Migrate a website from HostGator
To migrate a website from HostGator, back up the files and databases and note your DNS records while the account is still paid, restore them on the new host, test the copy through a hosts-file preview, copy mailboxes over IMAP, then change DNS. The domain can stay where it is. Cancel HostGator only after a few days.
For site owners leaving HostGator who want to move their website and email to another host without downtime or data loss.
knowledge
- Read time
- 5 min
- Sections
- 7
- Updated
- 14 Nov 2026
- Written by
- WebJi® team
Last editorial update: 14 November 2026. Prices follow the dated sources on this page; checkout confirms current charges.
What do you need to copy before leaving HostGator?
Copy the website files, every database, the mailboxes and a record of your DNS settings while the HostGator account is still paid; the domain registration can stay where it is. A website backup does not include email, and DNS records are not inside the file archive.
| Item | How to copy it | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| Site files | cPanel full or partial backup, or download public_html | The archive contains the site, not an empty folder |
| Databases | phpMyAdmin export or the backup's database section | The new host imports it and pages show content |
| Mailboxes | IMAP copy to the new host | A test message arrives and a reply goes out |
| DNS records | Write down A, MX, TXT (SPF, DKIM) and CNAME values | You can recreate or restore every record |
| SSL | Issue a new certificate on the new host | The padlock shows on the new copy |
HostGator's public hosting page advertises a free tool for moving WordPress sites onto HostGator[1], which is the opposite direction. This checklist is written by WebJi®, which is not HostGator and has no access to its systems.
How do you migrate a website from HostGator step by step?
Record DNS, take the backup, restore it on the new host, test it on a temporary address, copy mail, then change DNS and test again. Stop and fix any step that fails before moving on.
- Write down current nameservers and A, MX and TXT records, and lower the TTL to 300 seconds a day ahead if your DNS host allows it.
- If HostGator gives you cPanel, generate a full backup; otherwise download the site folder and export each database.
- Restore into an empty account on the new host. Between cPanel servers a full backup can usually be restored directly; see cPanel-to-cPanel migration.
- Preview the copy with a hosts-file entry pointing your domain to the new server's IP, and test the home page, an inner page, a form and a login.
- For shops or busy forums, export the database again just before switching, or pause new orders for that window.
- Point the A record, or switch to the new host's nameservers, as in changing nameservers.
- When the domain resolves to the new host, repeat the tests. If anything fails, restore the DNS values from step 1.
A WordPress site is its files plus one database named in wp-config.php; plugin-based migration, covered in migrating a WordPress site, packages the same two things.
How do you keep your HostGator email when moving?
Create the same addresses on the new host, copy existing messages over IMAP while the HostGator account is active, and change MX records only after a test message arrives in the new mailbox. Moving the website and moving mail are separate edits and can happen on different days.
- IMAP copy: an IMAP sync tool or a mail client with both accounts lets you copy folders across.
- Authentication: recreate SPF and DKIM for the new mail server, or messages land in spam.
- Test: send from an outside account, reply, and check both directions.
The detailed procedure is in migrating email accounts.
Do you need to transfer the domain away from HostGator?
No. Moving a website only needs DNS to point at the new host; the domain registration can stay with HostGator or wherever it is. Transfer the registration only if you want a different registrar.
A transfer needs the domain unlocked and an authorisation (EPP) code, and names registered or transferred within the last 60 days usually cannot move yet under ICANN rules. If you decide to move it, domain transfer explains the process; it is easier to finish the hosting move first and transfer the domain later.
When is it safe to cancel the HostGator plan?
Cancel only after the new host has served the website and email correctly for several days, so you can roll back if a page, mailbox or scheduled job was missed. Cancelling on switch day removes your safety net.
- Confirm no traffic or mail still reaches the old server.
- Download one last backup for your own records.
- Check whether the domain is registered with HostGator before closing the account, so you do not cancel it by accident.
Can WebJi® handle a migration from HostGator?
Yes. WebJi® offers free migration subject to terms and approval, and a scoped one-domain move (FTP files plus up to five MySQL databases, up to 5 GB) for ₹700 one-time before 18% GST. Neither is instant, so start before your HostGator renewal date.
Hosting is a separate bill: shared hosting starts at ₹299 a month or ₹2,868 a year before 18% GST, and checkout confirms the final amount. Request a move through the website migration service or at support@webji.services, answered 24/7 in Hindi and English with an average first reply under 60 minutes.
References
- HostGator (https://www.hostgator.com/web-hosting) — web hosting page (free migration tool). Read on 29 October 2026.
Information about other companies was read from the source above on the date shown; that page changes without notice. WebJi® is not affiliated with, and is not the support desk of, any company named on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Will my website go down while I move it from HostGator?
Not if you copy and test first. The old site keeps serving visitors until DNS changes, and with a low TTL the switch completes within minutes for most visitors. Keeping the old account active covers anyone still on cached DNS.
What if my HostGator plan has no cPanel backup option?
Download the site files over FTP or the file manager and export each database separately. A WordPress migration plugin is another route. The new host only needs those files and the database dump.
Do I need a new SSL certificate after moving?
Yes, issue one on the new host. Free certificates on most hosts are issued automatically once DNS points to the new server; until then, test over the hosts-file preview, accepting a temporary warning.
Can I move several sites from one HostGator account at once?
Yes. A full cPanel backup includes addon domains and their databases. On the new host, confirm the plan supports multiple websites; at WebJi®, Webji Scale allows unlimited domains, while Launch and Turbo host one site.
HostGator information read 29 October 2026 · WebJi® prices as published · Reviewed by the WebJi® team, Jaipur.
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