Question

How to Change Your Website URL in WordPress Easily

Posted on by William Zheng

Thinking about updating your website’s identity or moving to a better domain? Changing your website URL in WordPress might sound daunting, but it’s a common need—whether you’re rebranding, upgrading, or correcting a mistake.

Getting this right is essential. An incorrect URL change can break your site or harm your SEO, leading to frustrated visitors and lost traffic.

In this article, you’ll find clear, step-by-step guidance to safely change your WordPress site’s URL, plus helpful tips to keep everything running smoothly.

Related Video

How to Change Your Website URL in WordPress: A Complete Guide

Changing your website’s URL in WordPress might sound technical, but it’s a straightforward process if you follow the right steps. Whether you’re rebranding, moving to a new domain, or switching from HTTP to HTTPS, updating your WordPress URL is essential for a smooth transition and maintaining your site’s functionality.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the ways to change your WordPress website URL, potential challenges to watch out for, and best practices for a seamless update.

What Does “Changing Your WordPress URL” Mean?

Before jumping into the steps, it’s important to know what you’re changing:

  • The WordPress Address (URL): This is where your WordPress core files are stored. It’s the main location WordPress operates from.
  • The Site Address (URL): This is the homepage visitors see when they come to your site.

Often, these two are the same, but they can be different in more advanced setups.

Why Change Your WordPress URL?

There are several reasons to update your WordPress site’s URL:

  • Rebranding: You’re changing the name or domain of your business.
  • Switching from localhost to live: Moving a site from a development environment to its real domain.
  • Upgrading to HTTPS: To provide better security for your visitors.
  • Moving to a new domain: For better branding or SEO reasons.
  • Fixing configuration errors: Sometimes settings need to be corrected after a migration.


How to change WordPress site address (URL) - Namecheap - change website url in wordpress

Four Main Methods to Change Your WordPress URL

1. Changing URLs via the WordPress Dashboard

This is the simplest way for most users.

  1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
  2. Go to Settings > General.
  3. Update both the WordPress Address (URL) and the Site Address (URL) to your new URL.
  4. Scroll down and click Save Changes.

Tip: If you’re moving from HTTP to HTTPS, simply add the “s” to your URLs.

Potential challenges:
– If you enter an incorrect URL, your site might become inaccessible. Note down your original URLs before making changes.
– In some configurations, these fields may be “grayed out” due to custom code in your site’s configuration files (wp-config.php). If so, use the next method.

2. Update the URL via wp-config.php


Changing a URL on WordPress | WordPress.com Support - change website url in wordpress

If you can’t change the URL from the dashboard, editing wp-config.php is an effective way.

  1. Access your website files via FTP or your hosting file manager.
  2. Open the wp-config.php file (located in your WordPress root directory).
  3. Add (or edit) the following lines, replacing https://yournewdomain.com with your new URL:
    php
    define('WP_HOME','https://yournewdomain.com');
    define('WP_SITEURL','https://yournewdomain.com');
  4. Save the file and upload it back if necessary.

Notes:
– These settings will override what’s in your admin dashboard.
– Remove or update these lines if you want to change the URLs in the future via the dashboard.

3. Change URL Directly in the Database

Updating the database is more advanced but sometimes necessary.

  1. Access your database via phpMyAdmin or your host’s database tool.
  2. Select the correct database from the left panel.
  3. Locate the wp_options table (it might have a custom prefix).
  4. Edit the siteurl and home values to your new URL.

Step-by-step:
– Click Edit next to siteurl, change the URL, then click Go or Save.
– Repeat for home.

Caution: Direct database edits affect your site immediately. Always back up your database before making changes.


How to change the URL of your WordPress site - WPMarmite - change website url in wordpress

4. Using a Plugin to Change the URL

Plugins can simplify the process, especially if you need to update internal links throughout your site.

Popular plugins for this task:
– Velvet Blues Update URLs
– Better Search Replace

How to use:
1. Install and activate the plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
2. Follow the plugin’s instructions to update the site URL and search-replace old URLs within your content and database.

When to use: If your site has many internal links or images that reference the old domain, plugins can help update these in bulk.

Additional Steps: Ensuring a Smooth Transition

Changing your site’s URL is just one part of the process. Properly handling the aftermath is crucial.

1. Redirect Old URLs

To prevent visitors and search engines from ending up on broken pages, set up 301 redirects from your old URLs to the new ones. This keeps both users and your SEO rankings happy.

Best practice: Most hosting panels offer a redirect tool, or you can edit your site’s .htaccess file for Apache servers.

2. Update Links and Media

If you have inserted links or images using the old address, use a search-and-replace plugin to update these. This ensures there are no “broken” resources after the switch.

3. Clear Your Cache

Clear your website, browser, and server caches to see the changes. This helps ensure you and your visitors are seeing the latest version.

4. Update Search Engines and Analytics

  • Google Search Console: Add and verify your new domain.
  • Google Analytics: Update your property settings to reflect the new URL.
  • Update any advertising platforms or third-party services tracking your site.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Changing your URL can bring up unexpected challenges. Here’s how to avoid and fix common issues:

  • Can’t access WordPress after changing URL: Check for typos. Fix via wp-config.php or the database as needed.
  • Mixed content warnings: After switching to HTTPS, some files may still load via HTTP. Use plugins or manual search-replace to fix.
  • Broken links or images: Use a plugin to update URLs everywhere—in posts, menus, widgets, etc.
  • Redirect loops: Ensure you haven’t created multiple, conflicting redirects.

Best Practices and Tips

  • Always back up your site (files and database) before making changes.
  • Update all environment references, including CDN, scripts, and third-party tools.
  • Test your site thoroughly after the URL change—check for functionality, forms, and e-commerce transactions.
  • Update your social media profiles, email signatures, and business directories to point to your new site URL.

Cost Tips

  • If you’re switching to a new domain, budget for domain registration (annual cost).
  • Most hosting providers allow basic URL changes at no additional charge.
  • Some plugins for mass URL updating are free, but advanced features may require a premium upgrade.
  • Redirecting old URLs helps preserve your SEO investment—consider it an essential “cost saver.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What’s the difference between the WordPress Address (URL) and the Site Address (URL)?

The WordPress Address (URL) is where your site’s core files are stored, and the Site Address (URL) is what visitors type in to reach your homepage. For most sites, both are the same, but you might use different ones for advanced setups.

2. Will changing my WordPress URL affect my SEO?

Changing your URL can impact SEO if not handled carefully. Always set up 301 redirects from old URLs to the new ones, update your sitemap, and inform search engines via Google Search Console. Done properly, your rankings should remain stable over time.

3. What if I lose access to my website after changing the URL?

Don’t panic. You can restore access by editing the URL in the wp-config.php file or directly in your database. Double-check the URLs for accuracy and clear your browser cache.

4. Do I need to update all my internal links and images after changing the URL?

Yes. Internal links and media that reference the old domain may break or generate mixed content errors (after switching to HTTPS). Use a plugin or database tool to search and replace old URLs with the new one.

5. How can I test if everything works after the change?

Browse through your site, test forms, login functions, and checkout processes (if you have an online store). Check for broken links, images, and monitor your site’s search engine performance in the following weeks.

In Summary

Changing your WordPress website URL is straightforward if you follow the right steps. Always back up your site first, choose the method that suits your comfort level, and don’t forget the additional steps like redirects and cache clearing. With careful planning and a little patience, your new site URL will be up and running smoothly in no time.

Happy updating!

Post Views: 10