How to Transfer a 1C-Bitrix Website to Another Hosting Provider: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Migrating a 1C-Bitrix website to a new hosting provider might seem daunting, but with the right preparation and a clear process, you can complete the transfer with minimal downtime and zero data loss. This comprehensive guide walks you through every stage — from backing up your files and database to updating DNS records and testing your live site.

Whether you're moving to a faster server, seeking better support, or simply outgrowing your current plan, VPS Hosting from AlexHost offers NVMe SSD storage, full root access, and built-in DDoS protection — everything 1C-Bitrix needs to perform at its best.

Why Migrate Your 1C-Bitrix Site?

Before diving into the technical steps, it's worth understanding the most common reasons website owners choose to migrate:

• Performance bottlenecks — Shared hosting environments can throttle CPU and RAM, causing slow page loads for resource-intensive 1C-Bitrix installations.
• Scalability limitations — As your business grows, you need infrastructure that scales with it.
• Unreliable uptime — Frequent downtime damages SEO rankings and user trust.
• Lack of technical support — Complex CMS platforms like 1C-Bitrix require knowledgeable hosting support.
• Cost optimization — Better performance at a competitive price point.

AlexHost's infrastructure is specifically optimized for demanding CMS platforms, making it an excellent destination for your 1C-Bitrix migration.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start

Before initiating the migration, gather the following:

• FTP client — FileZilla (free and cross-platform) is recommended.
• phpMyAdmin access — Available on both your current and new hosting control panels.
• FTP credentials — For both the source and destination servers.
• Domain registrar access — To update DNS records after migration.
• Sufficient local disk space — To temporarily store website files and the database export.
• Maintenance window — Schedule the migration during low-traffic hours to minimize user impact.

> Pro Tip: Always verify that your new hosting environment meets 1C-Bitrix's technical requirements: PHP 7.4 or higher, MySQL 5.7+ (or MariaDB 10.3+), and adequate memory limits (at minimum 256MB memory_limit in php.ini).

Step 1: Back Up Your Entire Website

Creating a full backup before any migration is non-negotiable. This safety net allows you to restore your site to its original state if anything goes wrong during the transfer.

What to Back Up

If you're also managing business email tied to your domain, consider reviewing Email Hosting options to ensure your mailboxes are migrated or preserved correctly alongside your website.

Step 2: Export the Database from Your Current Hosting

The 1C-Bitrix database contains all your website content, user accounts, product data, settings, and more. Exporting it correctly is critical.

Step 2.1 — Log Into phpMyAdmin

Access phpMyAdmin through your current hosting provider's control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or ISPmanager). Navigate to Databases → phpMyAdmin.

Step 2.2 — Select the Correct Database

In the left-hand panel of phpMyAdmin, click on the database associated with your 1C-Bitrix installation. If you're unsure which database is in use, check the /bitrix/php_interface/dbconn.php file — the $DBName variable will tell you.

Step 2.3 — Export the Database

1. Click the Export tab in the top navigation bar.
2. Choose Custom export method for more control (recommended for large databases).
3. Select SQL as the output format.
4. Under Output, select Save output to a file and choose gzipped compression to reduce file size.
5. Click Go to download the .sql.gz file to your local machine.

> For Large Databases: If your database exceeds 100MB, consider using the command line via SSH for a more reliable export:

> “`bash

> mysqldump -u your_db_user -p your_database_name > bitrix_backup.sql

> “`

Step 3: Download Your Website Files via FTP

With your database exported, the next step is downloading all website files from your current server.

Step 3.1 — Connect to Your Current Server via FTP

Open FileZilla and enter your current hosting FTP credentials:

• Host: Your server's IP address or FTP hostname
• Username: Your FTP username
• Password: Your FTP password
• Port: 21 (standard FTP) or 22 (SFTP — recommended for security)

Step 3.2 — Download All Website Files

Navigate to the root directory of your 1C-Bitrix installation — typically public_html/ or www/. Select all files and folders, right-click, and choose Download.

Key directories to ensure are included:

/bitrix/              ← Core CMS files and modules
/upload/              ← User-uploaded content and media
/local/               ← Custom templates and components
/bitrix/php_interface/ ← Configuration files including dbconn.php
/.htaccess            ← Server configuration rules
/index.php            ← Entry point

> Note: The /upload/ directory can be very large. If bandwidth or time is a concern, consider compressing it into a .tar.gz archive on the server first using SSH, then downloading the single archive file.

Step 4: Set Up Your New Hosting Environment

Before uploading files, prepare your new hosting environment properly.

Verify Server Requirements

Log into your new hosting control panel and confirm the following PHP settings are configured for 1C-Bitrix:

memory_limit = 256M
max_execution_time = 300
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M

If you're using a VPS with cPanel, you can adjust these settings directly through the PHP Selector or by editing php.ini via SSH — giving you full control over your server environment without restrictions.

Create the Target Directory

Ensure the target directory (e.g., public_html/) is clean and ready to receive your files.

Step 5: Upload Website Files to the New Hosting Server

Connect to your new hosting server using FileZilla with the new FTP/SFTP credentials provided by your new host.

Upload Process

1. In FileZilla, set the local site panel to the folder where you downloaded your 1C-Bitrix files.
2. Set the remote site panel to the target directory on your new server (e.g., public_html/).
3. Select all files and folders, right-click, and choose Upload.

> Important: Ensure hidden files (those starting with a dot, such as .htaccess) are visible and included in the transfer. In FileZilla, go to Server → Force showing hidden files to make them visible.

Set Correct File Permissions

After uploading, set the following permissions to ensure 1C-Bitrix functions correctly:

Step 6: Create a New Database on the New Hosting Server

Step 6.1 — Access phpMyAdmin on the New Host

Log into your new hosting control panel and open phpMyAdmin.

Step 6.2 — Create a New Database and User

1. Click on the Databases tab.
2. Enter a name for your new database (e.g., bitrix_db) and click Create.
3. Navigate to User Accounts → Add user account.
4. Create a new database user with a strong password.
5. Under Database for user, select Grant all privileges on database and choose your newly created database.
6. Click Go to save.

> Security Best Practice: Never use the root MySQL user for your website's database connection. Always create a dedicated user with only the necessary privileges.

Step 7: Import the Database to the New Server

Step 7.1 — Select the New Database

In phpMyAdmin on your new server, click on your newly created database in the left panel.

Step 7.2 — Import the SQL File

1. Click the Import tab.
2. Click Choose File and select the .sql or .sql.gz file you exported in Step 2.
3. Ensure the format is set to SQL.
4. Click Go to begin the import.

For large databases, the phpMyAdmin import may time out. In that case, use SSH:

mysql -u new_db_user -p new_database_name < bitrix_backup.sql

Step 8: Update the 1C-Bitrix Database Configuration File

This is one of the most critical steps. You must update the database connection settings in 1C-Bitrix to point to the new database on the new server.

Locate and Edit dbconn.php

The primary configuration file is located at:

/bitrix/php_interface/dbconn.php

Open this file using a text editor (via FTP or SSH) and update the following variables:

<?php
define("MYSQL_TABLE_TYPE", "InnoDB");
$DBType = "mysql";
$DBHost = "localhost";                  // Database host — usually "localhost"
$DBName = "new_database_name";          // Your new database name
$DBLogin = "new_database_user";         // Your new database username
$DBPassword = "new_database_password";  // Your new database password
$DBDebug = false;
$DBDebugToFile = false;

Save the file after making your changes.

Also Check .settings.php

In newer versions of 1C-Bitrix, database credentials may also be stored in:

/bitrix/.settings.php

Look for the connections section and update it accordingly:

'connections' => array(
    'value' => array(
        'default' => array(
            'className' => '\Bitrix\Main\DB\MysqliConnection',
            'host' => 'localhost',
            'database' => 'new_database_name',
            'login' => 'new_database_user',
            'password' => 'new_database_password',
            'options' => 2,
        ),
    ),
),

Step 9: Update Domain DNS Settings

With your files uploaded and database configured, the final technical step is redirecting your domain to the new server.

Step 9.1 — Log Into Your Domain Registrar

Access your domain registrar's control panel. If you haven't registered your domain yet or are looking to consolidate your services, Domain Registration through AlexHost lets you manage both your domain and hosting from a single dashboard.

Step 9.2 — Update DNS Records

Locate the DNS management section and make the following changes:

Step 9.3 — Update Nameservers (If Required)

If your new hosting provider uses custom nameservers, update the NS records at your registrar to those provided by your new host. AlexHost will provide you with the specific nameserver addresses upon account setup.

> DNS Propagation Time: DNS changes typically propagate within 2–24 hours, though in some cases it can take up to 48 hours. During this window, some visitors may still be directed to the old server.

Step 10: Test Your Website Thoroughly

Once DNS propagation is complete, conduct a thorough review of your migrated website before decommissioning the old hosting account.

Testing Checklist

• [ ] Homepage loads correctly — No blank pages or PHP errors
• [ ] All internal pages are accessible — Check product pages, blog posts, and category pages
• [ ] Images and media load properly — Verify the /upload/ directory was transferred completely
• [ ] Forms work correctly — Test contact forms, registration, and login
• [ ] E-commerce functionality — If applicable, test the shopping cart and checkout process
• [ ] Admin panel is accessible — Log into the 1C-Bitrix admin panel at /bitrix/admin/
• ] SSL certificate is active — Ensure HTTPS is working; if you need a new certificate, [SSL Certificates are available through AlexHost
• [ ] No broken links — Use a tool like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to identify broken URLs
• [ ] Page load speed — Run a speed test via GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights

How to Test Before DNS Propagation

You can preview your site on the new server before DNS propagates by modifying your local hosts file:

On Windows: C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts

On Linux/macOS: /etc/hosts

Add the following line:

NEW_SERVER_IP    yourdomain.com

This forces your browser to resolve the domain to the new server IP, allowing you to test the site without affecting other users.

Step 11: Clear 1C-Bitrix Cache

After migration, clear all cached data to ensure the site loads fresh content from the new server.

1. Log into the 1C-Bitrix admin panel (/bitrix/admin/).
2. Navigate to Settings → Performance → Cache.
3. Click Clear Cache.

Alternatively, you can delete the cache directories manually via FTP or SSH:

rm -rf /var/www/html/bitrix/cache/*
rm -rf /var/www/html/bitrix/managed_cache/*

Step 12: Decommission the Old Hosting Account

Once you have confirmed that:

• Your website is fully functional on the new server
• DNS has propagated completely
• All data has been successfully transferred
• You have local backups of all files and the database

…you can safely cancel your old hosting plan. Keep your local backups for at least 30 days as an additional safety measure.

Common Migration Issues and How to Fix Them

Why Choose AlexHost for Your 1C-Bitrix Hosting?

AlexHost provides a hosting environment purpose-built for performance-demanding applications like 1C-Bitrix:

• NVMe SSD Storage — Dramatically faster read/write speeds compared to traditional HDD or SATA SSD hosting
• DDoS Protection — Enterprise-grade protection included at no extra cost
• Full Root Access — Complete control over your server environment
• 24/7 Technical Support — Expert assistance available around the clock
• Multiple Control Panel Options — Choose from various VPS Control Panels including cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin
• Scalable Resources — Easily upgrade CPU, RAM, and storage as your business grows
• Privacy-Friendly Jurisdiction — AlexHost operates from Moldova, offering strong data privacy

Conclusion

Migrating a 1C-Bitrix website to a new hosting provider is a structured process that, when followed carefully, results in zero data loss and minimal downtime. The key steps are:

1. Back up all files and the database
2. Export the database via phpMyAdmin or SSH
3. Download all website files via FTP
4. Prepare the new hosting environment
5. Upload files to the new server
6. Create a new database and import the SQL file
7. Update dbconn.php and .settings.php with new credentials
8. Update DNS records to point to the new server IP
9. Test thoroughly before decommissioning the old host
10. Clear cache and monitor for any post-migration issues

By migrating to AlexHost's VPS Hosting, you gain a high-performance, secure, and scalable environment that ensures your 1C-Bitrix website runs at peak efficiency. If you encounter any issues during migration, AlexHost's 24/7 support team is ready to assist — your site can be live and fully operational within hours.