Migrating from Hostinger to Bluehost: A Smooth Transition Guide Without Downtime

Switching web hosts can feel like moving into a new home—you’ve got boxes to pack (your files), change-of-address forms to fill out (DNS records), and you absolutely can’t lose power in the process (downtime!). In this step‑by‑step guide, we’ll walk you through migrating your site from Hostinger to Bluehost seamlessly—no stress, no surprise outages, and plenty of insider tips along the way. Let’s dive in!

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Table of Contents

1. Why Make the Switch to Bluehost?
2. Planning Your Migration
3. Back Up Everything on Hostinger
4. Set Up Your New Bluehost Account
5. Transfer Your Domain (or Point DNS)
6. Move Your Files & Database
7. Configure SSL & Security
8. Test on a Temporary URL
9. Switch DNS Without Downtime
10. Final Checklist Before “Live”
11. Pro Tips for a Flawless Migration
12. Your Smooth Ride Ahead

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Why Make the Switch to Bluehost?

If you’ve been on Hostinger and are craving more horsepower, better support, and a suite of one‑click tools, Bluehost is your next stop. Here’s what you get:

• 99.9% Uptime Guarantee – Bluehost’s rock‑solid reliability means your site is always live.
• One‑Click WordPress Install – Spend minutes, not hours, getting WordPress up and running (check out our complete walkthrough: The Bluehost WordPress Setup Guide for Total Beginners).
• Stellar 24/7 Support – Live chat, phone, email—help is always a click away.
• Free CDN & SSL – Speed and security baked in (see how to boost your website’s speed and security).
• Scalable Plans – Shared, VPS, Dedicated—grow without headaches.

Ready to roll? 👉 Grab your Bluehost plan now and follow along below.

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Planning Your Migration

A smooth migration starts with preparation. Rushing in can lead to missing files, broken links, or—worst of all—downtime. Here’s your game plan:

1. Audit Your Site
   • List all core files (themes, plugins, uploads).
   • Note any special server settings (cron jobs, redirects).
2. Choose Your Timing
   • Aim for low‑traffic windows (late nights or weekends).
   • Give yourself a buffer day to troubleshoot.
3. Gather Access Credentials
   • Hostinger control panel & FTP details.
   • Bluehost control panel login (you’ll get this after signup).
4. Notify Stakeholders
   • If you’re migrating a client or team site, give them the ETA.

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Back Up Everything on Hostinger

Before you touch a single file, create reliable backups:

• Full hPanel Backup
  • In Hostinger’s hPanel, go to Backups → Generate New Backup.
  • Download both Home Directory and MySQL backups.
• Manual Export via phpMyAdmin
  • Log into phpMyAdmin (see Hostinger’s guide here).
  • Select your database → Export → Quick / SQL.

Having these on hand means you can always roll back if anything goes sideways.

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Set Up Your New Bluehost Account

1. Sign Up & Select Plan
   • Head to katefi.com/bluehost (that’s our affiliate link 😉).
   • Pick the plan that matches your needs—Basic for small blogs, Plus/Choice for multiple sites, or Pro for high‑traffic.
2. Claim Your Free Domain
   • Bluehost often bundles a free domain for the first year. If you’re registering anew, snag that deal.
3. Install WordPress
   • In the Bluehost dashboard, click My Sites → Create Site.
   • Follow the one‑click installer (check our post: Bluehost WordPress Hosting: A Complete Guide to Getting Started).

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Transfer Your Domain (or Point DNS)

There are two approaches:

A. Full Domain Transfer

‣ Unlock Domain at Hostinger
‣ Get EPP Code from Hostinger’s domain panel
‣ Initiate Transfer in Bluehost → Domains → Transfer → Enter domain & EPP
‣ Approve Transfer via email

Pros: One‑stop billing and management.
Cons: Takes 5–7 days.

B. Point DNS Without Transferring

‣ In Hostinger DNS Zone Editor, replace A Record with Bluehost server IP (found under Bluehost My Sites → Settings).
‣ Lower TTL to 300 seconds 24hrs before cut‑over.
‣ Once everything’s working on Bluehost, raise TTL back to 3600.

Pros: Instant switch, no waiting days.
Cons: Two control panels to juggle.

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Move Your Files & Database

1. Upload Files via FTP / File Manager

• Connect to Bluehost via FTP (FileZilla or Bluehost’s File Manager).
• Upload your entire public_html (or designated folder) from Hostinger backup.

2. Import Database

• In Bluehost cPanel, go to phpMyAdmin → Create new database → Import → Choose your Hostinger SQL file.
• Update wp-config.php to match new DB name, user, and password.

3. Update Site URLs

• If your domain changed, run the “Better Search Replace” plugin or WP‑CLI: bashCopyEditwp search-replace 'old-domain.com' 'new-domain.com'
• Otherwise, skip this step.

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Configure SSL & Security

• Enable Let’s Encrypt SSL in Bluehost’s Security tab → Free SSL Certificate.
• Install Security Plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri (see our guide on configuring SiteLock & Sucuri on Bluehost).
• Force HTTPS by adding to your .htaccess: apacheCopyEditRewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

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Test on a Temporary URL

Before flipping DNS, preview your site:

1. In Bluehost My Sites, click the temporary URL link.
2. Browse key pages, test forms, and ensure images load.
3. Check mobile responsiveness.

Once everything looks spot‑on, you’re ready for the final switch.

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Switch DNS Without Downtime

• If you pointed DNS earlier, simply wait for propagation (5–30 minutes).
• If you transferred domain, verify nameservers:
  • ns1.bluehost.com
  • ns2.bluehost.com
• Monitor with a propagation checker like What’s My DNS.

Pro Tip: Keep Hostinger active for 48hrs post‑migration to grab stray assets.

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Final Checklist Before “Live”

• All pages load securely over HTTPS
• Images and media working correctly
• Permalinks set (Settings → Permalinks → “Post name”)
• Contact forms tested
• Broken links scanned (we recommend Broken Link Checker)
• Google Analytics & Search Console updated
• Sitemap regenerated & submitted (see How to Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console)

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Pro Tips for a Flawless Migration

• Staging Site to Live: Use Bluehost’s staging feature to test major changes before going live.
• Email Continuity: If you host email on Hostinger, migrate mailboxes to Bluehost’s Email → Migrate.
• Caching & Performance: Install and configure caching (check our post on 5 Easy Ways to Speed Up Your Bluehost Website for Better SEO).
• Backup Schedule: Enable daily automatic backups with Bluehost’s CodeGuard add‑on (or use UpdraftPlus).
• Avoid Common Pitfalls: Read “Common Bluehost Mistakes to Avoid: Insider Tips for Beginners” so you’re not caught off guard.

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Your Smooth Ride Ahead

And there you have it—a complete, downtime‑free migration from Hostinger to Bluehost! 🎉 Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or a complete newbie, these steps will keep your site humming without missing a beat.

Ready to experience Bluehost’s top‑tier performance and support? 👉 Sign up for Bluehost today and let your content shine faster, safer, and smoother than ever before.

Got questions? Drop them in the comments below, and we’ll help you troubleshoot any hiccups!

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This post was lovingly crafted by Kate at KateFi.com, your go‑to resource for smart money moves and easy tech how‑tos.