If you’re moving from another hosting provider to Bragghost, you can manually migrate your website using cPanel or an FTP client.
This guide walks you through moving your website files, databases, and email so you can get your site live on your Bragghost hosting account.
If you prefer to have Bragghost handle the process for you, see our How to Request a Website Migration to Bragghost article — free within 30 days of signup.
Before You Begin
Before starting your manual migration, review these key points:
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Make sure your new hosting plan has enough storage and resources. See Bragghost Hosting Account Limits Explained for details.
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Confirm that your previous host gives you access to cPanel or FTP so you can download your files and databases.
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Take a full backup of your existing website and store it safely on your computer before making any changes. Your current host can assist you with this if necessary.
Step 1: Download Your Website Files
1) Log in to your old hosting account.
2) Open cPanel › File Manager (or use an FTP client such as FileZilla).
3) Locate your public_html directory (or the directory containing your website files).
4) Select all files and compress them into a .zip archive for convenience.
5) Download the archive to your local computer.
For static HTML websites, this may be the only step you need — simply uploading these files to Bragghost will make your site live once DNS is updated.
Step 2: Export Your Database (for CMS-based Sites)
If your website uses a CMS such as WordPress you’ll also need your database.
1) In your old cPanel, open phpMyAdmin.
2) Select the database associated with your site.
3) Click Export, choose the Quick method, save the .sql file to your computer and click Export.
Step 3: Upload Your Files to Bragghost
1) Log in to your Bragghost cPanel (from your Client Portal › Login to cPanel).
2) Open File Manager.
3) Navigate to public_html (or the addon-domain folder if you’re using one).
4) Upload the .zip file you downloaded earlier.
5) Once uploaded, select the file and click Extract.
Your site’s files are now on your Bragghost hosting account.
Step 4: Import Your Database (if applicable)
1) In Bragghost cPanel, open Manage My Databases and create a new database and user.
2) Assign the user to the database with All Privileges.
3) Open phpMyAdmin, select the new database, click Import, and upload the .sql file you exported earlier.
*scroll down this page until you see the import button, and click import.
4) Update your website’s configuration file to reference the new database name, username, and password:
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WordPress →
wp-config.php -
Joomla →
configuration.php -
Drupal →
settings.php
Step 5: Preview and Test Your Site
Before pointing your domain to Bragghost, use your system’s hosts file to preview it privately: see How to Preview Your Website Before Switching DNS.
Check that all pages, images, and links load correctly.
Step 6: Update Your DNS
Once everything looks good, log in to your domain registrar and update your domain’s nameservers to Bragghost’s defaults:
ns1.bragghost.com
ns2.bragghost.com
Allow up to 24 hours for DNS propagation.
WordPress-Specific Option: Use a Migration Plugin
If your site is built with WordPress, you can simplify the process using a free plugin such as:
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All-in-One WP Migration
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Duplicator
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WP Vivid Backup Plugin
These tools handle both files and databases automatically. Just install the plugin on your old site, create an export file, and import it on your new Bragghost WordPress installation.
Transferring a Domain Name
If you’d also like to move your domain registration to Bragghost, see How to Transfer a Domain to Bragghost for full details and step-by-step guidance.
Helpful Tips
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Delete old or unused email accounts, backups, and logs before migrating to reduce file size.
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For large or complex websites (5 GB +), consider requesting a professional migration from Bragghost.
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If you experience any upload or permission issues, open a Technical Support ticket through your Client Portal.
Conclusion
Manual migration can take time, but it gives you full control over your files and structure. Whether you’re using WordPress, HTML, or another CMS, following these steps ensures your site transitions smoothly to Bragghost hosting.
Need help? Our team is happy to assist you — just submit a Technical Support ticket.
