Moving a WordPress site can appear to be a complicated process, but by following the right procedures, you can transfer your site easily without any data loss or performance impact. You might be migrating to another host, renaming a domain, or transferring to a local server, but this tutorial will guide you through what is required to make the migration easy.
Why Move a WordPress Site?
Before discussing the process, let us tackle some of the most notable reasons why you might be migrating your WordPress site:
Host transfer – If you are hosting your website on a slow or an untrustworthy host, then shifting it to another one will get the performance right.
Domain name changes – Maybe you want to rename the company or desire to optimize your website’s SEO by providing it with a more descriptive name.
Creating a staging site – You will be able to test the updates before deploying them live on your site.
Switching to live hosting – If you created your site locally, then you will host it online where people can view it.
Moving Preparation
1. Backup Your Website
Ensure that you make a full backup of your WordPress website before you proceed. Your database and site files must be backed up. Some of the plugins you can use for the same are:
UpdraftPlus
All-in-One WP Migration
Duplicator
These plugins allow you to download your website and restore it in case something goes wrong during the migration process.
2. Set Up Your New Hosting Environment
If you are Moving a WordPress site to a new host, sign up with a hosting plan and install WordPress. Most hosts include free transfers, so get in touch with your new host first before manually transferring.
Manual WordPress Website Transfer
If you’re manually transferring, simply follow these steps:
1. Export Your Database
Log in to your existing hosting’s phpMyAdmin.
Click on your WordPress database.
Click Export and hit SQL format.
Download the file onto your system.
2. Transfer Website Files
Log into your current host via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) using FileZilla or any other FTP client.
Download all the files from your WordPress site’s public_html (or root directory).
Log into your new host via FTP and upload files into the respective folder.
3. Create a New Database
Log into phpMyAdmin on your new host.
Create a new user and database.
6. Give all permissions to the new user.
4. Import the Database
Log in to phpMyAdmin in the control panel of the new host.
Select your new database and press Import.
Upload the SQL file which you exported earlier.
5. Update wp-config.php
Locate the wp-config.php file in your website files.
Modify the following details with your new database credentials:
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘new_database_name’);
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘new_database_user’);
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘new_database_password’);
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘new_host’);
6. Update Site URL
If you’re moving domains, update the site URL in the database:
Navigate to phpMyAdmin and click on the wp_options table.
Look for the siteurl and home rows.
Swap the old URL with the new URL.
7. Repair Permalinks
Log into WordPress after migration and navigate to Settings > Permalinks. Click Save Changes to reset the permalinks and avoid links from being broken.
8. Test Your Site
After all is uploaded and configured:
Navigate to your new domain and check if the site is loading properly.
Click on different pages to verify links are working.
Test admin panel by visiting wp-admin.
Migrating Your Site with a Plugin
If you prefer an easier process, use a migration plugin like All-in-One WP Migration or Duplicator:
Install the plugin on your existing site.
Export your site in.wpress or zip format.
Install WordPress on the new host and activate the same plugin.
Restore your site by importing the backup file.
Update permalinks and check your site.
Post-Migration Verifications
Test the following post-migration to ensure all functionality works as usual:
1. Ensure that your SSL certificate is well-maintained, especially in cases where migrating to HTTPS. Your certificate may require you to reissue or reinstall.
2. Image and Media Files
Review all the media and images files to ensure that they transferred effectively. Failed media links hinder the experience of your users.
3. Contact Forms and Plugins
Make sure contact forms and plugins work as expected. In some cases, plugins will require reinstalling or reconfiguring.
4. DNS Settings
When switching hosts, update your DNS settings to the new host. This action ensures your domain resolves properly to the new server.
5. Redirects and SEO Considerations
If your URL or domain hierarchy has changed, establish 301 redirects from the previous URLs to new ones. This preserves SEO rankings and leads visitors to the appropriate pages.
6. Performance Optimization
Test your site speed and optimize if necessary. With caching plugins, image optimization, and CDN services, website performance can be enhanced.
Migrating a WordPress website can be intimidating, but you can migrate your website successfully with no downtime or loss of data if you follow the right steps. Use any means, manual or plugin, and ensure you back up your website first before making any changes. Test your website thoroughly after migration to confirm a seamless interface. Proper use will enable you to enjoy better performance and reliability in your new hosting setup.
