Moving a WordPress website from one host to another might sound tricky at first, but it can be done step by step without stress. People usually move their WordPress site when their old host is slow, charges too much, or does not give enough support. Others simply want a better home for their content and images. This guide will walk you through the same steps you’ll find on top sites like WordPress.org and migration blogs, but in a friendly and easy way that anyone can understand.
What It Means to Move a WordPress Site
Before we begin, it’s good to know what moving a WordPress site really means. A WordPress site has two big parts:
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Files, like your themes, pictures, and plugins.
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A database, which holds your posts, pages, and settings.
When you move your site to a new host, you are copying both of these parts from your old host’s server to a new one. Think of it like packing a room before moving to a new house.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you start moving your site, make sure you have these things ready:
- Login access to your old hosting account.
- Login access to your new hosting account.
- A way to download your site files and database, usually through a plugin or FTP.
- If possible, a simple backup stored on your computer in case something goes wrong.
Getting these things ready before you start will help the process go smoothly and safely.
The Easy Way: Using a Plugin
The simplest way to move your WordPress site is by using a migration plugin. Plugins are like tools that work inside WordPress to make jobs easier.
Choice of Plugins
Some helpful plugins for moving your site include:
- All-in-One WP Migration
- Duplicator
These tools will make a complete copy of your site and help you restore it on the new host. Top tutorials often recommend them because they save time and handle most of the tricky parts for you.
Step-by-Step with All-in-One WP Migration
- Install the plugin on your current site.
- Export your entire site using the plugin. This creates one file with everything inside.
- Download the exported file to your computer so you have a safe copy.
- On your new host, install a fresh WordPress site and the same plugin.
- Import the file you saved earlier into the new site.
- Wait until the import finishes, then check your site on the new host to make sure everything looks right.
This method keeps most of your settings, posts, pages, media, and plugins just as they were before.
Start with a Clean WordPress on the New Host
Before you import your files to the new host using the plugin, you will need a fresh WordPress setup there. This means you install WordPress as if you were starting a new website. Most hosting companies have simple tools that help you install WordPress with just a few clicks.
Once WordPress is installed and ready, you can begin importing your old site from the plugin.
Manual Migration Without a Plugin (A Good Way for Small Sites)
If you don’t want to use a plugin, you can move your WordPress site by copying files and your database by hand. This method feels a bit more hands-on, but it helps you learn how your site is built behind the scenes. Many helpful guides explain this step-by-step idea.
First, you will download all your WordPress files from your old hosting account. These files include everything that shows up on your site — themes, pictures, plugins, and more. If you use a tool like File Manager in your hosting panel or an FTP program, you can save these files in a folder on your own computer.
Next, you find the place where your database lives on the old host. The database is like a big notebook with all your posts, pages, and settings written inside. In most hosting panels, you can open phpMyAdmin, choose your website’s database, and then export it as a file. Put this file in the same folder where you saved your site files.
Now that you have both the files and the database, you go to your new host and upload everything. First you upload the files into the right spot — usually the folder where the website will appear. Then you make a new database on the new host and import the database file you saved. This puts all your posts and pages into the new home.
There is one more important step. In the folder you uploaded, there is a special file called wp-config.php. This file tells WordPress how to talk to your database. You open it in a simple text editor and change the old database name, user, and password so they match the new ones you created. After you save it, your site should now link to the correct database.
Pointing Your Domain to Your New Host
After your site files and database are moved, visitors still need to find your site at the new place. This is done by updating the DNS settings for your domain name — the address people type into their browser.
To do this, you log in to the account where you bought your domain name and look for DNS settings or nameserver settings. Your new host will give you a pair of nameserver addresses. You take those and paste them into your domain’s settings. This tells the internet that your site now lives at your new hosting company.
Once you save these changes, it can take a little time — usually a few hours, and sometimes up to two days — for the internet to update everywhere. During that time, some people might still see your old site first, but soon everyone will reach your site at the new host.
Important Checks After Moving Your Site
Once your site has moved and your domain is pointing to the new host, it’s important to make sure everything is working the way it should. Walk through your website and check a few things by eye:
- Click on several pages to make sure they open.
- Try adding a new post or image to see if WordPress still saves information normally.
- Look at your permalinks (the words in your page URLs) — sometimes they need one more save to start working correctly.
- If you use SEO tools, you might want to resubmit your sitemap so search engines know your site is now in a new home.
If anything looks a bit odd, most problems have a simple fix. For example, if pictures aren’t showing, it might be because the old path to the image files didn’t update automatically. Tools can help fix that, or you can ask your host’s support team for help.
What to Do if Your Domain Changes Too
Sometimes people want to move their WordPress site to a new host and a new domain name. In that case, after migration you will have two changes to make: pointing the domain and telling WordPress to use the new name. When you change the domain, you might also need to update site settings inside the WordPress dashboard so the new domain becomes the official address visitors see.
This step makes sure visitors who type in the old name are directed to the new one. It’s also good for search engines so your search rankings don’t drop. A simple redirect setup can help with this.
Final Thoughts
Moving a WordPress site to a new host might feel like a journey, but once you follow each step with care, it becomes simple. Whether you choose an easy plugin method or the hands-on way, the important things are backing up your site, keeping your files safe, and double-checking your work after the move. After that, your site will live happily in its new home!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I move a WordPress site to a new host without losing data?
Yes, you can. If you make a full backup of your site before starting, your posts, pages, images, and settings will stay safe. Most problems happen only when people skip the backup step. That’s why it’s always best to back up first, even if you are using a plugin.
2. Will my website go down while moving to a new host?
In most cases, visitors won’t notice anything. Your old site stays live while the new one is being prepared. The switch only happens when you change the domain settings. If done carefully, the downtime is very small or not noticeable at all.
3. Which method is better: plugin or manual migration?
For beginners, using a plugin is the easiest and safest choice. It does most of the work for you and reduces mistakes. Manual migration is better for people who want more control or are learning how WordPress works behind the scenes. Both methods work well if done correctly.
4. Do I need technical skills to move a WordPress site?
No advanced skills are needed. If you can log in to WordPress and follow steps carefully, you can move your site. Many hosting companies also offer support if you get stuck. If you prefer a guided approach, you can follow a full tutorial like
👉 How to move a WordPress website
https://wpsafemigration.com/how-to-move-a-wordpress-website
5. How long does it take to move a WordPress site to a new host?
A small site can be moved in less than an hour. Larger sites with many images may take more time to upload and copy. Domain changes may take extra hours to fully update across the internet.
6. Will moving my WordPress site affect SEO?
If you keep the same domain name, your SEO usually stays safe. Search engines treat it like the same site in a new home. If you change the domain, you should set up proper redirects so search engines and visitors reach the new address. You can learn more from this guide:
👉 Move WordPress site to another server
https://wpsafemigration.com/move-wordpress-site-to-another-server