This guide walks you through moving existing cPanel accounts to your Web Hosting Canada VPS yourself, using the tools built into WHM. It is the self-service option offered during VPS onboarding.
If you would rather not run the migration yourself, choose Assisted migration during onboarding and our team will handle the transfer for you.
⚠️ Self-migration is best suited to customers who are comfortable logging in to WHM and working with server-level settings.
Single VS Multiple account transfer
Moving several accounts, or a whole server: Use the Transfer Tool (multi-account, server to server). See steps below.
Moving a single account, or restoring from a backup file: Use Transfer or Restore a cPanel Account. See steps beow.
The most complete and accurate results come from a cPanel-to-cPanel transfer, where both the source and destination run cPanel/WHM.
Before you begin
Have the following ready:
WHM access to your VPS. You can open WHM from your server page using the Launch WHM button.
Access to your current host. For a full server-to-server transfer you need root (or reseller) WHM access on your old host. If you only have a single cPanel login, or your current host is shared hosting without WHM access, see Moving a single account below.
Network access between the two servers. The SSH port (usually 22) and the WHM port (2087) must be open on both sides.
A DNS plan. Migrate first, then re-point your domain. To reduce downtime, lower your domain's DNS TTL a few hours before you switch it over.
A few things to avoid during a transfer:
Do not reboot the server or restart services while a transfer is running.
Do not start a transfer during a system or cPanel update.
If a domain uses DNSSEC, remove its DS record before migrating and re-add it afterward.
Multiple accounts transfer
Go to Transfers > Transfer Tool.
Under Remote Server Information:
Remote Server Address: the IP address or hostname of your old server.
Remote SSH Port: usually 22. If your old host uses a custom SSH port, enter it here.
Under Authentication:
Login: root is selected by default. If root login is disabled on your old host, choose a user and set the root escalation method (su or sudo).
Authentication Method: password or SSH key.
Select Scan Remote Server. WHM connects to your old server and lists the accounts available to transfer.
From the account list, select the cPanel accounts you want to bring over. This is where you pick the specific domains and subdomains to migrate.
Leave Dedicated IP unchecked unless you specifically need it, as selecting it can cause problems.
Express Transfer (optional) points the DNS for the moved accounts at your VPS and suspends them on the old server. This is useful when the domain will stay on the same nameservers and you want the switch handled automatically.
Select Copy to begin. Keep the page open while it runs. You will see progress for both the backup on your old server and the restore on your VPS. Larger accounts can take from a few minutes to a few hours.
If a single account fails, you can skip it and continue with the rest, then review the transfer log for details.
Transfer or restore a single account
If you are moving just one site, or restoring from a backup file, use WHM's Transfer or Restore a cPanel Account page. (The older "Copy an account from another server with an account password" option has been renamed.)
Go to Transfers > Transfer or Restore a cPanel Account.
On that page, choose a method under Transfer Options:
Transfer from Remote cPanel Account: Pull a single cPanel account directly from your old server. Use this when you can reach the old server and have its credentials. This is the current replacement for the old copy-with-password method.
Upload a file to restore: Upload a cPanel backup (cpmove) file you downloaded from your old host.
Restore from a local cpmove file: Use a cpmove file that is already on your VPS in one of the predefined backup locations. Use Select a File to choose it.
From there, 2 settings on this page to be aware of:
Restricted Restore (under Security) runs extra security checks on the backup and will skip any part that fails them. It is marked Experimental.
Overwrite Existing replaces any cPanel account on your VPS that already has the same username. Leave it off unless you intend to overwrite an existing account.
What to do once the transfer is complete?
Update your DNS
Once the accounts are on your VPS, update your domain's DNS so visitors reach the new server:
If your VPS uses private nameservers (set up during onboarding), set those nameservers at your domain's registrar. Your nameservers are shown on your server page, for example
ns1.your-vps.whc.caandns2.your-vps.whc.ca.Or create an A record pointing your domain to your VPS's IP address.
DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to take effect.
Verify, then close your old account
Before you cancel anything on your old host:
Test each site on the new server. You can preview a site before DNS propagates by editing the hosts file on your own computer.
Sign in to webmail or IMAP and confirm new mail arrives.
Check databases, SSL certificates, cron jobs, and any application settings.
Only cancel your old hosting once everything is confirmed working on your VPS.
Common issues you might encounter
The connection fails. Recheck the SSH port and confirm ports 22 and 2087 are open in both directions.
An account is skipped or fails. Skip it to let the others finish, then check the transfer log.
Email is not arriving after the cutover. Confirm the domain's DNS and MX records point to the VPS, and test an IMAP login.
A site loads the old server. DNS may still be propagating. Confirm the nameservers or A record are correct and wait for propagation.
Prefer we handle it?
If at any point you would rather hand this off, our team can run the migration for you. Open a support ticket and we will take it from there.