How to migrate website to Hostinger on Hostinger
Quick Answer
Manually migrate by backing up files and database from source hPanel, adding the website to destination plan, uploading/extracting files to public_html, creating/importing new database, and updating config files. Plan for downtime and test on a temporary domain. Allow time for DNS propagation if changing domains.
Prerequisites
- Backup of source website files in .tar.gz format via File Manager
- Exported source database .sql file via phpMyAdmin
- Source database name, username, and password details
- Access to hPanel on both source and destination accounts
- Temporary domain for testing post-migration
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Backup Source Website Files
Log in to source hPanel, go to Files → File Manager → public_html, select all files, right-click → Compress to create
.tar.gz backup, and download it. Use FTP as alternative for large sites. Compress to .tar.gz for faster uploads; note file size may take up to 1 hour to upload depending on connection.
2
Backup Source Database
In source hPanel, navigate to Databases → MySQL Databases → select database → phpMyAdmin → Export with default UTF-8 settings to download
.sql file. Record database name, username, and password.3
Access Destination Hosting Plan
Log in to destination hPanel at hpanel.hostinger.com, go to Home → Websites section, and select the destination hosting plan. Plan for downtime during transfer.
Test migration on a temporary domain to minimize live site impact.
4
Add Website to Destination Plan
In Websites, click Add website, select Custom PHP/HTML website, enter details, specify preferred domain name, and click Continue. Verify domain ownership with TXT record if from another account.
5
Upload and Extract Files
Go to Files → File Manager for new site → public_html, click Upload → select
.tar.gz backup. Right-click uploaded file → Extract to folder like backup, then move contents from backup/domains/[domain]/public_html to root /public_html. Delete temporary files. Use <strong>Move file</strong> tool; double-click <code>..</code> to navigate to parent directory.
6
Create New Database
In destination hPanel, go to Databases → MySQL Databases → Create database. Note auto-generated
name (e.g., u123456789_dbname), username, generate strong password, and store securely.7
Import Database
Access phpMyAdmin for new database via Databases → Manage → phpMyAdmin, click Import, upload source
.sql file, and execute with default UTF-8 charset. Ensure database size limits are not exceeded.
8
Update Configuration File
In File Manager →
public_html, edit site config file (e.g., wp-config.php) to replace old database name, username, and password with new ones. Save changes. Common files: <code>wp-config.php</code> for WordPress, <code>config.php</code> for others.
9
Test and Point Domain
Test site on temporary domain, clear caches, verify file permissions (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for folders). Update DNS nameservers if needed and allow 24 hours for propagation.
Purge Hostinger cache manager post-migration.
Common Issues & Troubleshooting
Incorrect nameserver pointing causing migration access failure
Revert domain nameservers to previous provider, wait 24 hours for DNS propagation, then resubmit.
Login or 404/503 errors in WordPress admin
Verify admin URL loads on old host, confirm credentials, temporarily disable 2FA.
Upload or extraction fails in File Manager
Use .tar.gz or .zip format, check file size limits, try FTP for large backups.
Database import errors
Confirm UTF-8 charset, create database/user with ALL privileges, check size limits.
Site not loading after migration
Clear browser/Hostinger cache, verify config file DB details, check file permissions.