Switching providers

How to move your website to a new host

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Last updated 15 August 2026

Moving your website to a new host sounds like the kind of thing that could go badly wrong. In practice it's a routine process that hosting companies handle constantly — the trick is doing the steps in the right order so nothing goes down in between.

Why people usually switch

Most moves happen for one of three reasons: the site has outgrown shared hosting (see when shared hosting isn't enough if that's you), the current host's support or speed has become a problem, or a better deal turned up elsewhere. Whatever the reason, the process is the same.

Before you touch anything

Don't cancel your old hosting yet. That's the single most common mistake — cancelling early removes your safety net if something doesn't work on the first try.

Two things to do first:

• Back up your site. Most control panels have a one-click backup tool. If you're running WordPress, this needs to include both your files and your database — the files alone won't bring your content with them.
• Write down your current DNS settings. If you need to roll back for any reason, you'll want the old nameserver details on hand.

Step 1 — Set up the new host first

Buy your new hosting plan, but don't point your domain at it yet. Upload your files (or restore your backup) to the new host and get everything running there first.

This is the step most beginners skip, and it's the one that matters most: test the new site before switching your domain over. Most hosts let you preview a site on a temporary URL before DNS points at it. Use that to check the site actually works — pages load, forms work, nothing's broken — while your live site is still running normally on the old host.

Step 2 — Move your email

If your email is hosted with your old provider, this is the step people forget about — and losing email mid-move is a worse problem than losing the website for an hour.

Set up your email on the new host first, then update your domain's MX records to point at it. If you use a third-party email service like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, this step doesn't apply — those aren't affected by a hosting move at all.

Step 3 — Switch DNS

Once you've confirmed the new site works, point your domain's nameservers (or A records) at the new host. This is the actual "go live" moment.

DNS changes take a little time to spread across the internet — usually a few hours, occasionally up to 48. During that window some visitors might briefly see the old site and some the new one, depending on which server their internet provider has cached. This is normal and resolves itself.

Keep your old hosting active for a few more days rather than cancelling immediately. It costs a little extra, but it's a cheap insurance policy if anything unexpected turns up.

What to check after the switch

• The site loads correctly — try it from a different device or network if you can, since your own computer might still have the old address cached.
• Forms and any interactive features still work.
• The SSL certificate is active on the new host (you should see the padlock in the browser, not a warning).
• Once everything's held steady for a few days, it's safe to cancel the old hosting.

Will this hurt my Google rankings?

Not if you follow this order. Google publishes its own guidance on site moves and confirms that migrations which don't change your URLs — which is what a straightforward hosting move is — have minimal search impact, provided the new site is tested and working before you switch. The risk comes from switching DNS before the new site actually works, not from moving hosts itself.

Common questions

Will moving hosts affect my Google rankings?
Not meaningfully, as long as your URLs stay the same and the new site is fully working before you switch DNS. Google explicitly addresses this in their own migration guidance.

How long does a website migration take?
The active work — backup, upload, test — can often be done in an afternoon for a small site. DNS propagation afterward typically takes a few hours, occasionally up to 48.

Do I need to update my domain registration too, or just hosting?
Just hosting, in most cases. Your domain registration and your hosting are separate things — moving hosts doesn't require moving your domain unless you specifically want to.

What happens to my email during the move?
Nothing, if you use a separate service like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. If your email is hosted with your old provider, it needs to be set up on the new host and your MX records updated — treat this as its own step, not an afterthought.

New to this entirely? Start with how to host a website in Ireland for the basics of domains and hosting. If you're moving because you've outgrown shared hosting, see when shared hosting isn't enough.