostGator migration is staged: inventory every dependency, make independent file and database backups, build and test the destination without changing DNS, migrate email separately, perform a final database sync for active sites, and change DNS only after the new copy is ready. Leave the old account running through propagation and close it only when site traffic, HTTPS, scheduled work, and email are demonstrably working on the new host.
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