Migrating a WordPress Site from Another Host Using Softaculous Remote Import

Softaculous Remote Import is one of the quickest ways to migrate a WordPress website from another hosting provider into your new cPanel account, without manually uploading files and exporting databases. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step, plus the best-practice checks to do before you switch DNS.

Before You Start (Quick Checklist) #

• Access to your new cPanel (where you’re importing the site).
• FTP/SFTP credentials for your old host (username + password).
• Correct document root path to your WordPress files on the old host (example: public_html, htdocs, or a subfolder).
• Enough disk space in your new hosting account for the site files + database.
• Maintenance window (recommended): avoid publishing new content during the migration.

Important: If Your Old Host Uses cPanel #

If your current website is hosted on cPanel, the cleanest option is usually a full cPanel migration (it moves email, databases, files, and settings). If you only want to move a single WordPress site—or your old host isn’t cPanel, then Softaculous Remote Import is the right method.

Step 1: Open Softaculous in cPanel #

1. Log in to your new hosting cPanel.
2. Open Softaculous Apps Installer.
3. Search and open WordPress inside Softaculous.
4. Click the Import tab.
5. Select From Remote Server.

Step 2: Fill Source Details (Old Host) #

These settings connect Softaculous to your old hosting account to pull your WordPress files and database.

• Domain Name: Enter the domain name where WordPress currently runs (without http:// or https://).
• Server Host (Optional): Use this only if the FTP host is different from the domain (example: ftp.yourdomain.com).
• Protocol: Choose what your old host supports (FTP is common; SFTP/FTPS if available).
• Port: Typically 21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP, 990 for implicit FTPS (depends on host).
• FTP Username / Password: Your old host’s FTP login (often the cPanel username/password on cPanel-based hosts).
• FTP Path: The folder where the website files live after login (example: public_html/).
• Installation Directory (Optional): Only set this if WordPress is inside a subfolder (example: blog). Leave blank if it’s in public_html.

How to Find the Correct FTP Path #

• If your site opens at yourdomain.com, your WordPress files are usually inside public_html.
• If your site opens at yourdomain.com/blog, your WordPress files are usually inside public_html/blog.
• If you’re unsure, connect via FTP and look for files like wp-config.php, wp-content, and wp-includes.

Step 3: Set Destination Details (New Host) #

Now tell Softaculous where to place the imported WordPress installation in your new cPanel account.

• Choose Protocol: Select https:// if you plan to use SSL (recommended). If SSL is not issued yet, you can switch later.
• Choose Domain: Pick the domain/subdomain where the site should run.
• In Directory (Optional): Leave blank to install in the root (recommended). Use a folder name only if you want WordPress in a subdirectory.

Step 4: Run the Import #

1. Double-check all source and destination fields.
2. Click Import.
3. Leave the process running until you see a success message (imports may continue in the background depending on server load).

Step 5: Test Your Site Before DNS Changes (Best Practice) #

Before you point your domain to the new server, test the migrated site to avoid downtime and broken pages.

Recommended Testing Options #

• cPanel Website Preview: If available in your hosting, this lets you preview the site before DNS changes.
• Hosts file testing: Temporarily map your domain to the new server IP on your computer to test the live domain on the new server.

What to Verify After Import #

• Homepage loads correctly and styling looks normal.
• Login works: /wp-admin.
• Permalinks work (Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes).
• Media library loads images correctly.
• Contact forms and email sending (if your site uses SMTP, recheck settings).
• Plugins and theme are active and updated.

Step 6: Update DNS and Enable SSL #

Once you’re happy with testing:

1. Update your domain’s DNS to point to the new hosting IP (A record) or update nameservers.
2. Issue SSL (AutoSSL / Let’s Encrypt, depending on your plan).
3. Force HTTPS in WordPress (Settings → General) and/or via your caching/security plugin if required.

Common Issues and Quick Fixes #

1) Import Fails to Connect to Old Host #

• Confirm FTP host, port, and protocol (FTP vs SFTP/FTPS).
• Make sure the old host allows remote FTP connections (some hosts restrict access).
• Try using the server hostname instead of the domain in “Server Host”.

2) Site Imports but Looks Broken #

• Clear cache (WordPress + any caching plugin).
• Re-save permalinks.
• Check if URLs are still pointing to the old domain in the database (search/replace may be needed if migrating to a new domain).

3) Mixed Content After Enabling HTTPS #

• Update WordPress Site Address (URL) to https.
• Run a safe “search and replace” for http → https (plugin or WP-CLI, if you know what you’re doing).

FAQ #

Does Softaculous Remote Import move my emails too? #

No. Softaculous Remote Import is for the WordPress installation (files + database). Email accounts must be migrated separately.

Will my site go offline during migration? #

Not if you test before DNS changes. The website stays live on the old host until you switch DNS to the new server.

What if my old host is not cPanel? #

That’s fine. As long as you have FTP/SFTP access to the WordPress files and the installation is reachable, Softaculous Remote Import can often migrate it.

Need Help? #

If you want our team to handle the migration or troubleshoot an import issue, submit a support ticket here:

https://client.hosticko.com/submitticket.php

Related Hosticko Services #

• cPanel Hosting
• WordPress Hosting
• VPS Hosting

Helpful External References #

• Softaculous Remote Import Documentation