How to move a WordPress site to a new host without losing anything

What "moving a site" actually means

A WordPress site has two parts:

• the files: WordPress, the theme, plugins and uploaded images (the wp-content folder);
• the database: posts, pages, settings and users.

To move the site, you copy both to the new host, connect them and only at the end point the domain to the new server. Follow that order and visitors notice nothing.

Before anything: a full backup

Make a full backup of the site (files and database) and download it to your computer. If something goes wrong during the move, you can always go back.

Do not cancel the old hosting yet. Keep it until the site definitely works on the new one.

Option 1: with a plugin (the simplest)

For most sites, a migration plugin does everything in a few steps. The most used are All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator and UpdraftPlus. The steps are almost the same:

1. Install the plugin on the old site and make a full export (an archive).
2. On the new host, install a clean WordPress on the same domain.
3. Install the same plugin on the new WordPress and import the archive.
4. Log in again with your old site's details and check everything.

Careful: some free plugins limit the import size. For large sites, the manual way is safer.

Option 2: by hand

1. Copy the files. Download them from the old host (over FTP, SFTP or the file manager) and upload them to the new one, into the site's folder.
2. Export the database from the old host, from phpMyAdmin or the panel, as a .sql file.
3. Create a new database on the new host and import the .sql file.
4. Update wp-config.php with the new database name, user and password:

define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name' );
define( 'DB_USER', 'database_user' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password' );
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );

The important step: test before moving the domain

Before changing DNS, check the site on the new server. The easiest way is to edit the hosts file on your computer, so only you see the domain on the new IP:

• on Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
• on Mac and Linux: /etc/hosts

Add a line with the new server's IP and the domain:

123.45.67.89  your-site.com www.your-site.com

Browse the site: pages, images, forms, admin login. When everything is fine, remove the line.

Moving the domain

A day before, if you can, lower the TTL of your DNS records (for example to 300 seconds). That way the change spreads faster.

Then change the domain's DNS to point to the new host. Enable SSL on the new host as soon as the domain points to it.

Do not forget email

If you have email addresses on the domain (for example contact@your-site.com), move them too: create the same accounts on the new host and update the MX records. You can copy old messages with an email program by connecting both accounts.

After the move

• keep the old hosting active for a few more days;
• check your contact forms (whether they send email);
• check that automatic backups run on the new host.

Moving to Wiptor

Wiptor web hosting comes with free automatic SSL, backups and NVMe storage. On the Business, Pro and Enterprise plans, our team moves your site, database and email at no extra cost: you give us the access details for your old host, we take care of the rest and check everything before you move the domain.

See the web hosting plans