How to change website hosting without overlooking email

Moving hosting can affect more than the website. Record the services attached to the domain before changing its destination, then test the new environment before switching visitors over.

Inventory what uses the domain

List the website, business email, subdomains, verification records and external services. Save the current relevant DNS configuration in a private handover record. Identify which records actually need to change; replacing the entire DNS setup is rarely a sensible default for a website-only move.

Prepare a working copy

Deploy the site to the new host and test pages, images, downloads and forms. For a CMS, confirm the database and uploaded files are included. Google's hosting-move guidance describes testing the new infrastructure before changing DNS and monitoring both sides during the transition.

Agree the switch and fallback

Name the person making the DNS change and the person checking the result. Record the previous destination and how the old site can be restored if a critical feature fails. Keep the old environment available until the move has been checked; do not cancel it as soon as the preview opens.

Change only the intended records

Follow the destination provider's supported domain setup. Preserve mail records unless a separate email migration is part of the scope. Allow for different resolvers and cached answers; one local lookup is not evidence that every visitor has moved.

Verify actual services

• Open the public homepage and a known inner page over HTTPS.
• Check redirects and the enquiry route.
• Inspect missing-page behaviour and essential downloads.
• Send authorised mail tests if relevant services could have been affected.
• Confirm which environment receives traffic before retiring the old one.

Keep a dated change log with the records modified and the checks performed. If the URLs also change, use a redirect plan in addition to this hosting checklist. A hostname switch and a content migration are related but distinct jobs, and the quote should say which are included.

Practical guidance with illustrative examples. Read our editorial standards or send a correction.