Fastest way to transfer folders from one cPanel account to another

When migrating a website from one cPanel account to another, the most common method is to compress the folders into a ZIP file, download them to your local machine, and then upload them to the new cPanel account. This can be done using FTP or directly through the File Manager. However, this approach has significant drawbacks, particularly when dealing with large files, as it can be painfully slow. In some cases, the process may take over a day to complete.

Why cPanel Folder Transfer is Slow

The slowness of cPanel to cPanel folder transfers stems from two main factors:

Internet Service Provider (ISP) Speed Limits: Your ISP imposes an upload transfer speed limit, which affects the upload time. This is worse if you are using a slow or shared internet connection.

Hosting Provider Upload Limits: Many hosting companies limit how fast you can download or upload files, especially if you’re on a shared hosting plan. Unless you’re on a dedicated server with top-tier hosting, you’re likely to experience some bottlenecks.

Fastest Method to Transfer Folders

If you’re dealing with a folder larger than 10GB, the best way to transfer it is by using terminal, assuming you have root access or can login to WHM. This method is significantly faster and can complete the transfer in minutes, regardless of the folder size. For instance, I recently transferred a 9GB folder in under a minute using this method.

How to Transfer Folders via Terminal

• Create a backup of your cPanel account (as a layer of protection)
• Log in to WHM: Access your WHM account and navigate to the terminal.
• Use the Following Command:

scp -r /home/oldhost/public/content/folder /home/newhost/public/content/

• Use correct folder paths: Make sure you replace the paths with the correct directories for your old and new hosts. This command tells your server to securely copy the folder directly from one account to the other, bypassing the need to download and re-upload folders

This method assumes you have access to both cPanel accounts and root access. If you’re on shared hosting and lack root access, it’s best to contact your hosting provider. Share this guide with them, and they should be able to assist with the migration process.