How to migrate a VPS to Hostinger

Transferring VPS data from another provider to VPS at Hostinger

Updated 1 month ago

At Hostinger, our Virtual Private Servers (VPS) are self-managed, giving you full control over your server environment. With this level of control, you are responsible for setting up, configuring, and migrating your projects, whether you’re moving from another provider or another Hostinger VPS.

This guide walks you through the essential steps for a smooth migration process. While specific steps may vary depending on your operating system and applications, the instructions below generally apply to all Linux-based servers.

💡 If you’re moving from shared hosting instead of another VPS, follow this tutorial instead: How to migrate from shared hosting to VPS.

Step 1 – Prepare backups

Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need to safely transfer your data:

  • Create an up-to-date backup of all the files you plan to migrate, and confirm the backup’s location on your current server.

    Note: Hostinger VPS snapshots cannot be used as backups for migration since they are not downloadable.

  • If your project uses a database, create a new dump (export) and verify that you know where it’s stored.

Step 2 – Set up your new VPS

Before transferring your data, ensure your new Hostinger VPS is ready:

  • Choose a VPS plan with sufficient resources. For example, if your current server uses up to 2 GB of RAM, select a plan with at least the same or higher capacity.
  • Be aware that all existing content on your new VPS will be permanently deleted during migration.
  • If your old server used an outdated operating system, now is a good time to install the latest version on your new VPS.
  • Install the necessary software and dependencies, such as Apache, PHP, MariaDB, Redis, Node.js, or any other tools your project requires.

Step 3 – Transfer the data

  1. Log in to your old server as the root user.
  2. Stop all running services to prevent errors during the transfer.
  3. Upload your backups to the new VPS using one of the following tools: FTP, scp, rsync.

Once the upload is complete, move your application files to their correct directories on the new VPS.

💡 If your control panel offers an internal migration or transfer tool, you can use it to simplify this step.

Step 4 – Test

After restoring your backups:

  • Run your applications and verify that everything works as expected.
  • Review and update configuration files as needed, especially hostnames, IP addresses, and any environment variables that may have changed.

NOTE

  • If you experience configuration issues or encounter technical difficulties after migration, consider reaching out to your developer or hiring a freelancer for assistance.

Step 5 – Point your domain

When testing is complete and everything is running smoothly:

  1. Point your domain to your new VPS.

  2. Allow a few hours for DNS propagation.

Once propagation is complete, your website or application will be fully operational on your new VPS. To ensure you are viewing the latest content, clear your browser cache or use an incognito/private window when accessing your website.

 

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