The WHM Transfer Tool allows you to copy one or more cPanel accounts from a remote server to your current server. It handles the full transfer including files, databases, email accounts, DNS zones, SSL certificates, and account settings. This is the recommended method for migrating accounts between cPanel servers.
Step 1: Log in to WHM
Open your browser and navigate to https://your-server:2087. Enter your root credentials to log in.
Step 2: Open Transfer Tool
In the left-hand menu, go to Home » Transfers » Transfer Tool.
Step 3: Enter the Remote Server Details
In the Remote Server Address field, enter the remote server’s IP address or Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). In the Remote SSH Port field, enter the SSH port (default is 22).
Step 4: Set Up Authentication
Select how to log in to the remote server:
- Root — Select this if you have root access to the remote server. You can authenticate with a password or an SSH key.
- User — Select this if you only have a reseller or user-level account. Enter the username and password. Note: Root access provides the most complete transfer.
Under the Authentication Method menu, choose to authenticate with a Password or an SSH Key.
Step 5: Scan the Remote Server
Click Scan Remote Server. WHM will connect to the remote server and retrieve a list of accounts, packages, and settings available for transfer. This may take a moment depending on the number of accounts.
Step 6: Select Accounts to Transfer
Review the list of available accounts. Select the checkboxes next to the accounts you want to transfer. You can also choose to transfer:
- Packages — cPanel/WHM packages from the remote server.
- Extended Features — Additional configurations and settings.
Step 7: Start the Transfer
Click Transfer. The transfer process will run in the background. You can monitor its progress on the same page. The time required depends on the size of the accounts and the network speed between the servers.
Important Notes
- Do not shut down or restart services on either server during the transfer process.
- Do not run a system update (upcp) during a transfer — it will cause the update to fail.
- Both servers should be able to communicate over port 2087 for the transfer API, in addition to the SSH port.
- The source server must be running cPanel & WHM. Transfer Tool cannot migrate from non-cPanel servers (such as Plesk or DirectAdmin). For those, use the Transfer or Restore a cPanel Account option with a cPanel-generated backup instead.
- After transfer, update DNS records to point to the new server to complete the migration.
- If you experience session timeouts during large transfers, increase the SSH timeout in Home » Server Configuration » Tweak Settings under the System section.
Troubleshooting
- Connection refused: Verify the remote server IP and SSH port are correct. Check that the remote server’s firewall allows incoming connections from your destination server’s IP.
- Authentication failed: Double-check the root password or SSH key. Ensure the SSH key is authorized on the remote server.
- "No accounts found": The remote server may not have any cPanel accounts, or the user you authenticated with may not have permission to list them.
- Transfer stuck or slow: Check network connectivity between the two servers. Large accounts with many files or large databases will take longer.
For more information, refer to the official cPanel Transfer Tool documentation.
