Migrating to a New Seedbox Without Starting Over

Why Migrate?

Maybe your current provider is too slow. Maybe you need more storage. Maybe you want one-click app installs instead of SSH-based setup. Whatever the reason, migrating to a new seedbox doesn't mean starting from scratch.

The Migration Plan

Step 1: Sign Up for the New Seedbox

Don't cancel your old one yet. You want overlap — both running simultaneously while you transfer.

On Bytesized, your new server is ready in under 2 minutes. Install your apps (Plex, Sonarr, Radarr, etc.) from the dashboard while your data transfers.

Step 2: Transfer Your Media Library

The fastest method depends on your situation:

Server-to-server via Rclone SFTP (fastest):

Your old seedbox uploads directly to your new one, bypassing your home connection entirely. Both seedboxes likely have 1-10 Gbit connections, so this is far faster than downloading to your PC first.

rclone sync old-seedbox:/data/ /data/ --progress --transfers 4

For a 2TB library on 1 Gbit connections, this takes roughly 4-5 hours. On 10 Gbit, under an hour.

Via cloud storage (if both support Rclone):

If you've been syncing to Google Drive or similar, your new seedbox can pull from cloud storage. No server-to-server connection needed.

Direct SFTP (simplest):

Most seedbox providers, including Bytesized, provide SFTP access. Use any SFTP client to transfer between servers.

Step 3: Export App Settings

Before you switch, back up your configuration:

Sonarr/Radarr:

• Export via System → Backup → Manual Backup
• Download the ZIP file
• Import on the new server via the same Backup page

Prowlarr: Same backup/restore process.

Plex:

• Your Plex account remembers the claim. Install Plex on the new server, claim it, and re-add library folders.
• Watch history syncs via your Plex account automatically.
• Note: Custom playlists and collections need to be recreated or use a third-party tool like Plex Meta Manager.

Jellyfin: Export the database from the config directory. On Bytesized, it's accessible via SFTP.

Step 4: Re-Add Active Torrents

If you're on private trackers and have active seeding torrents:

1. Export your torrent list from the old client (most support this)
2. Copy the .torrent files and your downloaded data
3. Import torrents on the new client, pointing to the existing data
4. Force a recheck — the client verifies you have the data without re-downloading
5. Resume seeding

Important: Don't seed the same torrent from both seedboxes simultaneously on the same tracker. This looks like a shared account and can get you banned.

Step 5: Update DNS / Reclaim Plex

If you use a custom domain for Plex:

• Update your DNS record to point to the new seedbox IP
• Reclaim the Plex server via the new URL

Without a custom domain, simply access via the new dashboard URL.

Step 6: Cancel the Old Provider

Once everything is transferred, verified, and streaming:

1. Confirm all media is accessible in Plex/Jellyfin
2. Confirm Sonarr/Radarr are downloading to the new server
3. Confirm active torrents are seeding from the new server
4. Cancel the old seedbox

Migrating to Bytesized

Bytesized makes migration easy:

• One-click installs for all your apps — no SSH setup
• SFTP access for incoming transfers
• Rclone available for server-to-server sync
• Getting data from other seedboxes — dedicated wiki guide

We've helped thousands of users migrate from other providers over 15+ years. 4.8/5 Trustpilot from 230+ reviews.

What's Next?

• Set up Plex on Bytesized
• The Arr stack guide
• Browse plans