How to transfer cPanel accounts between servers

The Transfer Tool in WHM moves cPanel accounts between servers through an SSH connection. It packages account data into a compressed archive, transfers it securely and unpacks it on the destination server.

You will connect two cPanel servers, scan for accounts and initiate the transfer. The tool handles the technical process while you monitor progress for any errors.

Before you begin

SSH access must be enabled on both servers with either a key pair or password.
Port 22 (or your custom SSH port) and port 2087 must be open on both servers.
You need WHM access on the destination server.
We recommend creating a backup before transferring accounts.
If you are unsure about server details, find your server hostname before starting.

Access the Transfer Tool

You need to open the Transfer Tool in WHM on your destination server. This is where you will configure the connection and initiate the transfer.

Log in to WHM on the destination server.
Access WHM at https://yourdomain.co.uk:2087 replacing yourdomain.co.uk with your server hostname. If you need help accessing WHM, see our guide on how to access WHM.
Open the Transfer Tool.
Type transfer in the search box at the top left of the dashboard. Click Transfer Tool from the results.

WHM dashboard showing the Transfer Tool option in the search results — The Transfer Tool appears in WHM search results.

Configure the remote server connection

The Transfer Tool needs connection details for your source server. This allows it to establish an SSH connection and scan for accounts.

Enter the remote server details.
In the Server Information section, enter the IP address or hostname of your source server. Add the SSH port if it differs from the default port 22.
Select your authentication method.
Choose either Password or Key Pair depending on how SSH is configured on your source server. Enter your password if using password authentication.
Leave restricted restore disabled.
This option is only needed when transferring accounts you do not own. Keep it disabled for standard account transfers.

Transfer Tool interface showing server information fields including hostname, SSH port and authentication options — Server connection settings in the Transfer Tool.

Scan and transfer accounts

After configuring the connection, you will scan the source server for accounts and select which ones to transfer. The tool then handles the migration automatically.

Scan the remote server.
Click Scan Remote Server. The tool connects to your source server via SSH and lists all available cPanel accounts. This may take a few moments depending on the number of accounts.

Transfer Tool showing the Scan Remote Server button — Scanning the source server for accounts.

Select accounts to transfer.
Tick the checkbox next to each account you want to migrate. You can select multiple accounts if needed.
Start the transfer.
Click Copy to begin the migration. The tool packages each account, transfers it via SSH and restores it on the destination server.

Transfer Tool showing account selection checkboxes and the Copy button — Selecting accounts and initiating the transfer.

Monitor the transfer progress.
Watch for any errors during the transfer or restore process. The tool displays status updates as it works. When complete, your transferred accounts appear in the List Accounts section of WHM.

Transfer Tool showing a completed transfer with success status — A completed account transfer.

Wrapping up

Your cPanel accounts are now transferred to the destination server. You connected both servers via SSH, scanned for accounts and completed the migration through WHM’s Transfer Tool.

Check that transferred accounts appear in WHM’s List Accounts section. Test a few websites to confirm they load correctly. If you moved DNS separately, compare your exported DNS zones against what transferred to ensure records match. Our reseller hosting plans include WHM access for managing multiple cPanel accounts.

If you run into any trouble, get in touch and our team will be happy to help.