Free Moodle Migration: Full-Site Transfer in 24-48 Hours 2026
You want better hosting. You dread the migration. That tension keeps thousands of Moodle administrators stuck on platforms they've outgrown -- paying more than they should, tolerating performance they shouldn't accept, and worrying about security gaps they can't close.
MooDIY eliminates the migration barrier entirely. We handle your full-site transfer at no cost on paid annual plans, including version upgrades when needed, completing most migrations within 24-48 hours. No tedious course-by-course backup and restore. No weekend of downtime. No risk of losing data.
This guide explains exactly how the process works, what gets transferred, and what you need to prepare.
Why Migration Feels Harder Than It Is
Most Moodle administrators overestimate migration complexity because they're thinking about it wrong. The common fear: "I need to export every course individually, then import them one by one into the new system."
That approach -- course-level backup and restore -- is the only option available on MoodleCloud, due to its platform limitations. You download individual .mbz files, upload them to the new host, and hope nothing breaks. With 50 courses, you're looking at days of manual work. With 200 courses, forget it. Additionally, MoodleCloud course-level backups do not include user account data.
Full-site migration is different. We transfer your entire Moodle installation as a unit:
- Database dump (all tables, all data)
- Moodledata directory (all files, all uploads)
- Configuration (settings, customizations)
- Plugin data (including third-party plugin tables)
The result: your new Moodle site looks and functions identically to the old one. Same courses, same users, same grades, same everything. The only difference is faster infrastructure underneath.
How MooDIY Migration Works
Step 1: You Provide a Backup
You give us access to your existing Moodle installation through one of these methods:
Option A: SSH/SFTP Access (Fastest) Grant temporary read-only access to your current server. We pull the database and files directly. Best for sites over 10 GB.
Option B: Backup Files Generate a full database dump (mysqldump or equivalent) and compress your moodledata directory. Upload both to a secure transfer link we provide. Best for sites under 10 GB.
Option C: Hosting Panel Export If you're on cPanel, Plesk, or another panel, export the MySQL database and file directory. We'll work with whatever format your panel produces.
We provide step-by-step instructions for each method. If you're unsure, our team walks you through it over email or a screen-sharing call.
Step 2: We Restore Your Complete Site
Our migration team:
- Imports your database into a staging environment
- Copies all files from your moodledata directory
- Configures Moodle to match your existing settings
- Runs integrity checks to verify all courses, users, and data transferred correctly
- Tests key functionality -- login, course access, file downloads, quiz rendering
You get a staging URL to review before we go live. Take as long as you need to verify everything.
Step 3: Version Upgrade (When Needed)
Running Moodle 3.x or early 4.x? We upgrade your installation to a current, supported version as part of the migration. This includes:
- Database schema upgrades across version gaps
- Plugin compatibility verification (we check every installed plugin against the target version)
- Theme compatibility assessment
- Custom code review (if applicable)
Supported upgrade paths:
- Moodle 3.9+ to 4.x (direct upgrade)
- Moodle 3.5-3.8 to 4.x (staged upgrade through 3.9)
- Moodle 2.x (requires assessment -- contact us first)
Step 4: DNS Switch and Go Live
Once you approve the staging site:
- We coordinate a maintenance window (you choose the time)
- You update your DNS to point to MooDIY's servers
- SSL certificates are automatically provisioned
- Your site goes live on new infrastructure
Typical downtime: 15-30 minutes (just DNS propagation).
What Gets Migrated
Everything. Specifically:
Complete Data Transfer
- All courses with full content and structure
- User accounts and authentication data (passwords transfer intact)
- Grades, submissions, and complete assessment history
- Course enrollments, group memberships, and cohorts
- Forum posts, wiki content, and collaboration data
- Question banks with all question types
- Badges, competencies, and learning plans
- Calendar events and scheduled tasks
Site Configuration
- Site settings and administrative configurations
- Role definitions and permission overrides
- Custom profile fields
- Enrolment methods and settings
- Appearance settings and theme configurations
Files and Media
- All uploaded files (assignments, resources, forum attachments)
- User profile pictures
- Course images and media
- Backup files stored in moodledata
- Private files and draft files
Plugin Data
- Third-party plugin database tables
- Plugin-specific file storage
- Plugin configuration settings
What we can't migrate: Server-level cron jobs (we set up equivalents), custom Apache/Nginx configurations (we configure our own), and operating system-level customizations. These are infrastructure-specific, not Moodle-specific.
Migration for Every Scenario
From MoodleCloud
MoodleCloud only allows course-level backups, not full-site exports. For MoodleCloud migrations:
- We help you export courses using MoodleCloud's backup interface
- We restore them into a new MooDIY site
- We re-create your user accounts (MoodleCloud doesn't export user data in backups)
- We configure site settings to match your MoodleCloud setup
Important: MoodleCloud migrations take longer because of the course-by-course export limitation. Budget 2-5 business days depending on course count. This is a MoodleCloud restriction, not ours. See our detailed MoodleCloud comparison for more on platform differences.
From Self-Hosted (cPanel, AWS, DigitalOcean, etc.)
The smoothest migrations. We get SSH or backup access, pull everything, and restore. Most self-hosted migrations complete within 24 hours.
From Other Managed Hosts (Lambda Solutions, ScalaHosting, etc.)
Process depends on the provider's export capabilities. Most managed hosts allow database and file access. We work with whatever they provide.
From Non-Moodle Platforms (Canvas, Blackboard, Google Classroom)
We can import courses using Moodle's built-in importers:
- Canvas: Common Cartridge export to Moodle import
- Blackboard: Blackboard export format (Moodle has a built-in importer)
- Google Classroom: Manual content transfer (no direct import path)
Non-Moodle migrations require more manual work and may not preserve all metadata. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Migration Timeline
| Site Size | Users | Courses | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | <500 | <50 | 12-24 hours |
| Medium | 500-5,000 | 50-200 | 24-48 hours |
| Large | 5,000+ | 200+ | 2-5 business days |
| MoodleCloud | Any | Any | 2-5 business days |
Factors that affect timeline:
- Total data size (storage volume)
- Number of third-party plugins requiring compatibility checks
- Version gap (larger upgrades take longer)
- Complexity of custom configurations
What Makes MooDIY Migration Different
Free on Paid Annual Plans
Migration is free on all paid annual Essentials plans and above. Note: the Free Forever plan (50 users) does not include migration. We include it on annual plans to remove every barrier to better hosting.
Expert Team, Not Automated Scripts
Many hosts offer "automated migration" that runs a script and hopes for the best. Our team reviews every migration manually:
- Verifying data integrity after transfer
- Checking plugin compatibility with the target environment
- Testing critical workflows (login, quiz submission, file access)
- Documenting any issues found during staging review
Version Upgrades Included
Other hosts may charge extra for major version upgrades. We include them free. MooDIY has been delivering Moodle hosting and services since 2008.
Zero-Pressure Timeline
You choose when to go live. The staging site stays available as long as you need it.
Preparing for Migration
Before You Contact Us
- Know your current Moodle version (Site administration > Notifications shows version)
- Count your courses (rough estimate is fine)
- Estimate your data size (check moodledata directory size if you have server access)
- List your third-party plugins (Site administration > Plugins > Plugins overview)
- Note any custom code (custom themes, local plugins, core modifications)
What We'll Ask
- Current hosting provider and access method
- Target MooDIY plan (or if you need help choosing)
- Preferred migration window (time of day, day of week)
- Any deadline (semester start, training launch, etc.)
- Whether you want to keep the same URL or use a new one
After Migration
Once live on MooDIY, your site benefits from:
- Generous storage allocations designed for real-world usage
- Curated plugin selection tested for compatibility
- Automatic updates to the latest stable Moodle version
- Daily backups
- Expert human support from Moodle specialists
Ready to Migrate?
Start your migration journey with confidence. MooDIY has been providing Moodle services since 2008.
Get Started with Your Free Migration ->
Free migration on paid annual plans - Full-site transfer - Version upgrades included
Questions? Contact the MooDIY support team for a free consultation.