How Do I Migrate My WordPress Site to a New Host?

If you’re moving your website to a new host, there are many things you need to know. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced pro, there are steps you can take to ensure the migration goes smoothly.

First, backup all of your WordPress files and database. This is essential to the migration process.
1. Backup Your Site

One of the best ways to make sure you can restore your website in case something goes wrong is by creating a backup. Usually, you can find this option on the hosting account you’re moving to. You can also use one of the WordPress migration plugins, which often create backups of all your site files and elements.

Another great way to keep your WordPress site safe and secure is by using a WordPress staging site. This allows you to test new ideas and designs without committing them to the live site. This can be helpful if you have multiple sites, or if you’re just starting out with a new business.

To do this, you’ll need to create a zip file with all the necessary files and folders for your WordPress site. You can do this on your local computer, using a tool such as FileZilla or Transmit.

Once you have the zip file ready, upload it to your new host. Since WordPress is pre-installed on the new host, this should be a snap. You should be able to access the WordPress directory with FTP (which is an alternative to SSH).

Now you need to get your database files out of the old site and into the new one. This can be done in phpMyAdmin, which is located under the database section of cPanel. If you’re not using cPanel, you can contact your web hosting provider for more information.

Using phpMyAdmin, you can then export your databases in SQL format. This will make it easier to import the files later on. You may have to make some changes on your new host in order to access the database, so be sure to note down the user credentials you use to access phpMyAdmin.

Once your databases are safely stored, you can finally move on to the rest of the steps in this article! Once you’ve finished the migration process, you can start creating content and building your new website.

Migrating your WordPress website to a new host can be a challenging and time-consuming process, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little patience and preparation, you can ensure your site is seamlessly migrated.
2. Change Your Domain

When you’re migrating your WordPress site to a new host, it’s important to change your domain so that the world can find you on your new server. This process is different on every domain registrar and hosting provider, so it’s a good idea to seek out their documentation if you need help.

It’s also important to redirect any pages/posts/files that link to your old domain to their new location on the new one. This allows you to maintain the integrity of your site’s URLs and minimize any broken links that may have impacted SEO.

You can do this by using a 301 redirect, which is a permanent redirect that tells search engines and users where to find your new site. Ideally, this is set up at the hosting account level (in a file called.htaccess), but you can also use a plugin that allows you to create wild card redirects (such as Redirect All, or Redirect to This).

If you have a WordPress site, you’ll need to clone your existing site’s files to the new domain. This is a time-consuming and manual process that may be best left to a professional WordPress developer or web design team, but it’s essential for ensuring that your site can continue functioning properly after the migration is complete.

Once your website is cloned to the new domain, it’s time to update Google about the change and let people know that you have a new address! This can be done through email, a front page message, or social media.

When changing your domain, it’s important to make sure that the new domain name has a higher domain authority than the old one. This can help to boost your site’s visibility in search results and keep your website from being penalized by Google.

It’s also a good idea to notify your visitors and key stakeholders about the change. This can be done through an email, a social media post, or a blog article.

Before you migrate your WordPress site to a new host, make sure that all of its content is backed up correctly. This prevents significant data loss in the event that anything goes wrong during the transfer.
3. Change Your DNS Settings

When you change your hosting provider, it is important to make sure that your DNS records point to the new host. This will ensure that visitors to your website will be able to access your site properly. It can also help your WordPress site rank higher in search results.

To do this, you need to know your website’s IP address and your site’s nameservers. This information is available from your hosting account dashboard or through an FTP client.

Once you have the information, you can then make changes to your domain’s DNS settings in the admin console of your new hosting provider. Most reputable hosting providers offer staging URLs so that you can test and administer your WordPress site before changing your DNS settings.

After you’ve changed your DNS, it is important to allow time for the changes to propagate across the internet. This process is known as DNS propagation and can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours.

During this time, it’s a good idea to place a content freeze on your WordPress site. This will ensure that all posts, comments, and orders are copied over to your new site. This way, you can be sure that everything works properly before your site goes live on the new server.

It is also important to make sure that your new web hosting provider offers full domain control, so that you can modify all of the DNS settings for your site. This is particularly important if you have a complicated domain, such as an international one.

In addition, it’s a good idea to test your new DNS settings by using a tool like Pingdom to check that they are working correctly. This will ensure that your site is being served properly and that you can get the best possible performance from your hosting provider.

If you have any questions about your new DNS settings, you can always contact the support team at your new host. They will be happy to help you out. The process will usually be fairly simple. Just make sure you give them as much notice as possible when you are changing your DNS so that they can assist you as quickly as possible.
4. Install WordPress on Your New Host

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that can be used to create any type of website, from a simple blog to a large-scale eCommerce store. It has a huge variety of features and is completely customizable, which makes it a great choice for most web developers.

To migrate your site, you will need to take a backup of all your site files, change your domain name, and then import your database. This can take a day or two, but will save you plenty of headaches later.

If you are using a managed host, they will usually do this for you. If not, you can do it yourself by installing a migration plugin that will move all your WordPress files and database from your old host to your new one.

After the files and database have been moved, you will need to configure the site URL for your new site. This will ensure that your visitors are redirected correctly to your new domain when they try to access your site.

Next, you will need to upload your WordPress site to your new host. This can be done by transferring the WordPress zip file to your new server via an FTP client or through your hosting control panel’s File Manager.

In either case, you will need to rename the WordPress root folder to match your new host’s directory structure. This can be done by changing the directory name on your computer, but is more efficient if you use an FTP client.

Once you’ve uploaded the WordPress files to your new server, you’ll need to create a MySQL database. This can be done by using a tool like phpMyAdmin or if you have a fully-managed host, they will do this for you.

Depending on the database size, it can take some time to complete this step. Once it has, you will be able to log into your new WordPress site using your username and password.

Once you have your new WordPress site up and running, it is time to test the site. This will help you determine whether or not the site is working properly and if there are any issues that need to be addressed. If there are any problems, it is recommended that you contact your web host or WordPress support team so they can address the issue.