Migrating an Existing Website to Exact Hosting

If you already have a website with another hosting provider, you can move it to Exact Hosting. This article explains the general process for migrating a site, what to prepare, and how to switch over without downtime.

What "migrating" involves

Moving a website means copying three things to your new account: your website files, your databases (if your site uses one, as WordPress and most applications do), and your email (if your old host also handled email). After the copy, you point your domain to Exact Hosting so visitors reach the new server.

The safest approach is to set everything up on Exact Hosting first, test it, and only then switch your domain. That way your live site keeps working until the moment you flip the switch.

Note: If you are joining Exact Hosting from a brand we acquired (such as Performive or Chillidog), use your dedicated transition guide instead — see the Migrations & Acquisitions articles [LINK NEEDED]. This article is for general moves from any host.

Before you begin

• Access to your current host. You need to download your files, databases, and email from your old provider.
• An active Exact Hosting plan with cPanel access. This is where your site will live.
• Your domain details. You will repoint the domain at the end. See Pointing Your Domain to Your Exact Hosting Account.
• A recent backup of your existing site. Always migrate from a known-good copy.

Step 1: Back up your current website

From your old host, gather a complete copy of your site.

1. Download all of your website files (often via the old host's File Manager or FTP). The web files usually live in a folder such as public_html or www.
2. Export each database your site uses. In most control panels this is done through phpMyAdmin using the Export option.
3. Note your email accounts and any messages you need to keep, if your old host handled email.

Tip: If your site runs on WordPress, a migration plugin can package your files and database together into a single transferable file, which can be simpler than moving them separately.

Step 2: Upload your files to Exact Hosting

1. Sign in to cPanel on your Exact Hosting account.
2. Open File Manager (or connect with FTP).
3. Upload your website files into the public_html folder for your domain. [SME CONFIRM: that public_html is the correct web root path for shared plans.]

Step 3: Recreate your database

If your site uses a database, set it up before importing your data.

1. In cPanel, create a new database and database user. See Creating and Managing MySQL Databases.
2. Open phpMyAdmin and import the database file you exported in Step 1.
3. Update your site's configuration file with the new database name, user, and password. For WordPress this is wp-config.php; for other applications, check their documentation.

Step 4: Test before switching

Before you change your domain, confirm the site works on Exact Hosting.

• Use a temporary preview method to view the site on the new server while your domain still points to the old host. [SME CONFIRM: the recommended preview method — temporary URL, hosts-file edit, or preview domain — for the current setup.]
• Check that pages load, images appear, and any forms or logins work.

For editing your computer's hosts file to preview, see the hosts file article.

Step 5: Point your domain and go live

Once the site checks out, repoint your domain to Exact Hosting.

1. Follow Pointing Your Domain to Your Exact Hosting Account.
2. Allow time for DNS propagation (usually a few hours, up to 24–48 hours).
3. After propagation, visit your domain to confirm the live site is now served from Exact Hosting.

Warning: Keep your account with your old host active until you have confirmed the migrated site is fully working on Exact Hosting. Cancelling too early can take your live site offline.

Step 6: Finish the move

• Recreate your email accounts on Exact Hosting if you are moving email here, and migrate any saved messages.
• Turn on your free SSL certificate — see Your Free SSL Certificate (AutoSSL).
• Update any hardcoded links or settings that referenced your old server.

Next steps

• Secure the migrated site. See My Website Was Hacked: Cleanup & Recovery and, for WordPress, Hardening Your WordPress Site.
• Improve performance. See Speeding Up Your Website (Caching & Performance).

Questions? Contact Exact Hosting Support.