Switch Linux to Windows Hosting
You cannot convert a Linux plan into Windows hosting. Order a Windows plan, migrate files, recreate cron jobs and mail in Plesk, convert MySQL to MS SQL only if the application needs it, and rewrite .htaccess rules as web.config. Test before moving DNS and keep the Linux account live for rollback. WordPress and PHP sites rarely need Windows.
For site owners and developers whose application needs ASP.NET, .NET Framework or MS SQL, and who want to move without downtime.
knowledge
- Read time
- 5 min
- Sections
- 9
- 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.
Can you switch a Linux hosting plan to Windows?
No — Linux and Windows hosting are different server stacks, so "switching" means ordering a Windows plan, migrating the files, converting the database where needed, testing, and then moving DNS. Keep the Linux account live until the Windows copy is verified.
| Part | Effort | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HTML, CSS, images, PDFs | Copy | Moves unchanged |
| DNS records | Recreate | Point A or nameservers last |
| PHP apps | Test | PHP runs on IIS but extensions and paths differ |
.htaccess rules | Rewrite | IIS uses web.config |
| Cron jobs, mail forwarders | Recreate | Plesk Scheduled Tasks and Mail |
| MySQL database | Keep or convert | Convert to MS SQL only if the app requires it |
Does your site actually need Windows hosting?
You need Windows hosting for classic ASP.NET Web Forms or MVC on .NET Framework, Windows-only libraries, MS SQL-specific features or MS Access databases — and for little else. WordPress, Joomla, Laravel and plain PHP run better and cheaper on Linux.
- Needs Windows: .NET Framework 4.x apps, classic ASP, MS SQL stored procedures and reporting, MS Access behind web forms.
- Either works: ASP.NET Core / modern .NET apps (they also run on Linux), static HTML.
- Stay on Linux: WordPress, WooCommerce, Joomla, Laravel, most PHP sites; see Linux hosting.
For modern .NET, target a supported release: Microsoft ended support for .NET 8 and .NET 9 on 10 November 2026, leaving .NET 10 (long-term support) and .NET 11 (standard-term support) current, per the .NET support policy. Check the plan offers the runtime your app targets. Background is in what Windows hosting is.
What does WebJi® Windows hosting cost?
WebJi® Windows shared plans with Plesk, IIS and MS SQL cost ₹2,300, ₹4,200 or ₹8,400 a year before 18% GST, read on 30 October 2026; checkout confirms the current price.
| Plan | Built for | Before GST | With 18% GST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win-SQLPro | Production sites | ₹2,300 | ₹2,714 |
| Win-SQLDev | Heavier database workloads | ₹4,200 | ₹4,956 |
| Win-SQLDev+ | Maximum shared resources | ₹8,400 | ₹9,912 |
The plan is usually the smaller cost. Converting MySQL to MS SQL and adjusting queries is developer work, quoted separately. WebJi® migration help is free subject to terms and approval and covers files and data, not application rewrites. Plan details are on Windows hosting.
How do you migrate a site from Linux to Windows hosting?
Document the current stack, back everything up, build the site and database in Plesk, upload and import, recreate tasks and mail, then test on the new server before touching DNS. Each step leaves the old site untouched.
- Record language and version, database engine and size, cron jobs, mailboxes and every
.htaccessrule. - Take a full backup of files and database from cPanel and download both.
- In Plesk on the Windows plan, add the domain and create the database and user first.
- Upload files to the document root with File Manager or FTP.
- Import the data — as MySQL if supported and sufficient, or the converted MS SQL dump.
- Recreate cron jobs as Scheduled Tasks and mailboxes under Mail.
- Update the application's connection string and test.
What changes when converting MySQL to MS SQL?
A MySQL dump will not import straight into MS SQL; auto-increment columns, ENUM types, quoting, LIMIT clauses, booleans and zero dates all need conversion. Convert schema, then data, then queries, testing each on a copy.
| MySQL | MS SQL equivalent |
|---|---|
AUTO_INCREMENT | IDENTITY(1,1) |
ENUM('a','b') | VARCHAR with a CHECK constraint |
Backtick quoting `name` | Square brackets [name] |
LIMIT 10 OFFSET 20 | OFFSET 20 ROWS FETCH NEXT 10 ROWS ONLY (needs ORDER BY) |
TINYINT(1) booleans | BIT |
DATETIME with zero dates | DATETIME2, with zero dates replaced by NULL |
Migration tools such as Microsoft's SQL Server Migration Assistant for MySQL handle much of the schema and data; application queries are where remaining errors appear.
How do you replace .htaccess rules on IIS?
IIS ignores .htaccess; rewrite and redirect rules go in web.config under system.webServer/rewrite, using the URL Rewrite module. Rules run in order, so place specific rules above catch-alls.
<configuration>
<system.webServer>
<rewrite>
<rules>
<rule name="Force HTTPS" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="(.*)" />
<conditions>
<add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="off" ignoreCase="true" />
</conditions>
<action type="Redirect" url="https://{HTTP_HOST}/{R:1}" redirectType="Permanent" />
</rule>
</rules>
</rewrite>
</system.webServer>
</configuration>Custom 404 pages move from ErrorDocument lines to httpErrors in the same file. Test each rule in a private browser window.
How do you test the new server and keep a rollback?
Test the Windows copy through a hosts-file entry or curl before changing DNS, lower the TTL to 300 seconds a day ahead, and keep the Linux account paid for at least a month. Rolling back is then one DNS change.
# Fetch the site from the new server without changing DNS
curl -sI --resolve yourdomain.com:443:SERVER-IP https://yourdomain.com/- Click through every menu, a database-driven page and the contact form via the hosts entry.
- Send and receive mail from a new mailbox and check SPF and DKIM.
- Confirm the certificate covers the domain and HTTP redirects to HTTPS once.
- Switch the A record or nameservers; if anything fails, point it back.
- Keep the original MySQL dump; it is the only copy in the original schema.
Email support@webji.services (24/7, Hindi and English, average first reply under 60 minutes) with the domain, framework version and exact error. For larger moves see the website migration service.
Frequently asked questions
Will WordPress work on Windows hosting?
It can run on IIS with PHP and MySQL, but there is no benefit and some drawbacks: permalink rules need web.config, and fewer plugins are tested on IIS. Move WordPress only if something else on the account needs Windows.
Can ASP.NET run on Linux hosting instead?
Modern ASP.NET Core does, typically on a VPS. Classic ASP.NET on .NET Framework does not; it needs Windows hosting, or a port to a current .NET release first.
Will my email change when I move to Windows hosting?
Mailboxes must be recreated in Plesk and old mail copied over IMAP or by the migration team. If you change only the website's A record and keep MX pointing to the old host or a separate mail service, email is unaffected.
How long does a Linux-to-Windows migration take?
A static or simple site can move in a day. A database-driven app that needs MySQL-to-MS SQL conversion can take days to weeks, depending on how many queries must be rewritten and tested.
Last editorial update: 15 November 2026. Prices follow the dated sources on this page; checkout confirms current charges.
Ready to get started with WebJi®?
Join 12,000+ businesses across India and overseas. INR pricing, 18% GST shown before payment and 24/7 email support in Hindi and English — average first reply under 60 minutes.