Transferring website to new host if you don't have login details

[Ian J]

I know that most hosts seem to offer a migration service which I guess needs to have login details to the existing hosting package to work.

Is it possible to transfer out a website if you don't have login details to the existing site?

I'm guessing that the answer is "no" otherwise anyone could steal anyone else's site.

Edit - for clarity I have access to Wordpress but not to the cpanel / Plesk

 

[arnydnxluk]

No, the new web hosting provider will need some login details to access your files etc. There isn't a behind the scenes transfer process as you have in some industries.

You don't necessarily need login details for your web hosting account. Do you have login details for a CMS? e.g. if you can provide WordPress login details, then it's still sometimes possible to migrate the website (providing you do have access to your domain, which again in some cases can be accessed through other means e.g. going to Nominet directly for UK domains).

 

[Ian J]

Thanks Mike. I guess that you were responding whilst I was editing my original post.

I have access to Wordpress but not to cpanel

 

[Lee Oakley]

I know that most hosts seem to offer a migration service which I guess needs to have login details to the existing hosting package to work.

Is it possible to transfer out a website if you don't have login details to the existing site?

I'm guessing that the answer is "no" otherwise anyone could steal anyone else's site.

Edit - for clarity I have access to Wordpress but not to the cpanel / Plesk

You can use something like BackUp Buddy to migrate a Wordpress website, including the databases from your old to new host.

if memory serves me correctly, having Wordpress logins is all you need for the current host, and you just need control panel access for the new host, so you can add a new (blank) database to migrate it all over

 

[arnydnxluk]

I have access to Wordpress but not to cpanel

In that case it should be possible but you may have to pay extra for this kind of migration because it's more time consuming than your typical cPanel => cPanel migration.

I'd imagine most small hosting providers would be happy to help at no additional cost.

Presumably you have access to your domain to point it at the new hosting provider?

 

[Ian J]

Presumably you have access to your domain to point it at the new hosting provider?

Yes I do and thanks again

 

[parkingandsecurity]

If you install a plugin call All-in-One WP Migration on the old wordpress and can install a fresh install on the new server and add the plugin you can export from the old and import to the new. This copies plugins, images, posts users everything.
Literally a migration tool for this purpose.

 

[webhostuk]

If you have WP login manual transfer is possible and if your new provider is good enough they can help you free of charge. The only thing that won't be possible is your emails and other files if you don't have FTP or old host control panel details.
If that's ok got you, Yes the migration of just your Wordpress site is possible.

 

[matlob]

I would recommend the Duplicator plugin. All done via a simple wizard through wordpress dashboard with no need to access ftp/cpanel

 

[GURUCLOUD]

If you've got a WP-Admin login with Administrator credentials then no problems at all to move! Best of luck

 

[Alan]

Edit - for clarity I have access to Wordpress but not to the cpanel / Plesk

With admin access and domain access it is a breeze.

Personally I use a plugin called Duplicator, I use the pro version as it handles slow hosts well.

Happy to do it for you just ask.

 

[Clinton]

As several folk have already said, it's easy to move a Wordpress site if you have the admin login. And when you've set it up at the new host you simply change the domain details at the registrar level to point to the new server and voila.

But while you will have the Wordpress site and database on the new server, there is still some stuff you would lose. You'd lose all email details so you'd need to manually set up all your email addresses on the new server.

You will also lose historical data - past emails, traffic logs etc. Anything that is outside of Wordpress will be lost. Most people are unconcerned with that stuff but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

 

[TheWebDesignCompany]

Provided you have an administrator account on Wordpress there are plenty of plugins that will backup and export the website for you so that you can migrate to to a new host.

 

[winwinweb]

Using WP admin login you can take backup and install in new server but the process takes more time. if you have Cpanel we can do it the fast and easier way to do it without data loss.

 

[singhabhishek251]

Yes, if it is Wordpress website then you can easily do it by installing plugin called File manager and get all the files and download it. you can also install a plugin to the WordPress website which will help you in taking backup of database directly through wordpress website admin panel.

 

[inventive]

I come across this issue several times a year, when users are moving to my servers from their current providers and don't have the logins for their hosting account. Normally due to their web master holding them to ransom or if they have disappeared.

First I install UpdraftPlus in wordpress admin run the backup, download the backup file locally, then setup the new hosting account on the target server and setup a basic install of wordpress, install UpdraftPlus on the target wordpress install and upload and restore the backup file. once restored.

You can then test locally by updating your host file to force your PC to read from the new server when accessing the domain.

Finally you update the name servers for the domain.

 

[HostXNow]

Yes, if you have WordPress access, then you can provide those login details to your new provider, and they will be able to migrate the whole website for you.