Migrate WordPress from Hostinger
To migrate WordPress from Hostinger, export the site files and database from hPanel or with a migration plugin while the plan is paid, restore them on the new host, update wp-config.php, and test through a hosts-file preview. Then purge caches, resave permalinks, switch DNS and issue SSL. Move email separately over IMAP.
For WordPress site owners leaving Hostinger's hPanel for another host who want a clean move without broken links or lost mail.
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 are the ways to migrate WordPress from Hostinger?
You can move WordPress off Hostinger with a migration plugin, by manually downloading the files and database from hPanel, or with WP-CLI over SSH; all three move the same two things, the wp-content files and one database. Do it while the Hostinger plan is still paid.
| Method | How it works | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migration plugin | Packs files and database into one archive you import on the new site | Small and medium sites | Free tiers often cap archive size |
| Manual (hPanel) | Download files and a database export separately, upload and import | Any size; full control | Editing wp-config.php correctly |
| WP-CLI | wp db export, rsync or archive files, wp db import | Developers with SSH on both ends | SSH access on the old plan |
Hostinger's own transfer tutorial treats WordPress and cPanel sources as different types[1]: hPanel is Hostinger's panel, so there is no cPanel full-account backup to download. WebJi®, which wrote this guide, is not Hostinger and cannot access its systems.
What should you record before starting the move?
Note your DNS records, the PHP version, the list of active plugins, any host-specific plugins, and every email address on the domain. A WordPress archive contains none of the DNS records or mailboxes.
- DNS: nameservers plus A, MX, TXT (SPF, DKIM) and CNAME records; lower the TTL to 300 seconds a day ahead.
- PHP version: match it on the new host to avoid plugin errors.
- Host-specific plugins: hosts often pre-install helper or caching plugins tied to their platform; plan to deactivate or replace them.
- Mailboxes: list addresses and sizes for the IMAP copy.
How do you move WordPress from hPanel to a cPanel host manually?
Download the site files and the database from hPanel, create an empty database on the new host, upload the files, import the database and update wp-config.php with the new credentials.
- In hPanel, download a file backup and a database backup (two separate downloads), or zip
public_htmlwith the file manager and export the database in phpMyAdmin. - On the new host, create a database and user; on cPanel hosting that is MySQL Databases.
- Upload and extract the files into the new document root.
- Import the SQL file through phpMyAdmin.
- Edit
DB_NAME,DB_USER,DB_PASSWORDandDB_HOSTin wp-config.php. - Preview through a hosts-file entry and test the home page, a post, a form and wp-admin.
Over SSH the same move is wp db export site.sql on the old server and wp db import site.sql on the new one, followed by copying wp-content.
What WordPress settings need fixing after the move?
After restoring, clear and reconfigure caching, remove the old host's helper plugins, resave permalinks, and if a temporary URL was used, replace it with a serialisation-safe search and replace. These fixes resolve most "it worked on the old host" problems.
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Stale or broken cache | Purge the cache plugin; LiteSpeed Cache works fully only on LiteSpeed servers |
| Old host's helper plugins | Deactivate and delete plugins tied to the previous platform |
| 404 on posts | Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes to rewrite .htaccess |
| Links pointing to a temporary URL | wp search-replace 'https://temp.example' 'https://example.in' --skip-columns=guid |
| Mixed-content warnings | Confirm both WordPress Address and Site Address use https |
Never run a plain text find-and-replace on the SQL file: WordPress stores some settings as serialised PHP, and changing string lengths breaks widgets and menus. WebJi® cPanel hosting runs LiteSpeed Enterprise with LSCache, so a LiteSpeed Cache setup carries over cleanly.
How do you switch DNS, email and SSL without breaking the site?
Change the website's A record (or nameservers) only after the private test passes, issue SSL on the new host, and move mail as a separate step by copying mailboxes over IMAP before changing MX. The domain registration can stay where it is.
- Website: point the A record, or follow changing nameservers if the new host will run DNS.
- SSL: the certificate does not travel with the files; free SSL issues once DNS points to the new server.
- Email: create the same addresses, copy over IMAP, test from outside, then change MX; see migrating email accounts.
- Rollback: if checks fail after the switch, restore the DNS values you recorded.
The general sequence for avoiding visitor-facing errors is in migrating without downtime.
When should you cancel Hostinger, and can WebJi® do the move?
Cancel Hostinger only after the new host has served the site and email correctly for several days; WebJi® can perform the move under its free migration offer, subject to terms and approval. Migrations are not instant, so start well before the renewal date.
WebJi® WordPress hosting includes WordPress Unlimited plans from ₹400 a month before 18% GST with staging, daily backups and a global CDN; checkout confirms the final amount. Request a move through the website migration service or email support@webji.services, answered 24/7 in Hindi and English. Renewal costs on Hostinger are compared in the Hostinger alternative guide.
References
- Hostinger (https://www.hostinger.com/support/4455931-how-to-migrate-a-website-to-hostinger) — how to migrate a website to Hostinger (support tutorial). 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
Which migration plugin should I use to leave Hostinger?
Widely used options include All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator and UpdraftPlus. For large sites, check each plugin's free-tier size limit before starting; the manual method has no size cap and is often faster for multi-gigabyte sites.
Will my WordPress login and users move too?
Yes. Users, passwords, posts, settings and orders all live in the database, so importing it moves them. Media uploads live in wp-content/uploads and travel with the files.
My site was built with Hostinger's website builder. Can I move it?
A site made with a proprietary builder is not WordPress and usually cannot be exported as files. You would rebuild it on WordPress or another platform; copy your text and images first while the account is active.
Do I need to change my domain registrar too?
No. Only DNS has to point at the new host. Transferring the registration is optional and can be done later through a domain transfer, usually adding a year to the registration.
Hostinger information read 29 October 2026 · WebJi® prices as published · Reviewed by the WebJi® team, Jaipur.
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