Web hosting services can be difficult to understand. Online “renting” is not analogous to traditional forms of housing rental. Your hosting service must place your site on a server that is always connected to the internet if it is to be seen by anyone around the world. To put it another way, when you switch web hosts, you are not simply transferring your website’s files from one server to another; you are also changing the physical location where your website is “housed” on the web. Changing web hosts need not be a difficult or time-consuming process. In this article, we’ll show you how to change web hosting providers without disrupting your service or losing visitors. So, let’s get started!
Consideration before you move your website:
There are a few key priorities that need to be given attention before you get started with the process of moving your website to a new host.
Make sure you have backups of your site:
This should go without saying, but make sure you have recent backups of your site before you begin the process of moving it. If something goes wrong during the move, you can always restore your website from the backup.
Notify your current host:
Notify your current hosting provider that you have decided to move your website to another host once you have made this decision. Even though the majority of hosts will allow you to continue using their services after you have given notice, it is still courteous to let them know in advance that you will no longer be doing so.
Choose your new host carefully:
Not every web host is made equally. Make sure to conduct thorough research before selecting a new host for your website and opt for a reputable provider.
Set up DNS records:
In order for computers to communicate with one another over the internet, human-readable domain names like www.example.com are translated into IP addresses by DNS (Domain Name System). Your DNS records must be updated to point to the new server when you move your website to a new host.
The process of moving your website:
Now that we’ve covered some important things to remember before moving your website, let’s get into the actual moving process.
1. Backup your site:
Before you start the process of moving your website, it is imperative that you make sure you have a backup of it, as we have mentioned in a previous section. Check out the previous post we made on this topic if you are unsure how to create a backup of your WordPress site.
2. Export your database:
You must export your database from your current host in order to move your WordPress website. Making use of a program like phpMyAdmin is possible.
3. Import your database to your new host:
After you have exported your database, the next step is to import it to your new host where it will remain. Utilizing a tool such as phpMyAdmin is another viable option for accomplishing this task.
4. Update your DNS records:
As previously stated, DNS is how the internet converts human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers use to communicate with one another. When you transfer your website to a new host, you must change your DNS records to point to the new server.
5. Update your WordPress config file:
The final step is to update your WordPress config file with your new database information. You can accomplish this by editing the wp-config.php file in your WordPress directory.
After you’ve completed all of the preceding steps, your WordPress site should be successfully transferred to your new host.
Moving your website to a new host does not have to be a difficult process. You can easily move your site by following the steps outlined in this post. Just make a backup of your site before you begin, and make sure to update your DNS records once the move is complete.