How to Migrate a WordPress Site to a Different Hosting
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:46 am
Creativemotions»WordPress Tips & Guides»How to Migrate a WordPress Site to a Different Hosting
migrate wordpress site
Ideally when you build a website you choose a hosting that is of a high standard so that you think you will never have to move your site. However, not all hosting providers offer the same level or quality of service, if you choose the wrong one at some point you may want to migrate your WordPress site .
Fortunately, migrating a WordPress site is not as complicated as you might imagine. It may take a few hours, but the process is relatively simple and if you choose a web host that offers better performance and more features, it will definitely be worth it.
In this article, we will walk you through the best way to overseas chinese in usa data a WordPress site , step by step. Then, we will introduce you to some WordPress migration tools that you can use to simplify the process.
Table of Contents view
How can I migrate my WordPress site to a new host?
For a website to be available online, you need a server. However, just because you physically have your site on a provider's server, nothing stops you from moving your entire WordPress site to a new web host.
Of course, this process is more complex than simply copying a few files. You will need to:
Back up your site files.
Create a copy of your current database.
Import your files and database to your new web host.
Edit your new wp-config.php file .
Don’t worry if some of these steps don’t make sense now, we’ll walk you through the entire process in a moment. First, let’s talk about how you can migrate a WordPress site .
Read Also: VPS vs Shared Hosting: Is VPS Hosting Right for Your WordPress Site?
Should I transfer my WordPress site manually or automatically?
Migrating a WordPress site isn’t that difficult. If you want to do it manually, you’ll need to use File Transfer Protocol (FTP), access your database, and edit files on your site’s backend.
These processes seem complex, but they are quite simple if you follow a clear tutorial. However, if you prefer to try a simpler approach, you can always use a WordPress migration tool or plugin . There are several options, and we will present you with some of our top picks below.
Keep in mind that large websites can be more error-prone when using WordPress site migration plugins. In these cases, manual migration is the best approach. If you follow the instructions carefully, you should not encounter any issues.
Finally, it is worth noting that some web hosts offer free WordPress migration services to new subscribers. You can also use a third-party service to help you move your WordPress site, although this can be a costly solution.
How to Manually Migrate Your WordPress Site
Even if you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and migrate your site by hand, you’ll probably want a little help getting started. Let’s walk through the process, one step at a time.
Step 1: Backup your files
The first thing you need to do is make a copy of all your website files. To do this, we recommend using an FTP tool. If you don't already have one, FileZilla is an excellent (and free) option.
After connecting to your site's server via FTP, you'll need to access your WordPress root folder, which contains all the files on your site. It's usually called public_html or www or named after your site:
migrate wordpress site
Now, right click on the root folder and choose the download option:
wp migration
This will download a copy of the entire root directory to your computer. This process may take a while, but once it's done you're good to go.
Step 2: Backup your WordPress database
At this point, you already have a copy of your website files. Now you need to download the database backup, which contains information about your content, users, and more.
migrate wordpress site
Ideally when you build a website you choose a hosting that is of a high standard so that you think you will never have to move your site. However, not all hosting providers offer the same level or quality of service, if you choose the wrong one at some point you may want to migrate your WordPress site .
Fortunately, migrating a WordPress site is not as complicated as you might imagine. It may take a few hours, but the process is relatively simple and if you choose a web host that offers better performance and more features, it will definitely be worth it.
In this article, we will walk you through the best way to overseas chinese in usa data a WordPress site , step by step. Then, we will introduce you to some WordPress migration tools that you can use to simplify the process.
Table of Contents view
How can I migrate my WordPress site to a new host?
For a website to be available online, you need a server. However, just because you physically have your site on a provider's server, nothing stops you from moving your entire WordPress site to a new web host.
Of course, this process is more complex than simply copying a few files. You will need to:
Back up your site files.
Create a copy of your current database.
Import your files and database to your new web host.
Edit your new wp-config.php file .
Don’t worry if some of these steps don’t make sense now, we’ll walk you through the entire process in a moment. First, let’s talk about how you can migrate a WordPress site .
Read Also: VPS vs Shared Hosting: Is VPS Hosting Right for Your WordPress Site?
Should I transfer my WordPress site manually or automatically?
Migrating a WordPress site isn’t that difficult. If you want to do it manually, you’ll need to use File Transfer Protocol (FTP), access your database, and edit files on your site’s backend.
These processes seem complex, but they are quite simple if you follow a clear tutorial. However, if you prefer to try a simpler approach, you can always use a WordPress migration tool or plugin . There are several options, and we will present you with some of our top picks below.
Keep in mind that large websites can be more error-prone when using WordPress site migration plugins. In these cases, manual migration is the best approach. If you follow the instructions carefully, you should not encounter any issues.
Finally, it is worth noting that some web hosts offer free WordPress migration services to new subscribers. You can also use a third-party service to help you move your WordPress site, although this can be a costly solution.
How to Manually Migrate Your WordPress Site
Even if you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and migrate your site by hand, you’ll probably want a little help getting started. Let’s walk through the process, one step at a time.
Step 1: Backup your files
The first thing you need to do is make a copy of all your website files. To do this, we recommend using an FTP tool. If you don't already have one, FileZilla is an excellent (and free) option.
After connecting to your site's server via FTP, you'll need to access your WordPress root folder, which contains all the files on your site. It's usually called public_html or www or named after your site:
migrate wordpress site
Now, right click on the root folder and choose the download option:
wp migration
This will download a copy of the entire root directory to your computer. This process may take a while, but once it's done you're good to go.
Step 2: Backup your WordPress database
At this point, you already have a copy of your website files. Now you need to download the database backup, which contains information about your content, users, and more.