Transferring your existing website files over to the new server you purchase with HostGator does not have to be a complicated process, although can become increasingly complicated depending on how you built your website in the first place and whether or not you decide to transfer the website yourself, or have HostGator do it for you.
It’s a great thing to know from the very start that if you have ZERO experience with transferring websites and have never heard of FTP (file transfer protocol) before, then it can be a little daunting.
However, the team over at HostGator wants to make things as simple as possible for you and offer all new customers a FREE Transfer of your website files, as shown in the image displayed below. For this, you have to login to HostGator cPanel to transfer it.
All you need to do to claim a free transfer of your website files from your existing server, to your new server, is simply order a web hosting package over on HostGator and then load up live chat and request the transfer from technical support.
You will have to provide them with your FTP details to access your existing server and will then email you once complete.
Information you need to provide HostGator for website transfers
- FTP server IP address or URL
- FTP username
- FTP password
The above information will usually be enough and all HostGator’s technical support staff will need to successfully transfer your website files, images, and even your database if you are using a content management system such as Drupal or WordPress on HostGator.
All of this information is provided to you by your existing web hosting company either within the welcome email they sent you when you purchased hosting or within your control panel.
If you are unable to find the details, just contact your existing web hosting provider and the support staff will email you the details so you then have everything you need to complete this process.