Website Transfer Resources

Moving your website to a new host can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. At InMotion Hosting, we’ve streamlined the transfer process to make it as simple as possible for you. This guide explains what happens during your website transfer and the resources available to help you succeed.

What to Expect During Your Website Transfer

When you submit a Website Transfer Request through your Account Management Panel, our expert team uses proven tools and methods to safely move your website. Here’s what happens behind the scenes.

For Most Websites (cPanel to cPanel)

If your previous host used cPanel, you can transfer your existing cPanel account to your InMotion Hosting server. This process will include all data stored on the account, including website files, databases, email accounts, and DNS records. By transferring the cPanel account, you can move data between servers in a comprehensive manner, ensuring that no data is lost in the process. Depending on your hosting plan, you may be able to perform this type of transfer yourself using WHM, or by restoring a cPanel backup in the command-line.

If you decided to have our Website Transfer team handle the cPanel transfer for you by submitting a Website Transfer Request, it is likely that they will be doing it via one of these methods. The time involved in this process can vary depending on a variety of factors. If you have a large cPanel account, it may take additional time for the system to package the account into a backup file. If the connection between the old and new server experiences any degradation in speed, the transfer from one server may take longer than normal. 

Once the cPanel account is restored, our Website Transfer team will review your website(s) and make a best-effort attempt to ensure it is fully functional on the new server. Additionally, your email accounts, DNS records, and other cPanel settings should be just as they were at your previous host. In essence, a successful cPanel transfer will provide one of the most seamless transfer processes available today. In the next section, we will discuss what happens when a cPanel transfer isn’t an option. 

Non-cPanel Website Transfers

In many cases, you may find that you are unable to perform a cPanel transfer. Whether it is because your previous host didn’t use cPanel on their servers or because your previous account cannot be successfully packaged and restored using the standard tools, the end result is the same and you will likely find yourself looking for a transfer solution that is as seamless as possible despite the lack of cPanel. The good news is that our Website Transfer team has a wide array of tools and resources that help them move data from many non-cPanel hosts. These tools include FTP, SSH, and WordPress plugins. In the interest of transparency, we will now explore a few of these tools and discuss how the Website Transfer team uses them to perform website transfers. 

FTP

Short for File Transfer Protocol, this technique involves connecting to your previous hosting account using an FTP client such as Filezilla or Cyberduck, or by using a command-line FTP client such as LFTP. Once connected, the Website Transfer team will download the files and databases needed for your websites to the new server and place them in the correct location. As with the cPanel transfer, this process can take varying amounts of time depending on the size of your account and the connection speed between servers. If you decide to perform the transfer on your own and do not wish to use command-line tools or other complicated transfer methods, using a program like Filezilla is probably the best choice for you. 

SSH

Short for Secure Shell, this technique involves connecting to your previous hosting account using an SSH connection via command-line tools such as Terminal. Once connected over SSH, the Website Transfer team uses commands such as wget to download files from your previous host onto the new server. This is particularly useful for accessing hard-to-reach files, since wget can retrieve any file that is publicly available via the internet. While using SSH to transfer data is a bit more complicated than standard FTP, you have greater flexibility and control over the transfer process itself. As with the other transfer methods, the time involved in this process will vary depending on the amount of data you are transferring as well as the speed of the connection between servers. If you are comfortable with Linux commands, you may find that transferring data via SSH is ideal for you. 

For WordPress Sites

Plugins such as Total Upkeep allow users to generate complete backups of WordPress websites from the WordPress dashboard itself. Our Website Transfer team uses this plugin in instances where the cPanel or other backend software is not accessible but the WordPress dashboard can be accessed. This transfer method generally takes less time than the other methods as it specifically backs up only the website and databases and creates a backup file that can be transferred and restored relatively quickly. If all of the other methods fail, you can always transfer a WordPress site by following our Ultimate Guide for Migrating WordPress Websites.

Now that you have a better understanding of what goes on behind-the-scenes of a website transfer, you can move forward with the transfer process without the uncertainty that comes with most data migration services.

Resources Available to You

Free Transfer Services

Most website transfers to InMotion Hosting are completely free when:

• Your previous host provides cPanel backups
• You have a single WordPress site with standard configurations
• Your website files and databases are under our size limits

What’s Included in Your Free Transfer

• Complete website files and folders
• All databases (MySQL, etc.)
• Email accounts and settings (when transferring from cPanel)
• Basic configurations and settings

Premium Transfer Services

For complex websites, we offer affordable professional migration services that include:

• Large website transfers (over standard size limits)
• Multiple website migrations from various hosting platforms
• Custom application transfers with unique requirements
• E-commerce site migrations with special handling for sensitive data

What Makes InMotion Transfers Different

Expert Team

Our Website Transfer specialists have years of experience with every major hosting platform and content management system. They understand the nuances of different hosting environments and know how to handle unexpected challenges.

Proven Tools

We use industry-standard tools that have successfully transferred thousands of websites:

• Secure file transfer protocols that protect your data
• Database migration tools that preserve data integrity
• Automated testing systems that verify your transfer was successful

Transparency

Unlike many hosting companies, we’re transparent about our transfer process. We’ll keep you informed throughout the process and explain any decisions we make along the way.

Common Questions Answered

Will my website be down during the transfer?

We design transfers to minimize downtime. In most cases, your website stays live on your old host until the transfer is complete and you’re ready to switch.

What if something goes wrong?

Our team thoroughly tests every transfer before declaring it complete. If issues arise, we work with you to resolve them at no additional cost.

How long does a transfer take?

Most standard transfers complete within 24-48 hours. Complex sites may take longer, but we’ll give you a realistic timeline upfront.

What if my current host doesn’t use cPanel?

No problem. We have experience with all major control panels and can adapt our approach to work with your current setup.

Need Help or Have Questions?

For Transfer Support:

• Submit a support ticket through your Account Management Panel
• Contact our 24/7 support team via live chat
• Call our support line for immediate assistance

For Complex Migrations: Consider our Professional Solutions team for:

• Large-scale migrations (multiple websites)
• Custom application transfers
• Time-sensitive transfers with tight deadlines

Your Success Is Our Priority

We understand that your website is crucial to your business. That’s why we’ve invested in the best tools, trained expert staff, and developed proven processes to ensure your transfer goes smoothly. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Ready to get started? Submit your Website Transfer Request today, and let us handle the technical details while you focus on running your business.