
Hostinger migration can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a breeze.
You'll need to prepare your website for migration by backing up your data and disabling any plugins that might interfere with the process.
Before you start, it's essential to choose the right migration tool, such as Hostinger's free migration tool, which can transfer your website in just a few clicks.
This tool will save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your website.
Pre-Migration
Before you start the migration process, make sure you have an active hosting plan with at least one domain added. If you haven't set up your hosting plan yet, you can request website migration as part of the setup process.
To ensure a smooth migration, it's essential to have an up-to-date backup of your website. This should include all the files you'll need to transfer and the backup location on your server.
Here's a quick checklist to help you prepare:
- Make sure to have an up-to-date backup including all the files you will need to transfer and identify the backup location on your server
- If you are using a database, perform a new dump if required and confirm your database backup location
Requirements
To ensure a smooth website migration, it's essential to meet the requirements set by Hostinger.
Your website must be hosted with a different provider than Hostinger to be eligible for a free migration. This is a straightforward requirement that needs to be met.
You must have an open-source Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress.org or Joomla to qualify for the free migration. This means you can't have a website built on a proprietary platform.
To host your website, you need to have sufficient resources. This includes enough storage space and bandwidth to accommodate your website's needs.
Your website must comply with Hostinger's Terms of Service and Hosting Agreement regarding the type of content that can be hosted on their platform. This ensures that your website doesn't contain any prohibited or malicious content.
You can keep your existing domain name or use a different one for your website. The choice is yours.
Here are the key requirements to keep in mind:
- Your website is hosted with a different provider than Hostinger.
- Your website uses an open-source CMS like WordPress.org or Joomla.
- Your hosting resources are sufficient to host your website.
- Your website complies with Hostinger's Terms of Service and Hosting Agreement.
Error 403
A 403 error can be frustrating, but it's often due to DNS propagation after migration. This happens because different hosting plans have different IP addresses, causing the A record to change and propagate.
Give it some time, and your site will work like a charm.
Cost-Efficient Move
Switching to a new hosting company can be a cost-effective decision. HostGator increased its monthly rate to $21.99 per month last September.
Paying for four years in advance with Hostinger will save you money. Opting for their introductory pricing of $3.99 per month will save you a substantial amount compared to your previous plan.
Hostinger's pricing is significantly lower than HostGator's. This is a great reason to consider switching to a new hosting company.
You can save a substantial $817 over the next four years by making the switch.
Worth a look: HostGator
Initiating Migration
To initiate the migration process, you can access the migration form through the Websites section or the Home page. Clicking on Add Website → Migrate Website or clicking the drop-down under the Websites section and selecting Migrations will take you to the form.
You can reach the migration form through two methods: by opening the Websites section and clicking Add Website → Migrate Website, or by clicking Home → clicking the drop-down under the Websites section and clicking Migrations.
If you're migrating a WordPress website, you'll need to enter your source domain name, which will redirect you to a page where you can fill in your WordPress login details. Be sure to confirm that you won't change your domain's DNS settings until the transfer is complete.
- Enter your source domain name and you will be redirected to a page where you can fill in your WordPress login details.
- Review the migration summary to ensure everything is correct, and click Submit request.
Initiate Request
To initiate the migration request, you have two options. You can either open the Websites section and click Add Website → Migrate Website, or click Home and then click the drop-down under the Websites section and click Migrations.
You'll be taken to a migration form where you can start the process. This is the first step in migrating your website to a new host.
You can initiate the migration request through the Websites section or by clicking Home and selecting Migrations from the drop-down menu.
The migration process is relatively straightforward and can be completed with just a few clicks.
Superb User Interface
Hostinger's dashboard is a breath of fresh air, offering an intuitive and efficient user interface that makes it easy to access each hosted website and managed domain.
Within a couple of clicks, you can access daily backups of each website, which is a huge time-saver and peace of mind.
Hostinger's design and functionality made the transition stress-free, underscoring the importance of a hosting provider that values user experience.
You can also run performance tests on your site and boost hosting resources for 24 hours for free if you expect traffic spikes, need to import large amounts of data faster, or test a better plan without any commitment.
This feature is a game-changer for those who need to quickly scale their website or test out new hosting plans.
Worth a look: Free Website Panel
Migration Process
The migration process at Hostinger is surprisingly straightforward.
To migrate a WordPress website, you'll need to enter your source domain name and fill in your WordPress login details. This will redirect you to a page where you can review the migration summary and confirm that you won't change your domain's DNS settings until the transfer is complete.
If your website is self-hosted, you can follow these steps to initiate the migration process. If it's hosted at WordPress.com, you'll need to follow a different tutorial. And if you have a WordPress multisite installation, there's a specific guide for that too.
A temporary subdomain is preselected by default, but you can change it during onboarding. Simply click "Change" and enter a domain you own or plan to purchase.
Here are the general steps to migrate a WordPress website at Hostinger:
- Enter your source domain name and fill in your WordPress login details.
- Review the migration summary to ensure everything is correct.
- Click Submit request to initiate the migration process.
Migrate WordPress Site
Migrating a WordPress site can be a straightforward process if you follow the right steps. To start, you'll need to enter your source domain name, which will redirect you to a page where you can fill in your WordPress login details.
Make sure you confirm that you won't change your domain's DNS settings until the transfer is complete. This is an important step to ensure a smooth migration process.
Review the migration summary to ensure everything is correct, and click Submit request. This will initiate the migration process.
If your website is hosted at WordPress.com, don't worry – you can follow a separate tutorial to move it to WordPress.org. And if you have a multisite installation, you can refer to a specific guide for more information.
A temporary subdomain is preselected by default, but you can change it during onboarding. Simply click "Change" and enter a domain you own or plan to purchase.
A Seamless Migration
You can migrate your website to Hostinger with ease, regardless of whether it's offline or online. If your site is offline or you have a backup, you can easily upload your website files and database using the 'Upload Backup Files' option.
The supported file types for website files are .zip, .tar, .tar.gz, .tgz, .7z, and .gz. A single compressed file of your root including all folders and the .htaccess is required.
Consider reading: Hostinger Database Backup
For a WordPress website, you'll need to enter your source domain name and WordPress login details. Please confirm that you won't change your domain's DNS settings until the transfer is complete.
A temporary subdomain is preselected by default, but you can change it during onboarding. Simply click “Change” and enter a domain you own or plan to purchase.
Hostinger's migration tools make the process remarkably efficient, eliminating the need for manual backup and import. The platform handles all intricate steps, making the transition to a unique Hostinger domain seamless.
Here are the supported file types for website files:
- .zip
- .tar
- .tar.gz
- .tgz
- .7z
- .gz
Migration Tools and Plugins
You can use a plugin like All-in-One WP Migration to migrate your WordPress site to a new hosting plan. This plugin generates a .wpress file that you can use to restore your site.
The process involves installing the plugin, deleting the original website, and then adding the website to your preferred hosting plan. Next, you'll install WordPress on the new hosting plan and use the plugin to restore the .wpress file.
If you choose to use the All-in-One WP Migration plugin, you'll need to manually create and restore backups as shown in the plugin's instructions. You may also need to purchase a license for the plugin to remove the upload size limit.
Related reading: Automattic Wp Engine
Websites Migration Limit
You can migrate as many websites as your hosting plan's capacity allows, which is determined by your storage and hosting resources.
To be more specific, if you're planning to migrate multiple websites, such as a domain and subdomains, you'll need to submit a separate migration request for each one.
The good news is that you can submit up to five active requests at a time. However, if you have fewer than five requests in the queue, you can submit more.
Bulk migrations aren't allowed, so you'll need to handle each migration individually.
Here's a quick summary of the migration limits:
Keep in mind that once you have fewer than five requests in the queue, you can submit more.
Using a Plugin
Using a plugin can be a straightforward way to migrate your website. You'll need to install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin, which can be downloaded and installed on your website.
To use this plugin, you'll need to generate and download a .wpress file, which contains a backup of your website. This file will be used to restore your website on your new hosting plan.
For another approach, see: Max Zip File Size Backblaze
After deleting the original website, you can add the new website to your preferred hosting plan and install WordPress. Then, you can use the All-in-One WP Migration plugin to restore the .wpress file.
If you want to manually create and restore backups, you can do so using the plugin. However, keep in mind that you'll need to purchase a license to remove the upload size limit.
Here's a step-by-step guide to using the All-in-One WP Migration plugin:
- Install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin.
- Generate and download the .wpress file.
- Delete the original website.
- Add the website on your preferred hosting plan.
- Install WordPress on the new hosting plan.
- Use the All-in-One WP Migration plugin to restore the .wpress file.
Post-Migration
Now that you've completed the migration process, it's time to point your domain to Hostinger servers. Remember to do this after the migration is complete to prevent any prolonged interruptions.
You'll want to test your website to ensure everything is working as it should be. This involves performing a test run of all your applications and making any necessary changes to configuration files, such as updating hostnames and IP addresses.
Transfer the Data
Transferring your data to the new VPS is a crucial step in the post-migration process. You can use FTP, scp, or rsync tools to upload your backups to the new server.
Explore further: Transfer a Wordpress Site to Another Host
There are a few ways to upload backups, but using the File Manager is often the easiest, especially for archives of up to 100 GB. Once the upload is complete, move the application files to their correct locations.
If your control panel includes an internal transfer tool, you can use it as well. This can save you time and effort in the long run.
Here are the general steps to upload and extract your website's backup:
- Upload the website's files using the File Manager, selecting the backup archive (.tar.gz).
- Extract the files into a dedicated folder, naming it something like "backup".
- Move the extracted files to the correct path, directly into the public_html folder.
Remember to give yourself time for the upload and extraction processes, as they can take up to an hour depending on the size of the backup and your internet speed.
Simplified Domain Management
To ensure a seamless post-migration experience, it's essential to simplify domain management. Pointing your domain to Hostinger servers after migration is complete prevents prolonged interruptions.
You can point your domain to Hostinger by updating the A record to match your new VPS IP address. This update should be done after completing the tests and verifying everything is good to go.
Transferring data to the new VPS is a crucial step, and you can do this by uploading your backups using FTP, scp, or rsync tools. Once the upload is complete, move the application files to their correct locations.
If your control panel includes an internal transfer tool, you can use it to simplify the process. This can save you time and effort, making the migration process more efficient.
Transferring your domain management from GoDaddy to Hostinger can also reduce web management overhead. You can initiate the process by unlocking each domain within your GoDaddy account.
To finalize the transfer, enter the details of each domain within the Hostinger platform and provide the requisite authorization code for each one.
For another approach, see: Hostinger Transfer Domain
Website Ownership Transfer
Website ownership transfer is an option you can consider if your website meets certain requirements. This process is especially useful when moving a website from one Hostinger account to another.
To transfer website ownership, your website must have been created with WordPress and be in an active status, meaning it's not suspended for any reason. Additionally, there should be no ongoing migration requests for the website.
Related reading: Transfer Website from Hostinger to Hostinger
You'll also need to ensure the original hosting plan has at least 7 days or more before its expiration date. This is a crucial step to avoid any disruptions during the transfer process.
The website ownership transfer process can be initiated through hPanel, specifically in the Website section under WordPress add-ons. If you're a Cloud Enterprise or Cloud Professional owner, this feature is included by default.
However, if you're on a different plan, you'll need to purchase this feature via hPanel → Website → WordPress add-ons.
Here are the specific requirements for website ownership transfer:
- Moving Website from one Hostinger account to another
- Created with WordPress
- Active status – the website must not be suspended for any reason
- There are no ongoing migration requests for the website
- The original hosting plan has at least 7 days or more before its expiration date
Detailed steps for the transfer process can be found in the article "How to transfer website ownership".
You might enjoy: Transfer Domain Godaddy to Hostinger
4 - Test
After a successful migration, it's essential to test your systems to ensure everything is working smoothly.
You'll need to perform a test run of all your applications to confirm they're functioning as expected. This is a crucial step to identify any potential issues.
Make sure to update hostnames and IP addresses in your configuration files to ensure compatibility. This might require some adjustments to get everything up and running.
Test runs can help you catch any problems early on, saving you time and stress in the long run.
Fixing Common Issues
Inconsistent data formatting can cause issues after migration, so it's essential to standardize data formats before proceeding.
Data inconsistencies can be resolved by using data profiling tools to identify and correct errors.
Broken links and outdated content can hinder user experience, making it crucial to audit and update content post-migration.
Outdated content can be updated by re-creating or re-authoring content to ensure it remains relevant and accurate.
Inadequate indexing can slow down search functionality, so it's vital to re-index content post-migration.
Search functionality can be improved by re-indexing content and ensuring that all relevant pages are crawled and indexed correctly.
Insufficient testing can lead to unnoticed issues post-migration, so thorough testing is necessary to ensure a smooth transition.
Thorough testing should include user acceptance testing, where real users test the system to identify any issues or areas for improvement.
You might enjoy: Adult Content Website Hosting
Featured Images: pexels.com


