Website transfers
How to download your website from SiteGround
Use a downloadable backup if your plan has it, or save the website files and database separately through Site Tools.
Choose the backup route available in your account
SiteGround documents two routes: downloading a ready-made backup through its Premium Backups service, or manually downloading files and exporting the database. The manual route does not require that backup add-on.
For Premium Backups, open Site Tools > Security > Backups, choose the backup’s actions menu and select Download. Otherwise, collect both parts using the steps below.
Official instructions: SiteGround: download a full website backup (opens in a new tab)
Save the files and the database
- In Site Tools, open Site > File Manager. Find the site’s public_html folder, choose Archive, then download the completed archive.
- For a site using MySQL, open Site > MySQL > phpMyAdmin, enter phpMyAdmin and select the correct database.
- Use Export to save the database. Keep it with the file archive, labelled with the site and backup date.
Official instructions: SiteGround: download a full website backup (opens in a new tab)SiteGround: export a MySQL database (opens in a new tab)
If the site is large, get help with the export
Large databases can fail to export through a browser. SiteGround recommends its SSH route for databases over 50 MB. Your developer or migration team can arrange that without asking you to work through server commands.
Check that both downloads finished and can be opened. A file with the right name is not enough if the export stopped halfway through.
Official instructions: SiteGround: export a MySQL database (opens in a new tab)
Bring the settings that are not in the pages
Tell us about paid plugins, scheduled tasks, forms, email sending and any separate services the website connects to. If it takes orders or bookings, agree a final copy of the data close to the switch.
Keep the original hosting while we prepare and check the private copy. We confirm the site’s hosting requirements and Arc update support before committing to a particular setup.
Moving to Lightning
Start with the current website address. We help you choose the handover method, assess the backup and agree the work. You approve the preview before visitors are moved. Domain registration and email are checked separately, and Lightning hosting starts billing at go-live.
These guides cover the provider’s published export options. Menus and plan access can change. We assess your particular website before confirming a transfer or rebuild.