Ideally,
you’ll pick a hosting provider that’s so good you won’t ever need to move your
website. However, not all hosting providers offer the same level or quality of
service. If you choose the wrong one, you may have to move your WordPress site
at some point.
Fortunately,
migrating your site isn’t as complex as you might imagine. It can take a few
hours, but the process is relatively straightforward, Plus, if you choose a web host that offers better performance and more features, the
effort will be well worth it.
In
this article, we’ll teach you the best way to migrate a WordPress website, step
by step. Then we’ll introduce you to some WordPress migration tools you can use
to simplify the process. Let’s get moving!
Should I Migrate My
WordPress Site Manually or Automatically?
Migrating
a WordPress website isn’t hard. However, if you want to do so manually, you’ll
need to be comfortable using File Transfer Protocol (FTP), accessing databases, and
modifying files on your site’s back end.
Those
processes sound complex, but they’re simple enough if you follow a clear
tutorial. However, if you’d rather try a simpler approach, you can always use a
WordPress migration tool or plugin. There are several options, and we’ll
introduce you to some of our top picks later on.
Keep
in mind that large websites can be more prone to errors when using migration
plugins. In those cases, manual migration is the better approach. If you follow
the instructions carefully, you shouldn’t run into any problems.
Finally,
it’s worth noting that some web hosts offer free migration services to new subscribers. You can
also hire a third-party service to help you move your site, although that can
be a pricey solution (and you’d need to make sure you choose a company with a
sterling reputation).
How to Migrate Your
WordPress Site Manually
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: Choose a New
WordPress Host
If
you’re researching how to migrate your website, there’s likely a reason you’re
leaving your current host. You’ll want to keep any problems you’ve experienced
in mind as you shop for a new home for your WordPress website.
For
example, if your site suffered a breach, you’ll want to look for a new provider
that offers top-notch security features. It’s also important to understand the
different kinds of hosting that are available to
choose from. These include:
·
Shared: This is when one server houses many websites that
all share resources, and is typically the most budget-friendly option.
·
Virtual Private Server (VPS): A VPS involves virtual partitions within a
shared server, so your site has dedicated resources available to it.
·
Dedicated: With this type of plan, you
get a physical server that houses and supports only your website.
·
Managed: Any type of hosting plan can be managed, if the
hosting provider is managing technical tasks such as backups and updates
for you.
In
order to choose the best option for your website, you’ll want to assess what
your main priorities are. Key considerations include security, data storage,
speed, and customer support. For example, if you have a large eCommerce
operation, security may be higher on the list than other items.
Step 2: Back Up Your Site’s
Files
The
first thing you need to do is make a copy of all your website’s files. To do
this, you’ll want to use an FTP tool. If you don’t already have one, FileZilla is an excellent (And free) option.
After
you connect to your site’s server via FTP, you’ll need to navigate to your
WordPress root folder, which contains all the files on your site. It’s
usually called either public HTML or www, or is named after your
site:
Now,
right-click on your root folder and choose the Download option:
This
will download a copy of your entire root directory to your computer. The
process can take a while, but when it’s done, you’ll be ready to move on.
Step 3: Back Up Your
WordPress Database
At
this point, you already have a copy of your website’s files. Now you need to
back up its database. This is where all the information about your site’s
content, users, and lots more is contained.
To do
this, you’ll need to access your database. Most web hosts enable you to do this
through your control panel. For example, if you’re using cPanel, you’ll find a section
called Databases. In that section, you’ll want to click on the phpMyAdmin
option:
Step 4: Export Your
WordPress Database
Once
you’re in, choose your site’s database from the list on the left, and navigate
to the Export tab using the top menu. Select the Quick option
under Export Method, and hit Go:
This
will download a copy of your site’s database in .sol format.
Step 5: Create a New SQL
Database and Import the Contents of Your Old One
Next,
you have to create a new database on the web host you’re moving to. Then you’ll
import the file from your old database, which will override the contents of the
new one.
If
your new WordPress host also uses cPanel, here’s what you’ll need to do:
· Go to the Databases
section in cPanel, and choose the MySQL Databases option.
· Create a new database and
add a user to it from this same tab (and take note of the names you use for
later).
· Access the new database
using phpMyAdmin, as you did during the previous step.
· Go to the Import tab
within the new database, and upload the .sql file you generated earlier.
That’s
it! Now your old database is located on your new web host. However, you still
need to re-upload the rest of your site’s files.
However,
if you’ve chosen a host that does not use cPanel, you’ll need to consider a
different set of instructions. For example, if you’re migrating to one of our WP Engine hosting plans, you can use our helpful
and interactive migration checklist tool:
You’ll
find this in your User Portal. It can be used to guide
you through a migration to a production environment.
Step 6: Upload Your Site’s
Files to the New Web Host
For
this step, you’ll need to first log into your new server via FTP. Then,
navigate to its root folder.
Right-click
anywhere within that folder, and select the Upload option. Locate the
folder you downloaded during the first step, open it, and select all the files
and directories within.
The
upload process can take a while, since we’re talking about hundreds of files.
If you’re patient, however, you’ll soon find yourself almost at the end of the
journey.
Step 7: Edit Your Site’s wp-config.php
File
Once
all your files are up on the new server, you’ll need to access your WordPress root
folder one more time. If you try to actually visit your website now, it won’t
work, because you need to update WordPress’ wp-config.php
file so that it points towards
your new database.
To do
this, locate the wp-config.php file within your new root folder,
right-click on it, and select the View/Edit option:
This
will open the file using your local text editor, enabling you to make changes.
Here are the three lines you’ll need to update:
define
('DB_NAME, 'db_name');
define ('DB_USER,
'db_user');
define ('DB_PASSWORD,
'db_pass');
Currently,
all three lines will include values that point towards your old database. Go
ahead and replace the lowercase variables with the credentials for your new
database, which you created during Step 3.
Then,
save the changes to the file and close it. You should now be able to access
your WordPress website, which will look just as it did before.
Step 8: Configure and Change
Your DNS
Finally,
you’ll need to make sure your Domain Name Server (DNS) is pointed towards the
correct host. For example, if you are migrating to one of our hosting plans,
you’ll need to point your DNS to your new WP Engine server.
To do
this, you’ll need two things:
· Information from your new
host
· Access to the registrar
where you purchased your domain name
You
can find the details you need by going to your WP Engine User Portal again and
clicking on Domains:
Near
the bottom of the Domains screen, you’ll find a section called DNS
Details. There you’ll find both a CNAME Record and an A
NAME for your website:
This
is the information you’ll need to enter into your domain name account.
Depending on where you purchased the domain, the process for doing so can vary.
In order to help you complete the DNS configuration process, we’ve put together
a list of the most common registrars, along with detailed
instructions for each one.
How to Migrate Your
WordPress Site with a Plugin
When
you need to migrate your website, it’s not unusual to have some anxiety about
the process. After all, you’ve worked hard to build what you have, and you
don’t want to lose any of it along the way. Fortunately, there are several
excellent migration plugins available that can help.
Using
a plugin often provides you with an insurance policy. That’s because many of
these tools can create complete site backups for you, as well as providing
recovery services. Additionally, if you only need to migrate part of your site,
there are plugins that can customize the process to meet your needs.
WordPress Migration Tools to Make Your
Move Easy
Knowing
how to migrate a WordPress website manually is useful. As we mentioned earlier,
however, there are also some tools you can use to simplify the process. Here
are some of our favorites!
WP Engine Automated Migration
If
you’re moving your site to WP Engine, WP Engine Automated Migration can make the entire process a lot simpler. It takes
care of everything, from copying your files and database to moving them to the
new server. All you have to do is enter some credentials, and the plugin will take
care of the rest.
Duplicator
If
you’re looking for a plugin that enables you to automate the entire migration
process, Duplicator is one of your best
options. It works with any WordPress website, and takes care of copying both
your files and database. You’ll still need to do a few things by hand to get your website set up
on its new server, but the overall process is much simpler.
WP Migrate DB
WP Migrate DB enables you to skip the
part of the migration process where you need to export your database manually.
However, you’ll still need to import the .sql file the plugin generates
to your new site by hand. This is a small timesaver, but it’s still very
welcome.
All-in-One WP Migration
All-in-One WP Migration is one of the most
streamlined backup and migration plugins you can find. It enables you to create copies of your site in minutes, and then import
them to another WordPress installation using the same plugin. In our experience,
it’s perfect for small websites, although it can struggle with larger installs.
WPvivid Backup plugin
WPvivid Backup plugin is perfect for site
migration, as well as for keeping a copy of your WordPress site on hand. It
supports both automated migration and manual migration (uploading a backup to a
destination site then restoring it). What’s more, it’s completely free and has
no restrictions on the size of the website you can migrate.
Migrate Your Site to WP
Engine
Our
main goal at WP Engine is to make your life easier. That’s why we provide you
with a dedicated plugin you can use to facilitate the migration process from
any other platform to ours.
If you’re ready to migrate your WordPress site to WP Engine, all you have to do is choose a plan and follow our guide on how to use our migration plugin!
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