{"id":61211,"date":"2021-03-02T08:48:41","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T14:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/?p=61211"},"modified":"2025-11-14T05:06:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T11:06:26","slug":"how-to-migrate-a-magento-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/how-to-migrate-a-magento-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Migrate a Magento Website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Magento online shops are quite powerful but will require a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/\"><strong>reliable hosting solution<\/strong><\/a> to run properly. If you\u2019re unhappy with your current host, it may be time to consider switching providers. Don\u2019t worry about the process since we\u2019re here to guide you along on how to migrate a <strong>Magento website.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reasons\">Reasons to Consider a Magento Migration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As websites grow, they need <strong>more hosting resources<\/strong> to handle the incoming traffic. However, that alone isn\u2019t a good enough reason to migrate to a new host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the performance aspect, you have to consider if the current has everything you need for your online journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply put &#8211; <em>are you happy with the way things are going where you are now?&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the signs you may need to consider migrating include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Service outages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sluggish website behavior<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resource-related errors and limitations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unhelpful or unresponsive customer support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increasing hosting fees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Whichever the reason, before you cut all ties with your current host, you should first secure a new service provider.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"host\"><strong>Choosing the Right Magento Host<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a web application, Magento has some specific requirements when it comes to hosting. The most basic prerequisite is for the traditional combination of <strong>Linux, Apache, MySQL, <\/strong>and <strong>PHP<\/strong>. That said, to run a Magento website smoothly, you need to look beyond the basics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the factors you should consider when choosing the right Magento host:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Web server performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resources provided (CPU, RAM, Storage)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Server locations available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Security tools and options<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Backup and restoration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support channels available<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While it can be challenging to assess the exact quality of a web host for your <strong>Magento website<\/strong>, you can see some general indicators from its online reputation. Excellent hosting providers often get tons of positive feedback from real accounts. Still, even when they encounter a negative comment &#8211; they always try to clear the air and assist the user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how\">How to Migrate a Magento Store<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Magento migration process is specific, yet at the same time, relatively straightforward. While there are a few ways you can do it, most will revolve around the same few basic steps &#8211; <strong>backup<\/strong>, <strong>moving<\/strong>, and <strong>updating<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-1-backing-up-your-files\">Step 1. Backing Up Your Files<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before creating a backup, you will want to <strong>clear out the cache<\/strong> on your site. You can do this from your Magento dashboard under the <strong>System -&gt; Cache Management <\/strong>option. Once that\u2019s done, you can proceed with a backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can be done in two ways &#8211; via the <strong>File Manager<\/strong> in your web hosting control panel or using a <strong>File Transfer Protocol<\/strong> (FTP) application such as <strong>FileZilla<\/strong>. We recommend the latter since it\u2019s more reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can either download your <strong>entire Magento installation <\/strong>\u201cas is\u201d or compress it into a single file for backup.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whichever method you choose, your objective is to move a copy of the files onto your local device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-2-export-the-magento-database\"><strong>Step 2. Export the Magento Database<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since Magento needs to work with a database, you need to move the table and your website files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Magento sites, you can create a backup for the database using <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong>. This database utility is located in your<strong> web hosting control panel<\/strong>. Log in to the dashboard and launch the phpMyAdmin utility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><p>Next, select the database associated with your Magento website and click on the <strong>Export<\/strong>&nbsp;tab. On the following screen, ensure that the <strong>format chosen<\/strong> is <strong>SQL<\/strong>, then click the <strong>Go<\/strong> button. This will start the database export.<\/p>\n<p>When it\u2019s ready, you will be asked to save it at a location of your choice on your local device.&nbsp;<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-3-move-the-magento-files\">Step 3. Move the Magento Files<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With the backup of your Magento files and database in hand, it\u2019s time to move everything onto your new hosting account. Using either FTP or the File Manager, <strong>upload your Magento website files<\/strong> onto your new account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-4-move-the-magento-database\">Step 4. Move the Magento Database<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As with the backup creation process, the database needs to be moved to your new host separately from the files. Once again, we will need to do this from phpMyAdmin. Log in to your new hosting control panel and launch the <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong> tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here you will need to <strong>create a new blank database<\/strong>. You will also have to create a <strong>new database user<\/strong> and associate it with the database that you have created. Once done,<strong> open the new database<\/strong> and use it to <strong>import <\/strong>the database file you saved earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-5-update-database-details\">Step 5. Update Database Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some slight discrepancies between the new database and your imported data. This is caused by the new username and password, as well as the new database name. For things to work smoothly again, you need to update the database details file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can update this from a file in your Magento folder, typically following the <strong>app\/etc\/<\/strong> path. Look for a file named <strong>local.xml<\/strong>&nbsp;and edit it to reflect your new <strong>database name, username<\/strong>, and <strong>password<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-6-modify-the-urls-in-your-database\">Step 6. Modify the URLs in Your Database<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This step is only needed if you\u2019re migrating to <strong>an entirely<\/strong> <strong>new domain name<\/strong>. For example, if your previous domain name was <em>www.oldwebsite.com<\/em> and you\u2019re moving to <em>www.newsite.com<\/em>, you will need to do this.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re keeping your old domain name, you can safely skip this step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fire up <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong> again and open your Magento site database. Search for the table called <strong>core_config_data<\/strong>&nbsp;and modify the following entries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>web\/unsecure\/base_url &gt; http:\/\/www.newwebsite.com<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p><em>\n\n\n\n<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p><em>web\/secure\/base_url &gt; http:\/\/www.newwebsite.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-7-refresh-cache-and-reindex\">Step 7. Refresh Cache and Reindex<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>By this stage, you should be able to access your Magento site dashboard again. The final step you need to take is to <strong>refresh your cache<\/strong> and do a <strong>reindex<\/strong>. To refresh the cache, head back to the <strong>System -&gt; Cache Management -&gt; Select all &amp; disable cache management.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following that, head to <strong>System -&gt; Index Management<\/strong>. At that screen, you need to select all the fields that show a <strong>Reindex required<\/strong> status and choose <strong>Reindex Data<\/strong>. Once you\u2019ve chosen the ones you need to, click on <strong>Submit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once done, make sure to <strong>delete all the files in your var\/session <\/strong>and <strong>\/var\/cache folders<\/strong>. Your Magento migration is now complete, and the site should be running perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"possible\">Possible Problems after Magento Migrations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter how closely you follow migration stages, bad things happen on occasion. Don\u2019t be alarmed if you find something that\u2019s broken or not working as it should be. Magento is widely supported, and many common errors have already been resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some potential problems which you may observe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"missing-images-on-products\">Missing Images on Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most likely thing that went wrong here is <strong>forgetting to copy your image folder<\/strong> during the migration process. Check to see if your image files exist on the new host. Alternatively, this can also be caused by <strong>missing third-party tools<\/strong>. Make sure you include everything that you had on the previous server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"forgotten-admin-passwords\">Forgotten Admin Passwords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If, for some reason, you can\u2019t remember your Magento admin password, don\u2019t panic. You can <strong>reset the password<\/strong> from your database. Launch the phpMyAdmin tool and find the <strong>admin_user<\/strong>&nbsp;table. Enter a new password there, making sure that it is inserted with the <strong>MD5 function<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sluggish-performance\">Sluggish Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you feel your new Magento host is a little sluggish, run a <strong>Magento Compilation<\/strong>. Head to<strong> System -&gt; Tools -&gt; Compilation<\/strong> to run the compilation process. Doing so can <strong>boost speeds by more than 25%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you encounter a problem not covered here, know that in many cases, most common Magento issues can be fixed by <strong>clearing your Magento cache files<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"with\">Migrating Magento with ScalaHosting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For those concerned about manually migrating their Magento sites, ScalaHosting offers <strong>free migration for all new customers<\/strong>. The process is streamlined and pain-free. Simply sign up for one of the ScalaHosting Magento plans and then <strong>submit a migration support request<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The experienced technical team at ScalaHosting will carry out the migration process for you. The only thing you will need to do is provide the login credentials on your existing installation. Once everything is done, check to see if the site is working as it should be, and you\u2019re good to go.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"shortcode-cta-new-wrap row ecommerce\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"shortcode-logo\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/shortcode-bg-new-logo-ecommerce.svg\" alt=\"shortcode-logo\" title=\"shortcode-logo\"\/>\r\n    <div class=\"shortcode-cta-img col-10 col-sm-7 col-md-5\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"shortcode-bg\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/shortcode-bg-new-ecommerce.webp\" alt=\"shortcode-bg\" title=\"shortcode-bg\"\/>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"shortcode-cta-content col-12 col-md-7\">\r\n        <div class=\"content\">\r\n            <div class=\"heading\">Transform your Business and Boost Sales with Scalable Magento Hosting<\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"list-wrap\">\r\n                <div class=\"list\">\r\n                    <div><b>Free, Effortless & No-Downtime Migration<\/b><\/div>\r\n                    <div><b>Anytime Unconditional Money-back Guarantee<\/b><\/div>\r\n                    <div><b>Constant, Expert Magento Technical Help<\/b><\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"btn-wrap row\">\r\n                <div class=\"col-auto\">\r\n                    <a class=\"button blue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/magento-hosting.html\">Start Now<\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"col-auto\">\r\n                    <button class=\"button blue_outer\" title=\"Contact Sales\" onclick=\"chatChangeVisibility(this, 'maximize', {}, 5);\">Chat with our Experts<\/button>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your website performance is vital to your online success. Slow-running sites suffer in search rankings and offer a poor user experience to your visitors. Instead of struggling with poor hosting that offers unresponsive support, choose a service provider that cares about the quality of their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t worry too much about the migration process itself. As you can see, it\u2019s a simple procedure, and in the case of ScalaHosting &#8211; the service provider can take a load off your shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-much-does-it-cost-to-migrate-a-website\"><strong>How much does it cost to migrate a website?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The website migration is naturally free if you perform the migration on your own. Some hosts like ScalaHosting will do the migration at no cost, while others may charge anything from $100 upwards depending on your site&#8217;s complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-long-does-website-migration-take\"><strong>How long does website migration take?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For simple websites, expect to spend anywhere from a minimum of two to four hours for full site migration. The process might take longer depending on the volume and size of the projects you want to transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-does-it-mean-to-migrate-a-website\"><strong>What does it mean to migrate a website?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Migrating a website is moving it from one hosting server to another. This doesn&#8217;t always mean needing a new hosting provider. For example, you can migrate from a shared hosting plan to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/managed-cloud-hosting.html\"><strong>Virtual Private Server (VPS)<\/strong><\/a> account within the same hosting company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><script type=\"mce-application\/ld+json\">\n    {\n      \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [{\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"How much does it cost to migrate a website?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"Nothing except your time if you perform the migration on your own. 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For example, you can migrate from a shared hosting plan to a Virtual Private Server (VPS) account within the same hosting company.\"\n        }\n      }]\n    }<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Magento online shops are quite powerful but will require a reliable hosting solution to run properly. If you\u2019re unhappy with &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":61213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Moving a CMS website is quite easy but users with no previous experience might get confused. Here is how to migrate a Magento website in just a few easy steps...","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[122],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecommerce-hosting"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/112"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61211"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73080,"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61211\/revisions\/73080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}