How to Transfer cPanel Accounts with WHM Transfer Tool

WHM’s Transfer Tool copies cPanel accounts and selected server configuration from a source server to a destination server. It is an administrator workflow, not a website-owner feature. Current cPanel documentation requires root access or equivalent sudo/su privileges for Transfer Tool. Users with only cPanel account credentials should use the separate WHM interface for transferring or restoring an individual account, if their hosting provider grants access.

Before starting

• Confirm you are authorized to administer both servers and have a recoverable backup.
• Check cPanel versions, supported transfer methods, network reachability, SSH configuration, disk space and required ports.
• Review account, package, reseller and IP mappings. Identify destination username or database collisions before transfer.
• Schedule a maintenance or final-sync window for sites that continue receiving writes. Record DNS, mail and rollback plans.

Run the transfer

Sign in to the destination WHM over HTTPS using an authorized administrator account. Open Transfers > Transfer Tool, enter the source server address and SSH port, and select an authentication method permitted by both server administrators. For key authentication, follow cPanel’s SSH-key transfer procedure. The transfer still needs administrative privileges on the source. Use a dedicated key for the migration and revoke its source authorization afterward. Never place credentials or private keys in screenshots, email or a public support ticket.

Fetch the available account list, select only the intended accounts and packages, and inspect all advanced and overwrite options before starting. An overwrite can replace an existing destination account; do not select it simply to clear a warning. Review home-directory, database, dedicated-IP and reseller-privilege choices. Selecting a subset means those omitted components need their own migration plan.

Verify and cut over

Read the transfer log and resolve warnings. Check account ownership, files, databases and grants, application configuration, mailboxes, DNS zones, SSL, scheduled tasks and reseller privileges as applicable. Check accounts in List Accounts, then test the applications using their real hostnames and an agreed preview method. Prevent test copies from sending real email, taking payments or running production jobs.

cPanel states that account two-factor authentication settings are not transferred; users must configure them again at the destination. Arrange the final data synchronization and DNS cutover together, and retain the source server until the destination is verified.

Use cPanel’s current Transfer Tool documentation and Transfer or Restore a cPanel Account documentation for version-specific controls. Interfaces vary by WHM version and provider policy. If you have no destination WHM access, request restoration through your hosting provider.