Switching Hosts Without Breaking Anything: A Pre/During/Post Migration Checklist

This website migration checklist covers what actually goes wrong in a hosting move — not the website itself, but everything connected to it that people forget about until it breaks: email stops arriving, a DNS record gets dropped, an SSL certificate doesn’t renew, a form stops sending leads to your inbox.

Enter your name and email below and we’ll show you the full pre/during/post migration checklist our own team works from — whether you’re moving with us or doing it yourself.

What’s in this website migration checklist

• Pre-migration: DNS audit, mailbox inventory, SSL renewal date, form and integration list
• During migration: file and database transfer order, DNS cutover timing, downtime window
• Post-migration: email deliverability check, SSL re-issue, redirect and 404 sweep, form test submissions

Why businesses move to Liberation

Our website migration service handles file transfer, database, mailboxes and DNS records — tested on the new server before anything switches over, so your site and email stay reachable throughout. Ask about our migration offer →

Website migration checklist: frequently asked questions

How long does a website migration take?
Most single-site migrations complete within a few hours of scheduled downtime, though DNS propagation can take up to 24–48 hours to fully resolve everywhere.

Will my email stop working during the move?
Not if mailboxes are migrated and DNS (MX records) are cut over in the right order — this is one of the most common things a rushed migration gets wrong.

Do I need a new SSL certificate after migrating?
Usually yes, unless your certificate is portable. A new host should reissue and install it before your DNS cutover so there is no gap in HTTPS coverage.