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bushra
- April 14, 2026
What actually happens during free website migration? Step-by-step guide for Bangladeshi businesses. Zero downtime, zero data loss. Learn more with Done5 BD.
Free Website Migration — What Actually Happens
Thinking about switching hosts but worried about losing data or breaking your site? Free website migration sounds simple, but most Bangladeshi businesses have no idea what actually happens behind the scenes. At Done5 Bangladesh, we handle dozens of migrations every month for Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet clients.
This guide explains exactly what happens during free website migration, how long it takes, what can go wrong, and how to ensure zero downtime.
What is Free Website Migration?
Free website migration is the process of moving your entire website from one hosting provider to another without any migration fees. This includes all files, databases, emails, and configurations.
What gets migrated:
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Website files (HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, images, videos)
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MySQL/MariaDB databases
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Email accounts and mailboxes
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SSL certificates
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DNS records and domain settings
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FTP accounts and user permissions
What free website migration does NOT include:
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Website redesign or content updates
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Plugin or theme bug fixes
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Performance optimization (usually separate service)
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Domain registration transfer (sometimes extra cost)
Step-by-Step: What Actually Happens During Migration
Step 1: Pre-Migration Audit (Day 1)
Before any free website migration begins, we audit your current setup:
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Total website size (files + database)
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Current hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, custom)
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Number of email accounts and mailbox sizes
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SSL certificate type and expiry
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Custom cron jobs or server configurations
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Third-party integrations (payment gateways, APIs)
Why this matters: A 50GB e-commerce site with 20 email accounts needs different handling than a 500MB blog. Skipping audit causes failed migrations.
Step 2: Backup Everything (Day 1–2)
Professional free website migration starts with complete backup:
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Full cPanel backup (if available)
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Manual file backup via FTP/SFTP
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Database export via phpMyAdmin or CLI
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Email account backup via IMAP sync
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DNS zone file export
Critical point: We keep local backups for 30 days after migration. If anything breaks, we restore instantly.
Step 3: New Server Setup (Day 2)
Before moving anything, we configure the destination server:
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Matching or newer PHP version
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Required PHP extensions (IonCube, GD, cURL, etc.)
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MySQL/MariaDB version compatibility
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SSL certificate pre-installation
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Staging environment for testing
Bangladesh-specific consideration: We match server timezone to Asia/Dhaka and configure Bengali UTF-8 support for Bangladeshi content.
Step 4: File and Database Transfer (Day 2–3)
This is the core of free website migration:
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Upload files via SFTP (secure) or rsync (fast)
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Import database with proper collation
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Update wp-config.php or configuration files with new database credentials
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Set correct file permissions (755 for folders, 644 for files)
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Test database connectivity
Time estimate:
Step 5: Email Migration (Day 3–4)
Email is often forgotten in free website migration, but critical for Bangladeshi businesses:
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Create matching email accounts on new server
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Sync emails via IMAP (preserves read/unread status)
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Update MX records if changing email provider
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Test send/receive from Dhaka networks (Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink)
Warning: Cheap migration services skip email sync. You lose years of business communication.
Step 6: DNS Switchover (Day 4–5)
The most nerve-wracking part of free website migration:
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Lower TTL (Time To Live) to 300 seconds 24 hours before switch
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Update A record to new server IP
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Update nameservers if changing DNS provider
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Wait for global propagation (usually 1–48 hours)
Zero-downtime technique: We keep old site running until DNS fully propagates. Bangladesh ISPs (Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi) cache DNS differently, so we monitor from multiple Dhaka locations.
Step 7: Post-Migration Testing (Day 5–7)
After free website migration completes, we verify everything:
| Test | What We Check |
|---|---|
| Homepage load | Under 2 seconds from Dhaka |
| All internal links | No 404 errors |
| Contact forms | Submission delivers to email |
| Payment gateways | bKash, Nagad, Rocket, SSLCommerz |
| Admin dashboard | Login works, no plugin errors |
| Mobile responsiveness | Works on Bangladeshi smartphones |
| SSL certificate | Valid, no mixed content warnings |
How Long Does Free Website Migration Really Take?
| Website Type | Complexity | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| Simple blog (WordPress) | Low | 1–2 days |
| Business website | Medium | 2–4 days |
| WooCommerce store | High | 3–7 days |
| Custom Laravel/PHP app | Very High | 5–14 days |
| Multi-site network | Complex | 7–21 days |
Factors that delay free website migration:
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Old host blocks backup access
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Custom server configurations
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Large email mailboxes (10+ GB)
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Domain locked at current registrar
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Missing database credentials
Common Problems During Migration (And How Done 5 Fixes Them)
Problem 1: Broken Permalinks
After free website migration, WordPress permalinks show 404 errors.
Fix: We regenerate .htaccess file and verify mod_rewrite is enabled on new server.
Problem 2: Database Connection Errors
wp-config.php still points to old database or credentials mismatch.
Fix: We update all configuration files and test database connection before going live.
Problem 3: Mixed Content Warnings
Site loads HTTPS but images load HTTP, breaking SSL padlock.
Fix: We run search-replace on database to update all URLs to HTTPS.
Problem 4: Email Stops Working
MX records point to old server after DNS switch.
Fix: We verify MX records, update if needed, and test email flow from Bangladesh networks.
Problem 5: Slow Speed After Migration
New server location or configuration causes slower load times.
Fix: We optimize PHP version, enable caching, configure CDN, and tune database for Dhaka audience.
Is Free Website Migration Really Free?
Most hosts advertise free website migration, but watch for hidden costs:
Done 5 Bangladesh free website migration includes:
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Zero migration fees
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All files, databases, emails
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DNS management
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SSL reinstallation
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30-day post-migration support
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Speed optimization check
Should You DIY or Use Professional Migration?
DIY Migration Risks:
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Data loss without backup
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Days of downtime
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Broken functionality
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Lost SEO rankings
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Stress and wasted time
Professional free website migration benefits:
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Zero downtime guarantee
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Complete data preservation
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Expert troubleshooting
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SEO ranking protection
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Focus on your business, not technical headaches
Pre-Migration Checklist for Bangladeshi Businesses
Before requesting free website migration, prepare:
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[ ] Full backup from current host (download to your computer)
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[ ] List of all email accounts and passwords
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[ ] Domain registrar login credentials
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[ ] SSL certificate files (if custom)
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[ ] Note of all third-party integrations
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[ ] Best time for migration (low traffic hours)
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[ ] Point of contact for urgent issues
Best migration time for Bangladeshi sites: 2 AM–6 AM BDT (lowest traffic, minimal business impact)
FAQs About Free Website Migration
Will my website go down during migration?
Professional free website migration keeps old site running until new site is fully tested. DNS switchover causes minimal downtime (usually under 5 minutes).
Will I lose any data?
No. We create multiple backups before, during, and after migration. Your data is safer during migration than on average hosting.
Does free website migration include domain transfer?
Usually no. Domain transfer is separate from hosting migration. We can handle both if needed.
What if my current host blocks migration?
Some hosts intentionally make migration difficult. We use alternative methods: manual file download, database exports, or even screen scraping if necessary.
How do I know migration succeeded?
We provide post-migration report with: before/after speed comparison, uptime verification, functionality checklist, and DNS propagation status from multiple Bangladesh locations.
External Links (5 dofollow):
| Link Text | URL |
|---|---|
| WordPress migration best practices | https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/moving-wordpress/ |
| DNS propagation checker | https://www.whatsmydns.net/ |
| Google PageSpeed Insights | https://pagespeed.web.dev/ |
| cPanel backup documentation | https://docs.cpanel.net/ |
| Cloudflare migration guide | https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/setup/manage-domains/ |
Can you migrate from any hosting provider?
Yes. We have experience migrating from: cPanel hosts, Plesk hosts, custom panels, AWS/Google Cloud/Azure, Bangladeshi local hosts, and international providers.
Ready for stress-free hosting switch? Request free website migration from Done 5 Bangladesh. We handle everything while you focus on growing your business.
