Migrate Website Between cPanel Servers Manually

Here are some reasons why a cPanel automatic transfer might fail:

DNS query timeout
The system might not be able to determine if the local server is authoritative for the zone. This can happen when a DNS query times out.

Connection refused
The transfer might fail if the server has a 3rd party CSF firewall installed. The default CSF installation doesn't allow TCP outbound connections on port 2083, which is required for the transfer to work.

System update
The transfer might fail if it's started during a system update or if a system update is started during a transfer.

Microsoft FrontPage
If the account to be transferred uses Microsoft FrontPage, it's recommended to disable FrontPage before attempting the transfer.

Large account
The Transfer Tool might struggle with single, very large accounts. For example, if a domain is more than 10 GB in size, it's better to use the skip home directory option and rsync that data.

Greylist configuration
The Transfer Tool might fail to copy and restore the Greylist configurations between the two servers.

Different Server Software Versions
The Transfer Tool might fail to copy and restore due to differences between the two servers.

For any reason,

If automatic migration is not being supported for your websites.
Or backup restoration getting failed,

In such case, manual migration is required.
Kindly follow these steps.

1. Backup the Website Files

Log into the source cPanel account and access the File Manager. Locate the public_html directory and select all files that need to be migrated. Right-click and choose 'Compress' to create a ZIP archive of the website files. Once compressed, download the ZIP file to your local computer.

2. Export the Databases

In the source cPanel, navigate to 'phpMyAdmin'. Select the database you wish to export. Click on the 'Export' tab, choose the 'Quick' export method and the format should be 'SQL'. Click 'Go' to download the database SQL file to your local computer.

3. Create a New cPanel Account on the Destination Server

Log into the WHM (Web Host Manager) of the destination server. Under 'Account Functions', select 'Create a New Account'. Enter the necessary domain details and create the account.

4. Upload the Website Files to the New Server

Access the new cPanel account’s File Manager via the destination server. Navigate to the public_html directory, click 'Upload', and upload the downloaded ZIP archive. Once uploaded, select the file and click 'Extract' to extract the contents.

5. Create a Database on the Destination Server

In the new cPanel account, navigate to 'MySQL Databases'. Create a new database and a new database user, assigning a password. Make sure to add the user to the database and grant all privileges.

6. Import the Database

Within cPanel, go to 'phpMyAdmin' on the destination server. Select the newly created database. Click on the 'Import' tab, choose the SQL file exported earlier, and click 'Go' to import the data.

7. Update Configuration Files

On the destination server, edit the website configuration files, such as wp-config.php for WordPress, to use the new database name, user, and password established in the previous step.

8. Test the Website

Before updating DNS settings, test the website using a temporary URL or the server IP. Ensure everything works correctly, including links, images, and database connections.

9. Update DNS Settings

Once confirmed that the migrated website works properly, update the domain’s DNS settings to point to the new server's IP address. Allow up to 48 hours for DNS propagation.