How to Migrate a WordPress Site to Another Host

Published on July 26, 2023 by Simon Wright

Are you looking to migrate a WordPress site to a new host but have no idea how to proceed? Yes? Excellent, because that is what we will be guiding you through today!

There are several reasons why website owners make this decision. A common one is that they’re unhappy with their current hosting provider’s performance or customer support. Alternatively, they may have found a better deal or more suitable hosting environment elsewhere. Or perhaps they have security concerns and want to use more reliable servers.

Whatever the reason, migrating WordPress to a new host can seem like a daunting task. However, it is pretty straightforward, provided you follow the simple steps we will now show you.

Step 1: Prepare Your Site for Migration

Before diving into the migration process, preparing your WordPress site and gathering all the necessary information is essential. Here’s what you need to do:

a) Choose a New Hosting Provider

Deciding on the right hosting provider is crucial for a successful migration. Look for one that offers reliable server performance, excellent customer support, and the specific features you need for your WordPress site. Moreover, consider factors such as server location, scalability options, security measures, and pricing. Take full advantage of online reviews and recommendations from other WordPress users to help you make an informed decision.

If you like the price of shared hosting but are worried about security and interference from the thousands of other sites using the same servers, VPS (virtual private server) hosting would be the perfect option for you.

VPS brings you the best of both worlds. It provides a cost-effective solution similar to shared hosting but with enhanced security and isolation, ensuring your website’s performance and data remain unaffected by other sites on the same server.

WP Bolt’s VPS hosting gives you server space and resources allocated solely to your website, granting you greater control, flexibility, and stability. This means you can easily scale your resources as your website grows, ensuring optimal performance even during peak traffic periods.

Whichever hosting type you decide upon, once you’ve chosen a new provider, register for an account and prepare to migrate your WordPress site to its new hosting environment.

b) Back Up Your WordPress Site

Before you migrate your WordPress site, performing a full backup of all files and the database is essential. This backup will serve as a safety net should anything go wrong during the migration process.

There are various methods for backing up your website, and you can read more about those in the WP Bolt article “How to Backup a WordPress Site.”

c) Gather Other Essential Data

Next, make a list of all the plugins and themes you’re currently using on your site, noting their versions and any customizations you’ve made so that you can replicate them on the new host if necessary. Finally, gather all the login credentials for your WordPress admin panel, FTP, and database access.

Step 2: Set Up the New Hosting Environment

With your new hosting provider selected and your WordPress site backed up, it’s time to begin configuring your website’s fresh hosting environment.

Start by accessing your new hosting account’s control panel, which will probably be through a web-based interface like cPanel. Look for the option to create a new website or add a domain. The actual process of transferring your existing domain to the new host (or registering a new one with them) varies depending on the specific services offered by your chosen hosting provider. In all cases, follow the on-screen prompts to complete the domain setup process, after which you can start transferring your WordPress files.

Step 3: Migrate the WordPress Files to the New Host

You have a few options to migrate your WordPress files to the new host.

One method is to use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to both your old and new hosting accounts. On the old host, navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation and download all the files to your local computer. Then, connect to your new host and upload the files to the appropriate directory.

Alternatively, some hosting providers offer a migration tool that automates the file transfer process. Check if your new host provides such a tool and follow their instructions to migrate your WordPress files.

Step 4: Import the WordPress Database

In addition to transferring the files, you must also migrate your WordPress database to the new host. To do this, you’ll need access to your old hosting account’s database management tool, usually phpMyAdmin.

Log in to phpMyAdmin, locate your WordPress database, export it as a SQL file, and save it to your local computer. Next, log in to your new hosting account’s control panel and find the database management tool. Then, you need to create a new database and import the SQL file you exported and saved earlier. Remember to update the database credentials in your WordPress configuration file to reflect the new database details.

Step 5: Update the Domain Settings

After transferring your WordPress files and database to the new host, it’s time to update the domain settings to point to the new hosting environment.

The steps needed to do this may vary depending on your domain registrar. In general, you’ll need to access your domain registrar’s control panel, locate the DNS settings, and update the nameservers or DNS records to reflect the new hosting provider’s information. The changes may take some time to propagate across the internet, so be patient and allow for the necessary DNS propagation period. If in doubt, seek advice from the new domain host’s support team.

Step 6: Test and Troubleshoot the Migrated WordPress Site

After updating the domain settings, it’s wise to thoroughly test your migrated WordPress site to ensure everything is working as expected.

Start with accessing your site using the new domain name and check the pages load correctly. Verify that all the plugins and themes are functioning properly and that any customizations you made have been successfully replicated. Test the site’s functionality, including forms, contact pages, and any e-commerce features. If you encounter any issues during testing, refer to your backup and try to identify the cause of the problem. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your new hosting provider’s support team for assistance if needed.

Step 7: Finalize the WordPress Migration Process

Once you’re satisfied with the testing and troubleshooting phase, it’s time to finalize the migration process.

Take one final backup of your migrated site to have a recent copy in case any issues arise in the future. Update any necessary settings, such as permalinks or caching configurations, to ensure optimal performance on the new host.

Finally, inform your old hosting provider that you’re canceling your account and request any necessary domain transfer or cancellation procedures. With these steps completed, your WordPress site should now reside on the new hosting provider’s servers.

How to Migrate WordPress Multisite Installations

The migration process can be slightly more complex if you have a WordPress multisite installation.

Start by backing up the entire multisite network, including all the sites and their respective databases. When setting up the new hosting environment, ensure the server configuration supports WordPress multisite installations. Use the same process of transferring files and databases as described earlier, but make sure to update the necessary settings for multisite functionality. Test each individual site within the multisite network after the migration to ensure smooth operation.

Common Migration Challenges and How to Overcome Them

The process is usually smooth when you migrate WordPress to a new host. However, it does help to be aware of some challenges that occasionally arise.

One such challenge is compatibility issues with plugins or themes on the new host. To overcome this, ensure your theme and all plugins are updated and compatible with the latest version of WordPress. You may also need to adjust certain settings or configurations to match the new hosting environment.

Another issue often encountered when migrating a site to a new host is DNS propagation delays, which can cause temporary site unavailability. To mitigate this, lower the DNS time-to-live (TTL) value before the migration and inform your site visitors about the potential downtime ahead of time.

Other Options for Migrating WordPress to a New Host

Less tech-savvy site owners will be pleased to know that various other options exist to migrate a WordPress site to an alternative hosting provider, namely:

a) Tools and Plugins to Migrate WordPress

Several tools and plugins are available that can automate some or all of the migration process.

One of the most popular and user-friendly plugins for website backup and migration is “Duplicator.” This robust tool allows users to perform comprehensive backups of their entire websites, ensuring that all files, databases, plugins, themes, and settings are securely stored. Moreover, a seamless transfer feature permits quick and effortless migration to a new hosting provider.

Another helpful tool is “All-in-One WP Migration.” With its straightforward interface, this plugin streamlines the entire migration process, making it accessible to users of all levels of technical expertise.

b) Migration Tools and Services Offered by Hosting Providers

Many hosting providers offer their own migration tools or services to assist you in the process.

For example, WP Bolt offers free migrations with all their hosting plans. Taking advantage of their expertise and letting them handle the entire process will save you many potential headaches. Moreover, your site will reside on super reliable and highly secure virtual private servers.

c) Migrate WordPress Using Developers and Freelancers

Another option to help you migrate WordPress to a new host is to use one of the paid migration services offered by companies such as MigrateHQ.com or some of the agencies listed in the WP Bolt article “WordPress Support and Maintenance Services.”

And if you are working to a tight budget, plenty of freelancers offering migrations for a reasonable fixed or hourly fee are available through platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork.

Summing Up

On first inspection, it may seem complicated to migrate a WordPress site to an alternative hosting provider. However, with careful planning and systematic execution, the process can be smooth, seamless, and well within the realms of relative novices.

Following the steps covered in this article will allow you to swiftly and effortlessly migrate your WordPress to a new host, ensuring a seamless transition. Begin by carefully selecting a dependable hosting provider and performing a full site backup. Then all you need to do is transfer the files and database, update the domain settings, test everything works, and you are all done.

Diligent attention to detail will lead to a successful WordPress site migration, granting you the advantages of an upgraded hosting environment.

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