How to Move WordPress Hosting Without Breaking the Website or Email

Dynamic Servers technical team · Migration guide

A WordPress migration is often described as copying files and a database. That is only part of the job. For a business domain, the website may share DNS with email, verification records, subdomains and third-party services. A rushed nameserver change can move the website successfully while breaking something else.

1. Inventory the current service

Record the website location, database, PHP version, SSL setup, mailboxes, DNS records and domain registrar. Note any external services such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, email marketing or verification records.

2. Prepare the destination first

Create the new hosting account before changing DNS. Copy the WordPress files and database, configure the database connection and check the PHP environment. The new copy should be tested before visitors are sent to it.

3. Treat email as a separate service

Email might be hosted on the same server as the website or somewhere completely different. Preserve MX, SPF, DKIM and other mail-related DNS records unless the email service is also being moved.

4. Lower risk at the cutover

Choose a sensible time for the final DNS change and avoid making unrelated website changes at the same time. Keep access to the old hosting while the new service is being verified.

5. Check more than the homepage

Test forms, logins, important landing pages, images, SSL, scheduled tasks and email delivery. For WooCommerce or membership websites, check the functions that actually generate revenue or customer activity.

6. Keep a recovery route

Do not cancel the old hosting until the new service is working correctly. Once the site is live on Dynamic Servers, the hosting account has access to thirty days of daily JetBackup restore points.

Dynamic Servers reviews existing websites, databases, mailboxes and DNS before agreeing a migration. See the full website hosting migration process or the UK WordPress hosting service.