Moving a website to a VPS without losing data
Plan your website's move to a VPS: copy files and databases, test key functions and prepare the final transfer before changing DNS.
Consider moving a website to a VPS when existing hosting limits affect performance or prevent necessary software from running. There is no universal visitor count that makes migration necessary. Start with resource measurements, error logs and the features your project needs.
Before copying data, list the website's dependencies: runtime versions, database, extensions, scheduled tasks, uploaded files and external integrations. Prepare compatible software on the new server and create separate access credentials. Check available storage and make a complete backup that you can restore independently of the old hosting account.
Transfer the application and a database backup created using a method supported by your database software to the VPS. Test the copy through a temporary address or another controlled method before changing public DNS records. Check login, search, uploads, placing an order and email delivery where applicable. Configure HTTPS and verify redirects as well as background jobs.
Plan a short final synchronisation period for sites that accept new orders or other changes. Depending on the application, temporarily pause writes or use an appropriate replication process. Simply copying files again may not capture all changes in the database. Avoid running scheduled tasks twice during the transition.
Switch DNS only after the final copy is ready, then monitor errors and important user journeys. Keep the old environment available for an agreed recovery period and define how to switch back safely. Confirm that monitoring and backups work on the VPS; successful migration is more than seeing the homepage load.