What does a move without downtime require?
A move without downtime means both servers answer for the same domain while DNS caches catch up. Some visitors still have the old IP. Others already have the new one. Cancel the old host in that window and the cached visitors get an error.
- The old host stays online until resolvers drop the old address.
- The new copy is opened and clicked through before the A record changes.
- Anything saved on the old site after the backup is copied again, or writes are paused for that last sync.
Changing nameservers moves every record, including mail, and it is the slow path. Change the website A record when only the site is moving.
Which order keeps the public site answering?
Follow this order. Stop if the private test fails. Do not cancel the old plan between these steps.
- Write down the new server IP, the PHP version on the old host, and where the DNS records are edited.
- At least one old-TTL period before the switch, set the A record TTL to 300 seconds. A 24-hour TTL still caches for a day after you lower it.
- Back up the files and every database on the old host. Leave that host serving the live site.
- Restore the backup on the new host, match the PHP version, and install the certificate there before you judge the padlock.
- Point only your computer at the new IP with a hosts file, or open the temporary URL. Click the home page, one inner page, a form, and a login.
- Copy anything saved on the old site since the backup. Then change the A record to the new IP. Leave MX alone if mail is not moving.
- Read the old server access log. Cancel that host only after normal traffic has stopped and mail still arrives where you expect.
How do you copy the files and the database?
Use a full account backup when the panel offers one. A zip of the public folder leaves the database, and usually the mailboxes, behind.
On cPanel, open Backup for the full archive, or download the home directory and export MySQL. Import that database on the new host. If the database name, user, or host changed, edit the site config before you judge a blank page.
A WordPress site on the same domain keeps its URLs. Update wp-config.php when the database credentials change. A domain rename is a different job. The same order applies on WordPress hosting.
How do you test the new host before DNS changes?
On macOS or Linux, edit /etc/hosts. On Windows, edit C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. Put the new IP, a space, the domain, and www on one line.
Open a private window and load the domain. You should see the new copy, not the live site. Submit one form, load an image, and check the certificate. A warning means the certificate is not on the new server yet.
Remove the hosts line when the test is finished. If you leave it, your computer ignores the public DNS change and you cannot tell whether the move worked.
When do you lower the TTL and change the A record?
TTL is how long a resolver may cache one answer. Lower the A record TTL before the move, then wait out the old value. A record set to 86400 seconds still caches for up to a day after you change it to 300.
When the private test passes, point the A record at the new IP. Leave MX as it is if mail is not moving. Do not change nameservers in the same edit unless every record, including mail, is ready on the new DNS host. Record types are listed in DNS records explained.
| Change | What visitors get | Cache window |
|---|---|---|
| A record | The website IP | The TTL you set, after the previous TTL has expired |
| MX only | Where new mail is delivered | Separate from the website A record |
| Nameservers | A new DNS host for every record | Often hours, and it can take up to 48 hours |
Keep both servers up through the cache window. A post or an order saved on the old server after the cutover is not on the new server until you copy it.
How does email stay up during the move?
Mail follows MX, not the website A record. If you change only the A record, mail stays on the current mail host.
Create the new mailboxes before you change MX. During the overlap, some messages can still arrive on the old server. Leave that server accepting mail until you have checked both inboxes.
If mail already runs on Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, do not touch MX for a website move. Mail on your own domain is a separate business email setup.
When can you cancel the old host?
Cancel only after a public lookup shows the new IP, the site loads with the hosts line removed, and a message from an outside mailbox lands in the right inbox.
- Home page, one inner page, and a form or a test order.
- SSL on the new host, with no warning in a normal browser.
- One login on the admin side.
- Mail sent from an outside mailbox. Webmail on the server alone is not the test.
Read the old server log the next day. Real visitors there mean some networks still have the old IP. Fix the new copy or put the A record back. Do not delete the old account to finish a split move.
WebJi® can run an approved move onto a plan you already ordered. Email support@webji.services with a backup or the current host login. Free migration is subject to terms and approval. It is not instant.
The old host stays online until you have opened the new copy. Confirm the scope on the migration service before you cancel the current plan.
Replies come by email in Hindi and English. The average first reply is under 60 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I migrate a website without downtime?
Leave the old host online, restore the files and the database on the new server, and test that copy with a hosts file. Lower the TTL, then change the A record. Turn the old host off only after the old DNS answer has expired.
How long does the DNS change take?
After the previous TTL has expired, a 300-second TTL is usually visible within a few minutes. Some resolvers hold the old IP longer. If you changed nameservers instead of the A record, keep the old host up for up to 48 hours.
What TTL should I set before the move?
Set the A record TTL to 300 seconds at least one full old-TTL period before the switch. A record that is already at 24 hours does not shorten its cache until that day has passed.
Will email stop if I only move the website?
No. Mail follows MX. It stays on the current mail host when you change only the A record. You lose mail if you cancel the old server while MX still points there, or if you change MX before the new mailboxes exist.
How do I preview the new host before DNS changes?
Add the new IP and your domain to your computer hosts file, or open the temporary URL the new host gives you. The public site stays on the old server until the A record changes.
Can WebJi move the website for me?
Email support@webji.services with a backup or the current host login. An approved migration is free and subject to terms. It is not automatic, and the old host stays online until you have checked the copy.