Site Moving Day
Before
Know what you have and where it will go.
Move your website without losing your visitors
A new host or a new platform is a big job. It doesn't have to be a scary one.
These notes walk through it in order: list, copy, redirect, test, switch, check.
The moving order
- 1Take an inventory before you moveHow to list every page, file and setting on your site so nothing gets left behind, and how to decide what to keep. New
- 2Copying the site to its new homeHow to back up the old site, copy its files and database to the new host, and carry over the small settings that are easy to lose. New
- 3Testing the new copy before anyone sees itHow to try the new version of a site safely, what to click through, and how to stop a test copy from being picked up by search engines. New
Worth reading first
Keeping old URLs working with 301 redirects New
A 301 redirect tells browsers a page has moved for good.[1] It is what keeps old links alive.
Browse by stage
During
Copy the site, forward old links and switch over.
After
Check the new site and watch for problems.
Quick answers
- Should I change the design at the same time?
It's better not to. Google advises planning changes one after the other.[2]
- How long should old links keep working?
As long as possible. Google says to keep redirects for as long as you can.[2]
- Where do I begin?
With the list of everything on your site. See the inventory note.
How these notes are made
- Each note lists its sources at the bottom.
- The pictures are drawn for this site.
- There are no ads, affiliate links or sponsors.
Sources
- 301 Moved Permanently, MDN Web Docs (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Site Moves and Migrations, Google Search Central (accessed 2026-11-05)