--- url: https://blog.moodiycloud.com/moodiy-free-migration.md description: >- Get expert Moodle migration free. We handle backup, restore, and version upgrades in 24-48 hours. No tedious course-by-course backup/restore. --- # 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](https://moodiycloud.com/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](./comparing-moodlecloud-with-moodiy.md) 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](https://moodiycloud.com/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](./moodiy-usable-free-forever-plan.md) (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](./oodles-of-storage-space-at-moodiy.md) designed for real-world usage * [Curated plugin selection](./moodiy-curated-plugin-selection.md) tested for compatibility * Automatic updates to the latest stable Moodle version * Daily backups * Expert [human support](./human-support.md) 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 ->](https://moodiycloud.com/moodle-hosting-cloud)** Free migration on paid annual plans - Full-site transfer - Version upgrades included Questions? [Contact the MooDIY support team](https://moodiycloud.com/contact-us) for a free consultation.