Knowledge Base

Overview

By the end of this article, you will have moved your website files to a new hosting provider and have a new CodeGuard backup running against that host. The article first explains the restore limitation — CodeGuard cannot migrate a website to a new host automatically — and the backup implications of changing hosts, such as changed file paths and permissions. It then covers the prerequisites you need, the four steps to download a zip backup, upload it to the new host using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) client, delete the old website, and re-add the site, followed by how to verify the new backup and a Professional Plan note.

Restore limitation when changing hosts

CodeGuard does not support migrating a website to a new hosting provider using the automated restore process. To move a website to a new host, download a copy of the backup as a zip file and transfer the contents to the new host yourself using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) client. Once the website is running on the new host, you add it to CodeGuard again so that backups resume from the new location.

Backup implications of switching hosts

Changing hosting providers affects an existing CodeGuard backup in several ways. On a new host, the paths to your files usually change, the user and group that own your content change, and the file permissions change. Because of these differences, a backup taken from the old host may not restore correctly onto the new one. To keep restores consistent, Sectigo strongly recommends removing the backup created from the old website and creating a new backup from the new hosting provider.

Prerequisites

• CodeGuard account access with permission to download backups, delete a website, and add a website
• An active hosting account with the new provider
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) credentials for the new host
• An FTP or SFTP client installed on your computer

Steps to switch hosting providers

Step 1 — Download a zip backup of the website

In the CodeGuard dashboard, open the Restore tab for the website you want to move. Select Restore Options, then select Request Zip. CodeGuard prepares a zip file containing a copy of your website backup, which you can then download to your computer.

Step 2 — Upload the website to the new hosting provider

Extract the zip file and upload your website content to the new hosting account using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) client. The exact destination folder and connection settings vary by hosting provider — use the details supplied by your new provider.

Step 3 — Delete the old website from CodeGuard

In the CodeGuard dashboard, open the Settings tab for the website hosted by your old provider. Scroll down to Delete Website and select the delete link shown in that section. Deleting the website removes the backup created from the old host, so that the old paths and permissions do not conflict with the new backup.

Step 4 — Add the website to CodeGuard under the new host

Add the website to CodeGuard again, this time using the connection details for your new hosting provider. The steps for adding a website vary depending on your CodeGuard plan type.

How to verify the switch was completed successfully

After adding the website under the new hosting provider, open the website in the CodeGuard dashboard and confirm that the file list shows the content stored on the new host. A completed first backup against the new host confirms that CodeGuard is protecting the site in its new location.

Professional Plan note

If you are signed up for the CodeGuard Professional Plan, you must delete the old website from your account before you can add the site again. Complete Step 3 before attempting Step 4, or the new website will not be accepted.

Troubleshooting

Issue: The website cannot be added again under the new hosting provider

Cause: On the Professional Plan, the old website entry is still present and is using the available website slot.

Solution: Delete the old website from the Settings tab, then add the site again using the new host's connection details.

Issue: Files uploaded to the new host do not appear in CodeGuard after the site is added

Cause: The path selected during the add process does not match the folder where the website files are stored on the new host.

Solution: Confirm the folder path with your new hosting provider and add the website again using the correct location.

Similar questions

• How do I move a CodeGuard-backed website to a new host?
• What are the steps to download a zip backup from CodeGuard?
• Can CodeGuard migrate my website to a new hosting provider automatically?
• CodeGuard change hosting provider
• How do I restart CodeGuard backups after changing hosts?

Getting more help

For questions about moving a website between hosting providers, contact CodeGuard Support.