What happens when we migrate your host

A plain-English walkthrough of the host migration process — what we do, what you need to do, and what to expect.

Moving a website from one hosting provider to another is called a migration. It sounds daunting, but when handled correctly, it's a routine process with minimal disruption to your visitors. Here's what to expect.

Quick summary

A host migration means moving your website's files and database to a new server. We handle all the technical work. You'll need to give us access to both the old and new hosting accounts. During the migration, your site stays live on the old host. We switch traffic over only when everything is tested and ready.

Why you might migrate hosts

Common reasons to move hosting providers:

Moving from slow shared hosting to managed WordPress hosting
Switching between Flywheel, WP Engine, and Kinsta
Consolidating multiple sites under one account
Your previous host is being shut down or discontinued
Significant performance or reliability problems with the current host

What we need from you

Before we can begin, we need access to:

Your current hosting account — to download your site's files and database.
Your domain registrar or DNS provider — to update the DNS records after the migration.
The new hosting account — usually we set this up for you, but if you already have one, we'll need credentials.

When granting access, invite support@chykalophia.com unless your project lead has specified a different address.

See the access guides for step-by-step instructions for each platform.

How the migration works

We set up the new hosting account. We configure the server, install WordPress, and restore your site's files and database from a backup or direct migration.

We test everything on the new server. Using a temporary URL or a modified local hosts file, we check that the site works correctly — pages, forms, images, plugins, and ecommerce features if applicable.

We back up the live site. We always take a fresh backup of your current live site immediately before switching DNS.

We update your DNS records. We change the A record (or nameservers) to point to the new server. See how DNS & hosting fit together.

DNS propagation happens. Over the next 1–4 hours, visitors are gradually redirected to the new server. During this window, both servers are live.

We verify the migration is complete. Once propagation is done, we confirm everything is working correctly on the new host.

We decommission the old site. After a safe period (usually a few days), we confirm the old hosting can be cancelled.

What to expect during the migration

Downtime

A properly executed migration causes zero or near-zero downtime. Your site stays live on the old server until DNS has fully propagated to the new one.

Email

Email is usually unaffected by a hosting migration. Your email uses different DNS records (MX records) that we don't touch. See hosting vs email: why they're separate.

Timing

Most migrations take 1–4 hours of actual work, plus up to 24 hours for DNS propagation. We'll let you know the schedule before we start.

Avoid editing your site during a migration

If you edit content on the live site during the DNS propagation window, those edits might not appear on the new server. Let us know if you need to make urgent updates and we'll coordinate.

What you don't need to do

You don't need to:

Download or upload any files yourself
Access any server settings
Worry about breaking anything
Be available during the migration (unless you want to be)

We handle all the technical steps. We'll notify you when the migration is complete and confirm everything is working.

Common questions

Need a hand?

If you're stuck, email support@chykalophia.com and we'll help. Include your website address and a screenshot if you can.

What happens when we migrate your host

Will my website go offline during the migration?

What if something goes wrong?

How long will my site be on two servers?

Do I need to cancel the old hosting myself?

On this page