What information we need for a website migration

If you want WP Performance Hosting to help move an existing website, we need the right information before the migration can be reviewed or started.

Providing complete details helps reduce delays, avoid downtime and protect important services such as email, forms, checkout and DNS records.

Basic website details

Please provide:

• Your website domain name

• The current website URL

• Whether the website uses WordPress

• Whether the website uses WooCommerce

• Whether the website is currently live

• Whether there are any known issues with the website

• Whether there is a preferred migration date or deadline

If the website already has problems, tell us before migration begins. Migration does not automatically fix pre-existing website errors, malware, broken plugins or missing content.

Current hosting details

Please provide details about your current hosting provider, including:

• Current hosting company name

• Hosting control panel type, if known

• Whether the current hosting uses cPanel

• Whether you have hosting login access

• Whether you have file manager, FTP or database access

• Whether backup files are already available

• Whether the old hosting account is still active

Do not cancel your old hosting account before the migration is completed and checked.

WordPress access

For WordPress websites, we may need WordPress admin access.

Please provide or confirm:

• WordPress admin login URL

• WordPress admin username or email address

• Whether administrator access is available

• Whether two-factor authentication is enabled

• Whether there are security plugins that may block login

• Whether there are staging or backup plugins installed

Do not send passwords in plain text unless we specifically ask for access and provide a safe method.

cPanel or hosting control panel access

If your current host uses cPanel, migration may be more straightforward.

If available, we may ask for:

• cPanel login URL

• cPanel username

• Temporary password or safe access method

• The primary domain on the cPanel account

• Whether email is hosted in the same cPanel account

• Whether there are addon domains or subdomains in the same account

If the current host does not use cPanel, we may need a different migration method.

Domain and DNS details

Please provide details about your domain and DNS setup.

This may include:

• Where the domain is registered

• Where DNS is currently managed

• Whether you have registrar access

• Whether you use Cloudflare or another DNS provider

• Whether nameservers will need to be changed

• Whether only selected DNS records should be updated

• Whether the domain is also used for email

DNS changes should be planned carefully, especially if email is already working on the domain.

Email details

Website migration and email migration are not the same thing.

Please confirm whether the domain currently uses email and where that email is hosted.

Examples include:

• cPanel email

• Google Workspace

• Microsoft 365

• Zoho Mail

• Old hosting provider email

• Email forwarding

• Another email provider

If email is active, tell us before DNS changes are made.

Email migration, inbox history transfer, device setup and third-party workspace administration are not included unless separately agreed.

WooCommerce store details

If your website uses WooCommerce, please tell us.

WooCommerce migrations may require extra care because the store may include:

• Products

• Orders

• Customer accounts

• Checkout pages

• Payment gateways

• Shipping settings

• Coupons

• Store emails

• Stock settings

• Active transactions

Please confirm whether the store is actively taking orders.

If the store is active, avoid making major changes to products, orders, checkout settings or payment settings during the migration window unless instructed.

Important plugins and integrations

Please tell us about any important plugins or integrations that must keep working after migration.

Examples include:

• Contact forms

• Booking systems

• Payment gateways

• Shipping plugins

• Membership plugins

• Learning management systems

• CRM integrations

• Email marketing integrations

• Analytics or tracking scripts

• Security plugins

• Caching or performance plugins

This helps us know what should be checked after migration.

Backups

If you already have a recent backup, let us know.

Useful backup information may include:

• Backup plugin used

• Backup file location

• Backup date

• Whether the backup includes files and database

• Whether the backup includes uploads and media

• Whether the backup can be downloaded

A backup does not guarantee a clean migration, but it may help if direct hosting access is limited.

What not to do before migration

Before migration is complete, avoid:

• Cancelling your old hosting

• Deleting website files

• Changing DNS without confirmation

• Removing email records

• Disabling important plugins

• Changing checkout or payment settings

• Making major content changes

• Starting a redesign

• Resetting passwords without telling support

Changes made during migration can make the process harder to track.

How to send migration details

Existing customers should send migration details through a client portal support ticket.

Client portal link:

https://client.wpperformancehosting.com/

In your ticket, include the relevant details from this guide.

If you are not yet a customer, contact WP Performance Hosting before ordering and explain that you need help migrating an existing website.

Migration details checklist

Use this checklist when preparing your request:

• Domain name

• Current website URL

• Current hosting provider

• Whether the current host uses cPanel

• WordPress admin access available

• Hosting control panel access available

• Domain registrar access available

• DNS provider details

• Current email provider

• Whether the site uses WooCommerce

• Any important plugins or integrations

• Any known website issues

• Preferred migration timing

• Any deadline or launch date

Need help?

If you are unsure which details apply to your website, open a support ticket or contact WP Performance Hosting before migration begins.

The more accurate information you provide, the easier it is to choose the safest migration path.