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 a CNAME record, or your nameservers, depending on the setup) to point to the new server. See how DNS & hosting fit together.

DNS propagation happens. Over the next few hours (occasionally up to a day or two), 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. The exception is a move that also changes your nameservers: your MX records then have to exist at the new DNS provider before the switch, or email can stop arriving. See hosting vs email: why they're separate.

Timing

Most migrations take 1–4 hours of actual work, plus time for the DNS change to spread. That's usually a few hours, but can take up to a day or two, especially when nameservers change. We'll let you know the schedule before we start.

While DNS propagates, both servers are genuinely live, and visitors are redirected to the new one gradually rather than all at once. An edit made in that window goes to one server only — and if that is the old host, it might not appear on the new server at all.

Read this as text

After we point your domain at the new server, both servers stay switched on until DNS has finished propagating — up to 24 hours. Visitors are redirected to the new server gradually rather than all at once.

In the diagram, one visitor has already been redirected, so they arrive at the new host and see your migrated site. The other has not been redirected yet, so they arrive at the old host and see the site exactly as it was. Neither of them sees anything wrong. They are simply looking at two different machines.

That is why an edit made during this window is risky. It lands on one of the two servers only, and if that is the old host, the change might not appear on the new server. Let us know if you need to make urgent updates, and we’ll coordinate.

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

Will my website go offline during the migration?

With a well-planned migration, no. Your site remains live on the old host until the new one is fully set up and tested. We switch over only when everything is confirmed working.

What if something goes wrong?

We always keep the old site running until we're certain the migration is successful. If any issue arises, we can point DNS back to the old host straight away. Like any DNS change, it takes a little time to reach everyone. We also take a fresh backup before every migration.

How long will my site be on two servers?

Only during DNS propagation — usually a few hours. We decommission the old server once propagation is complete and we've verified the new site.

Do I need to cancel the old hosting myself?

We'll advise you when it's safe to cancel. Never cancel the old hosting before the migration is fully confirmed — you might need to roll back.

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

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