How To Migrate A WordPress Site To A New Host

Learning how to migrate a WordPress site to a new host is important to ensure your website continues performing correctly and your visitors can access it in its new WordPress Hosting environment. Whether you’re looking for better performance, security, or pricing, moving your WordPress site requires careful planning and execution to avoid downtime, data loss, and potentially lower visibility in search. This guide will walk you through the essential migration process steps to successfully transfer your site while maintaining its functionality, user experience, and search engine rankings.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Proper preparation and backup creation are the foundations for a successful WordPress migration.
• Selecting the right host based on your specific needs and properly setting up your new hosting account prevents complications during migration.
• A clean database export is essential for preserving all your website’s content and settings.
• Downloading all WordPress files ensures no content is left behind during the migration and that your site functions correctly.
• Proper database import is essential for maintaining your site’s content and functionality.
• Correct file uploads and organization are how you maintain your site’s structure and functionality.
• Accurate wp-config.php configuration ensures a proper connection between WordPress and your database.
• Comprehensive testing and immediate troubleshooting are essential for maintaining site functionality post-migration.
• Thorough testing before DNS changes prevents downtime and user experience issues.
• Post-migration optimization ensures your site maintains security, performance, and reliability on the new hosting platform.
• Common issues include database connection errors, mixed content warnings, broken permalinks, or email delivery problems. Address any issues promptly to minimize the impact on your users.

Preparation To Migrate A WordPress Site To A New Host

Before migrating your WordPress website, proper preparation is needed to make for a smooth transfer to your new host.

Start by creating a complete backup of your existing site. This includes all of your WordPress files, databases, themes, plugins, and uploaded content. Having a copy of your site acts as your safety net in case anything goes wrong during the migration and you need to revert to a stable version.

There are two ways you can do a backup, using your current host’s control panel, or using WordPress backup plugins.

Many web hosting providers offer built-in backup tools within their control panels, which can be a convenient option. These tools often allow you to schedule automatic backups of your entire website, including files and databases so you have them readily available.

WordPress migration plugins provide a more automated method to create backups and can even help with the entire migration process. Some also let you create a clone of your WordPress site, allowing you to test changes and new settings without affecting your live site. Popular WordPress plugins include:

• Duplicator Plugin: Offers comprehensive backup and migration features, including the ability to create a clone of your site for easy transfer.
• All-in-One WP Migration: A popular choice for its ease of use and comprehensive features.
• WP Migrate DB Pro: Mainly focuses on database migration but also includes backup functionality.

After the full backup of your site has been completed, download all the files to your computer and confirm their integrity by checking backup file sizes and running a test recovery if possible., download all the files to your computer and confirm their integrity by checking file sizes and running a test recovery if possible.

Choosing and Setting Up Your New Hosting Account

When you migrate WordPress site to a new host, evaluate your new hosting requirements such as the size of your old site including your database, media content and uploads, theme and plugin files, and the anticipated amount of traffic. This will help you choose a hosting plan with enough resources, CPU, RAM, and storage allocations. Make sure you have the option to scale your resources as your website’s needs change.

Look for WordPress-optimized servers along with the host’s PHP and MySQL database versions with WordPress-specific features. Some examples are 1-Click installs, automatic updates, and backups, staging environments for testing a copy of your website, and server-side caching.

Additionally, check for SSL certificates (preferably included in your plan), database management tools like phpMyAdmin, email accounts, and CDN (Content Delivery Network) integration.

Once you’ve selected a hosting company, it’s time to set up your new account for your WordPress site migration:

1. Create Account: Sign up and create an account with your new hosting provider.
2. Set Up Login: Set up your login details, including your username and password and an admin email.
3. Control Panel: Access your hosting control panel and familiarize yourself with the WordPress dashboard.
4. Additional: Install the SSL certificate on the new server (the host may do this for you) and configure caching and security features.
5. Install WordPress: Download the WordPress core software, create the wp-config.php file, run the install script, and configure the basic settings.

The core of website migration involves moving your WordPress database and files to the new hosting server, the following step-by-step guide will take you through the process of a manual migration.

It’s worth mentioning some managed WordPress hosts offer free migration services. Additionally, there are a range of dedicated migration tools and plugins that automate much of the process for you. These are often the easiest ways for website owners to transfer an entire site without needing much technical knowledge of WordPress admin.

Step 1: Export Your WordPress Database

The first step is exporting your site’s database files. Begin by logging in to your current hosting’s control panel (cPanel) and find the phpMyAdmin tool, located in the “Databases” section. Click on the name of your database.

Make sure all relevant tables are selected, if you’re unsure, you can simply select all tables and choose “SQL” as the export format followed by the “Export” button. This will create an SQL file containing all your website’s posts, pages, comments, and custom fields. Save the file to your local computer for importing into a new database later.

Note, that the export method may vary depending on your host’s interface, but the general steps are relatively similar across the board.

Step 2: Download Your WordPress Site Files

Next, download all WordPress files, maintaining the original file structure, this helps prevent errors during the upload to your new host and ensures no content is lost during migration. These steps can be performed via your old host’s file manager or using an FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

FTP Method

Use an FTP client like FileZilla or CuteFTP to connect to your old hosting server using the provided credentials and locate the main directory usually named “wp-content” or “public_html” and download the following:

• wp-content: Your website’s themes, plugins, and uploaded content files.
• wp-includes: The core WordPress files.
• wp-admin: Contains the admin interface files.

Download the following root directory files separately:

• wp-config.php: Contains your database connection details.
• .htaccess: Controls server settings for your website.

Note: The exact directory names and locations may vary slightly depending on your hosting provider and WordPress setup.hosting provider and WordPress setup.

File Manager Method

Log in to your old hosting account’s control panel and search for the “File Manager” section.

Find the directory containing your WordPress installation (“wp-content” or “public_html” as before) and select the entire directory, including all subdirectories and files. Look for a “Download” option to create a compressed folder of your WordPress files and save the zip file.

You can then extract its contents to a local folder on your computer, so you have all the website files you need to transfer to your new site.

Step 3: Import Your WordPress Database to the New Host

Use the database management tools provided by your new web host to create a new database. In their control panel, locate the “Create Database” in the “MySQL” section and click ‘Create.’ In this section, you’ll be able to add the database name, username, and password that you’ll need for connecting to the new database later on and make a note of them.

Once you’ve created it, the next step is to add a new user and assign privileges to access and modify the database. This usually includes SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, DROP,” and INDEX privileges.

Next, locate and access phpMyAdmin in your new control panel, select the newly created database from the list of available databases, and navigate to the “Import” tab.

Click the “Choose File” button and select the SQL file you exported earlier from your old host. Adjust any import settings, like character set or format, based on your requirements if needed.

Lastly, click the “Import” button to begin the import process. Once complete, check the database to ensure that all tables and data have been transferred correctly by viewing the table structure and contents.

Step 4: Upload Files to the New Host

Now you need to upload your website’s files downloaded previously to the new environment. Using your chosen FTP client, connect to your new hosting account using the provided credentials.

Navigate to the root directory of your new hosting account, normally named “public_html” or “www.”

You can find the directories on your computer and upload their contents to the corresponding ones on your new host.

These are the wp-admin, wp-includes, and wp-content WordPress directories that contain your admin interface, WordPress functionality, libraries, themes, plugins, and content.

Make sure you add the wp-config.php configuration file you saved separately and that all file permissions are set correctly.

Double-check that the new site’s file structure and sizes match the originals on your old hosts’ files, and they have been transferred completely without any errors or data loss.

Step 5: Update the wp-config.php File

After transferring your files and database, configuring the wp-config.php file is essential so the migrated site can connect to the database and function correctly on the new server. This includes modifying it to have the new database credentials, including name, username, password, and host.

Use your FTP client or file manager to access the wp-config.php file in your new WordPress installation.

Replace the existing database name with the name you used for your new server, enter the username and password you created for the user, and save the changes.

If you’re not sure of the database host, check your new provider’s documentation or contact their customer support team.

Step 6: Test Your Site Before DNS Changes

The best way to prevent front-end issues from occurring during the migration process is to thoroughly test your WordPress site before changing your domain’s DNS settings and directing your visitors to the new host. This helps prevent your user experience from being negatively affected and avoids unnecessary downtime.

Visit your website using the temporary site URL provided by your new hosting provider and check the homepage loads and that all elements are displayed correctly. From there navigate through your site’s pages and posts and check they are also loading and appearing properly.

Test all forms, buttons, and other interactive elements to make sure they are functioning as intended and that images, videos, and other media render without errors. Additionally, if your website has a search feature, test it to ensure that it returns accurate results.

Log in and out of your website to confirm the login system is working correctly and access your website’s WordPress admin dashboard to ensure that you can manage and update your site’s content.

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Pingdom to monitor your uptime and page loading speeds, identify any performance bottlenecks, and make changes as needed.

Step 7: Update Your Domain’s DNS Settings

Updating DNS (Domain Name System) settings essentially tells the internet where your website is now located and is central for a successful website migration because it directs visitors to the correct server IP address. If you don’t update DNS settings after moving to a new host, visitors will continue to be directed to the old server, resulting in downtime.

First, have the nameserver details of your new hosting provider ready.

Log in to your domain service’s control panel, find the DNS settings, and update the existing nameserver records for your domain with the new ones provided. Make a of the DNS changes you made for future reference. After updating, it may take some time for the changes to propagate across the internet, usually between 24 and 48 hours.

During the propagation period, monitor your website’s accessibility using the temporary URL used in the previous step. Keep your old hosting account active until the DNS changes have fully propagated to avoid downtime.

Additionally, If you have email addresses and accounts associated with your old domain, monitor their functionality during the transition to ensure that emails are delivered correctly.

If you’re changing domains during the migration, you’ll also need to update the site URL and home URL in the database. This can be done through phpMyAdmin or directly in the WordPress admin area.

Post-Migration Steps

• Install and Configure SSL: Installing and configuring an SSL certificate for an HTTPS connection will encrypt data transmitted between your website and visitors, helping keep your website secure
• Set Up Caching: Improve your site’s loading speed by implementing caching to static content. Your hosting provider may offer built-in caching features, or you can use WordPress plugins.
• Update Security Settings: Strengthen your website’s security by reviewing and updating firewall configurations, login protection measures, and other relevant settings.
• Monitor Performance and SEO: Monitor your website’s performance and search engine rankings in the weeks following the migration to ensure that everything remains stable and optimized.

Common Migration Issues

Some common issues to watch for after migrating can include:

• Database Connection Errors: Ensure your WordPress site can connect to the database on your new host. Verify the database credentials in your wp-config.php file.
• Mixed Content Warnings: You may encounter mixed content warnings in your browser if your website loads both secure (HTTPS) and non-secure (HTTP) content. This can affect your website’s security and user experience.
• Broken Permalinks: If your website’s permalink structure is not updated correctly after the migration, you may encounter broken links. You can use the Better Search Replace plugin to fix them or update your permalinks in WordPress manually.
• Email Delivery Problems: Verify that your email functionality is working correctly on the new host. Check for any configuration issues or spam filters that might be blocking emails.

FAQs

Other Articles of Interest

– WordPress Migration and Hosting: Tips and Best Practices

– Create MySQL Database and Manage It – Essential Techniques

– WordPress And What Does FTP Stand For: A Beginners Guide

– A Clear Guide To Migrate WordPress Sites Seamlessly

– Fix an Error Establishing A Database Connection in WordPress