Thinking about moving your WordPress site to a new home? Whether you’re upgrading to a better server, switching hosts, or needing more control, knowing how to migrate your site smoothly can save you hours of stress—and protect your hard-earned content.
Website migration is a common step for growing businesses and bloggers, but if done incorrectly, it can lead to downtime or lost data. That’s why it’s crucial to get it right.
In this article, you’ll find clear, step-by-step instructions for transferring your WordPress site safely, along with practical tips to ensure a seamless transition—no headaches required!
How to Migrate a WordPress Site to Another Server: The Complete Guide
Migrating your WordPress site to a new server can sound intimidating, but it’s a manageable process if you break it down step by step. Whether you’re upgrading to a better host, moving to a different provider, or staging changes before going live, knowing how to safely transfer your website is a must-have skill. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn not just the technical steps, but also insider tips, common pitfalls to avoid, and answers to your burning questions.
Why Migrate a WordPress Site?
Before diving into the how, let’s quickly address the why. Common reasons for migrating a WordPress site include:
- Improved site speed and performance
- Better customer support from your new host
- Cost savings
- Enhanced security features
- Needing more storage or bandwidth
- Changing from shared to dedicated hosting
- Developing a new version of your site without affecting the live environment
With all these benefits, making the leap to a new server can be a smart move for your website’s long-term success.
Step-by-Step WordPress Migration Process
Moving a WordPress site involves transferring both your website files and your database to a new server, then making sure everything works as expected. Below are the typical steps, broken down for clarity:
1. Choose the Right Migration Method
There are two main ways to migrate your WordPress site:
- Manual Migration: You transfer files and databases yourself. This method offers maximum control and is preferred by technical users.
- Using a Plugin: Dedicated plugins handle the heavy lifting, simplifying the process for beginners or those short on time.
Whichever route you take, the core concepts remain the same.
2. Prepare Your Current Site
- Backup Everything: Use your hosting control panel or a backup plugin to create full backups of your files and database.
- Update WordPress: Ensure you’re running the latest version of WordPress, themes, and plugins for compatibility on the new server.
3. Set Up Your New Server
- Install WordPress: Some hosts offer one-click installs. Others require you to upload the core WordPress files manually.
- Create a Database: Log in to your new server’s control panel and create a MySQL database, a database user, and assign correct privileges.
4. Transfer Your Website Files
For Manual Migration:
- Download Files: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to download all files and folders (wp-content, wp-admin, wp-includes) from your old server.
- Upload to New Server: Connect to your new host via FTP and upload the files to the public_html or designated directory.
Tip: The wp-content folder is critical—it contains your themes, plugins, and media uploads.
5. Export and Import Your Database
- Export from Old Server: Use phpMyAdmin to export your database as an SQL file.
- Import to New Server: Use phpMyAdmin on your new server to import the SQL file into your new database.
Best Practice: If your database is large, compress the SQL file before transferring.
6. Update wp-config.php
- Database Details: Edit the wp-config.php file in your site’s root. Update:
DB_NAME(database name)DB_USER(database user)DB_PASSWORD(database password)DB_HOST(often ‘localhost’)
7. Update Domain Settings
- Point DNS to New Server: Change your domain’s DNS (Domain Name System) records to point to the new server’s IP address. This process can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate.
- Verify Site Loads from New Server: Use a temporary URL or “hosts” file modification to preview your site before DNS changes take effect.
8. Test Your Site Thoroughly
- Check All Pages: Navigate your site to confirm everything loads correctly.
- Test Forms and Logins: Make sure contact forms, login pages, and other interactive features work.
- Look for Broken Links or Missing Images: These often stem from incorrect file paths or database URLs.
9. Final Cleanup and Go Live
- Fix Permalinks: Visit Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and save changes.
- Reinstall SSL Certificates: If you’re using HTTPS, reissue or move your SSL certificate to the new server.
- Remove Maintenance Plugins or Notices: If you activated any maintenance mode plugins during the migration, disable them.
Using a WordPress Migration Plugin
If manual migration isn’t your style, plugins provide an easier alternative. Popular options include:
- WP Migrate
- All-in-One WP Migration
- UpdraftPlus
- Duplicator
Steps (generalized):
- Install and activate the plugin on your existing site.
- Export a migration package (includes files and database).
- Install WordPress and the plugin on your new server.
- Import the migration package.
- Update permalinks and test, as described above.
Plugin Benefits:
- Saves time and effort
- Reduces risk of missing files or data
- Some handle search-and-replace for URLs automatically
Practical Migration Tips & Best Practices
- Work During Low-Traffic Periods: Schedule migrations during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.
- Communicate with Users: Display a maintenance message during the move, especially if downtime is possible.
- Keep the Old Site Intact: Keep your old site live until you verify the new one works perfectly.
- Clear Caches: After migration, clear both browser and server caches to see the latest changes.
- Check for Hardcoded URLs: If you manually wrote your domain in links or media paths, you may need to update these in the database or via a search-and-replace plugin.
- Monitor Site Health: Use tools to monitor uptime and performance after migration.
Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them
- Missing Files or Images: Double-check your wp-content folder and ensure all uploads transferred.
- Internal Server Errors: Often caused by incorrect file permissions or corrupted .htaccess. Reset permissions or regenerate .htaccess from the WordPress dashboard.
- Database Connection Issues: Review your wp-config.php for typos in database credentials.
- Plugin/Theme Compatibility: Some plugins or themes may not play nicely with the new hosting environment. Update everything and test component by component.
Cost Tips for WordPress Migration
- DIY = Affordable: Migrating manually is generally free, apart from your own time.
- Premium Plugins: Some migration plugins charge a fee for advanced options (like larger site sizes or multisite support).
- Professional Services: Hiring technical help can range from $50 to several hundred dollars, depending on your site’s complexity.
- Domain and SSL: Transferring domains or reissuing SSL certificates may incur small fees from your registrar or certificate authority.
- Look for Free Hosting Migration: Many managed WordPress hosts offer complimentary site migration services—ask before doing the work yourself!
Post-Migration Checklist
After completing your migration, ensure you:
- Re-enable security plugins/firewall
- Test all critical site functions (shopping cart, contact forms, logins)
- Set up daily backups on the new server
- Monitor your analytics to spot any drops in traffic
- Enable automated updates for plugins and themes if supported by your new host
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take to migrate a WordPress site?
Most small-to-medium sites can be migrated within 1–3 hours, including DNS changes. Large or complex sites may require more time.
2. Will migrating my site cause downtime?
If done carefully, you can achieve little or no downtime. By scheduling the DNS switch during off-peak hours and keeping your old site active until the transition is complete, visitors shouldn’t notice a thing.
3. Do I need to move my domain to my new host?
No, your domain can stay with your current registrar. You only need to update the DNS records to point to your new server.
4. What if my new host uses a different PHP version?
Ensure your themes and plugins are compatible with the new PHP version before migrating. Update your site’s codebase or request a different PHP version from your host if issues arise.
5. Can I migrate from a local development site to a live server the same way?
Yes, the steps are almost identical. The main difference is updating your site URLs from ‘localhost’ to your domain name during or after migration.
Wrapping Up
Migrating your WordPress site to a new server doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you choose a manual approach or rely on a migration plugin, success lies in careful planning, thorough backups, and meticulous testing. Give yourself plenty of time, follow the steps above, and remember: keeping your site live and functional for your visitors is always the top priority. Happy migrating!