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content/migrate/from-godaddy.md

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+---
+title: "Migrate from GoDaddy"
+description: "Step-by-step guide to moving your website and email from GoDaddy shared hosting to Arcline without downtime."
+section: migrate
+order: 1
+---
+
+# Migrate from GoDaddy
+
+Moving from GoDaddy to Arcline involves three parts: transferring your files, moving your database, and finally switching DNS. Done in that order, you can complete the whole migration with zero downtime.
+
+---
+
+## Before you start
+
+You'll need:
+- GoDaddy cPanel login (or FTP credentials if you're on GoDaddy's non-cPanel shared hosting)
+- Access to your Arcline cPanel account
+- Your domain's registrar login (wherever you registered the domain — could be GoDaddy itself)
+- About 30–60 minutes depending on site size
+
+---
+
+## Step 1 — Export your files from GoDaddy
+
+### If GoDaddy uses cPanel
+
+Log into GoDaddy's cPanel and create a full backup:
+
+1. cPanel → **Files → Backup** (or **Backup Wizard**)
+2. Choose **Full Account Backup** and download to your computer
+
+The backup includes your `public_html` files and all databases.
+
+### If GoDaddy uses their custom control panel (Websites + Marketing / Managed WordPress)
+
+GoDaddy's Managed WordPress product doesn't give you direct file or database access. Options:
+
+- Use the **Jetpack** or **UpdraftPlus** plugin to export a full backup (files + database) that you can import on Arcline
+- Use the WordPress **Export** tool (Tools → Export) for content only, then reinstall plugins/themes manually
+- Contact GoDaddy support and request a backup — they're required by some hosting terms to provide one on request
+
+For standard GoDaddy shared hosting (cPanel-based), direct export is straightforward.
+
+---
+
+## Step 2 — Export your database from GoDaddy
+
+If you used the full cPanel backup in Step 1, the database is already included. Otherwise:
+
+1. GoDaddy cPanel → **Databases → phpMyAdmin**
+2. Click your database name in the left sidebar
+3. Click **Export → Quick → SQL → Go**
+
+Save the `.sql` file.
+
+For large databases: use **Custom** export, enable **Add DROP TABLE**, and export table-by-table if phpMyAdmin times out.
+
+---
+
+## Step 3 — Set up your site on Arcline
+
+**Create the database:**
+
+1. Arcline cPanel → **Databases → MySQL Databases**
+2. Create a new database and a new user
+3. Add the user to the database with **All Privileges**
+4. Note the database name, username, and password
+
+**Import the database:**
+
+1. cPanel → phpMyAdmin → select the new database → **Import**
+2. Upload the `.sql` file from GoDaddy
+3. Click **Go**
+
+For large databases, import via SSH instead (see [Back Up and Restore a MySQL Database](/getting-started/mysql-backup/)).
+
+**Upload your files:**
+
+Connect to your Arcline server via SFTP (see [Upload Files via SFTP](/getting-started/sftp/)) and upload your site files to `/home/username/public_html/`.
+
+If you downloaded a full cPanel backup, extract it first and locate the `public_html` folder inside.
+
+---
+
+## Step 4 — Update your database connection settings
+
+WordPress stores the database host, name, username, and password in `wp-config.php`. Update it to point to the new database you created in Step 3:
+
+```php
+define( 'DB_NAME',     'cpanelusername_newdbname' );
+define( 'DB_USER',     'cpanelusername_newdbuser' );
+define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'your-new-password' );
+define( 'DB_HOST',     'localhost' );
+```
+
+On GoDaddy, `DB_HOST` is sometimes a custom hostname. On Arcline it's always `localhost`.
+
+For non-WordPress sites, update whatever config file stores your database credentials (`.env`, `config.php`, `database.yml`, etc.).
+
+---
+
+## Step 5 — Test before going live
+
+Before switching DNS, preview your site on Arcline by editing your local `hosts` file.
+
+Find your Arcline server IP in cPanel → **Server Information**.
+
+**On macOS / Linux**, edit `/etc/hosts` (requires sudo):
+
+```
+123.456.789.0  yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com
+```
+
+**On Windows**, edit `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts` as Administrator with the same line.
+
+Now visit `https://yourdomain.com` in your browser — you'll see the Arcline version of your site even though DNS still points to GoDaddy. Check:
+- Pages load correctly
+- Images appear
+- Forms work
+- Login works (WordPress admin, etc.)
+- SSL certificate is valid (if AutoSSL has run)
+
+Remove the `hosts` entry when done testing.
+
+---
+
+## Step 6 — Switch DNS
+
+When you're happy the site works on Arcline:
+
+**If your domain is registered at GoDaddy:**
+
+1. GoDaddy → My Products → Domains → click your domain
+2. Scroll to **Nameservers → Change → I'll use my own nameservers**
+3. Enter `ns1.arcline.it` and `ns2.arcline.it`
+4. Save
+
+**If your domain is registered elsewhere:**
+
+Follow the nameserver update instructions for your registrar. See [Point Your Domain to Arcline](/getting-started/nameservers/) for provider-specific steps.
+
+DNS propagation takes 15 minutes to a few hours. During this time, some visitors may still hit GoDaddy. Keep the GoDaddy site live until propagation is complete (at least 24 hours).
+
+---
+
+## Step 7 — Email migration
+
+If you were using GoDaddy email (Workspace Email or Microsoft 365 through GoDaddy), you'll need to decide what to do with email:
+
+**Switching to Arcline email:**
+1. Create email accounts in Arcline cPanel → **Email → Email Accounts**
+2. After nameservers switch, Arcline handles MX automatically
+3. Export any email you want to keep from GoDaddy webmail before the cutover (GoDaddy Workspace Email → Settings → Export)
+
+**Keeping GoDaddy email (or Microsoft 365):**
+After switching nameservers to Arcline, add the original MX records back in cPanel → **Domains → Zone Editor**. GoDaddy's Workspace Email uses:
+
+| Type | Priority | Value |
+|---|---|---|
+| MX | 0 | `mailstore1.secureserver.net` |
+| MX | 10 | `smtp.secureserver.net` |
+
+For Microsoft 365 through GoDaddy, the MX record is specific to your tenant — find it in your Microsoft 365 admin portal.
+
+---
+
+## Common GoDaddy-specific issues
+
+**Site was on a subdomain (e.g., GoDaddy's temp URL)** — GoDaddy gives sites a staging URL while DNS isn't pointed. Make sure `siteurl` and `home` in WordPress → Settings → General (or `wp-config.php`) are set to your real domain, not GoDaddy's temp URL.
+
+**GoDaddy's PHP version differs** — GoDaddy defaults vary. Check your PHP version in GoDaddy cPanel and match it in Arcline cPanel → **Software → Select PHP Version** to avoid compatibility issues.
+
+**GoDaddy file permissions** — GoDaddy sometimes uses suEXEC with specific permission requirements. On Arcline, standard permissions (644 for files, 755 for directories) are correct.
+
+**Email forwarding was set up at GoDaddy** — if you had forwarders, recreate them in Arcline cPanel → **Email → Forwarders** after switching nameservers.