WordPress is one of the most popular open-source content management systems globally. As such, many people rely on it for their blog or website needs. However, sometimes you need to move WordPress from its current server to another new host and location. Several ways can be used so your site stays up while migrating before this changeover. First, you should choose a dependable web hosting service, so you don’t have to migrate your website. However, it’s conceivable that you’re unhappy with your current web host’s service or want to switch to something better. If you find yourself in this situation, you’re probably stressed, and I don’t blame you. It seems to be somewhat tricky. But that’s all it is—it merely “sounds” intimidating. Migrating to a website, in actuality, does not have to be complicated. This article will walk you through the procedures to relocate your WordPress website to a different host or server. However, you should be aware that many WordPress hosting providers provide free migration before we begin. As a result, make sure you inquire with the hosting company, as it may not be featured on the page.
When moving WordPress to a new host or server, there are a few things to keep in mind.
It’s not that tough to switch web hosts. All you need is the appropriate direction, so I wrote this book. This is what you must do:
- Step 1: Make a backup of the files on your WordPress website.
- Step 2: Transfer Your WordPress Site to a New Host
- Step 3: Change The Hosts File to Avoid Downtime
- Step 4: On Your New Host, Create a MySQL Database
- Step 5: Start the Website Migration Process
- Step 6: Make sure your domain name servers are up to date (DNS)
The Good
The most apparent benefit of moving your WordPress site to a new server or web host is improved service and performance. Because of improved hardware, load time, and uptime can provide better customer service and notice a rise in size performance. You may also get access to other capabilities such as creating your theme, monetizing your website, and adding plugins. Then there’s the potential for your new web host’s membership plans to be less expensive than your old one, resulting in further savings. Trust me when I say that finding a dependable web hosting service may make a significant impact on your day-to-day life! What’s even great is that you can get all of this without putting forth a lot of work. Transferring your website to a new web host is a simple procedure. The methods are straightforward; all you have to do is stick to them, and everything will be completed in a matter of hours. If you get stuck, you may always contact customer care for assistance. Furthermore, some site hosting companies give free migration services. So it’s conceivable that you won’t have to do anything!
The Bad
Migrating to a new host is all about obtaining better service. However, if you make the incorrect decision, all of your efforts will be for nothing. This is precisely why you should give your new hosting provider a lot of thinking. You should know what hosting you want—shared, cloud, dedicated, or VPS—as well as the downtime, bandwidth, freebies, and, most importantly, the security level and support provided by the prospective provider. If you’re new to websites, specific phrases and practices may be alien to you.
Furthermore, the whole thing is comprehensive and exact. Therefore, you must meticulously follow each step. This may seem frightening, but if you pay attention to what has to be done, you will be able to do them without difficulty.
Steps to move WordPress to a new host:
Step 1: Make a backup of the files on your WordPress website.
Before transferring, make a complete backup of your website. Data backup should be part of your overall WordPress security in addition to being a website migration necessity. Here’s how to back up all of the files on your WordPress website:
- Duplicator Plugin Installation
You wish to migrate, install, and activate the free Duplicator plugin on the WordPress site. This plugin comes highly recommended since it allows you to migrate your website to a different domain name without loosing SEO.
- The Archive and Installer Files are available for download.
After installing and enabling the plugin, go to the WordPress admin area and select Duplicator, then Packages. Then, click the Create New button on the right-hand side of your screen.
Then pick the next option and follow the steps that appear on your screen. After that, your Duplicator bundle will be created. Finally, the scanning procedure will commence (all of your findings should be positive). To begin, choose Build. Because the construction process takes a few minutes, keep the tab open while the plugin works.
After it’s finished, you’ll be able to download the Installer and Archive packages. The Archive file contains a backup of your whole WordPress website, while the Installer file automates the installation procedure. To get both files, use the One-Click Download link instead.
Step 2: Transfer Your WordPress Site to a New Host.
The downloaded Archive and Installer files will be uploaded to your new web host. You’ll need to join your new web server for this, which you may accomplish using FTP.
- Determine the IP Address and Hostname of Your Server
When connecting your FTP client, use your website’s domain name as the host. Because your domain name still links to your former hosting provider, you’ll need to input your server’s IP address or server hostname. Do you have no idea what your server’s IP address or hostname is? It’s not a huge deal. You may check your new account’s cPanel dashboard or contact your new web hosting company’s support staff.
Upload the installer.php file and your archive.zip file to your website’s root directory using an FTP client. This may be found by going to /username/public HTML/folder. If you get stuck, don’t hesitate to contact your site hosting provider for further information. As a result, ensure that your root directory is empty. Delete WordPress if it’s installed in your root directory. After that, upload the archive.zip file and the installer.php file to the root directory.
Step 3: Change The Hosts File to Avoid Downtime.
You’ll need a browser to view the installer.php file. In most cases, you may do so by going to http://www.example.com/installer.php. But don’t try it right now since it won’t work. This is because your domain name still refers to your former web server, and you’ll receive a 404 error if you try to search the URL. So instead, try the following:
- In the Hosts File, create an entry for your domain name.
To temporarily visit your new site without harming your old site, you’ll need a host file on your computer. A host file enables you to link domain names to particular IP addresses by tricking your computer into believing your website has moved when it hasn’t. First, determine your new web hosting server’s IP address. To do so, go to your cPanel dashboard and log in. Next, select the status link to enlarge it (on the left-hand sidebar). Your service address will be shown as a Shared IP Address. This information is also available under the Account Information category for a few web hosting providers. Whether you’re using Windows or Mac, the following steps will be different.
Go to Programs, then All Programs, and finally Accessories. Then right-click Notepad and choose Run as Administrator from the context menu. When you select Yes on the Windows UAC window, Notepad will open with administrator rights. When the Notepad window appears, select File and Open. Go to fold next, go C:/Windows/System32/driver/etc. You may now open the host file by selecting it. Next, open the Terminal app and type Sudo nano /private/etc/hosts on the command prompt. This will allow you to make changes to the host file.
Do you recall the IP address you discovered in Step 2? Put it at the bottom of the host file for both Windows and Mac devices. After that, type in your domain name. Here’s how it should appear: www.example.com 146.168.1.23 The IP address should be the same as the one you copied from the cPanel panel, and the domain name should be example.com. Next, make a backup of your modifications. You may now use your previous domain name on your PC to connect to the new server. That said, keep in mind what you do here since you’ll have to reverse the modifications you made to the host’s file after the migration is complete (a.k.a Step 6).
Step 4: On Your New Host, Create a MySQL Database.
Before launching the installation on the new server, you’ll need a MySQL database. You may skip to the following step if you’ve previously built a MySQL database. If not, don’t worry; I’ve got you covered.
- In cPanel, create a database.
In the cPanel interface, create a new hosting account. Then navigate to the Databases section and choose MySQL Database. It appears as follows:
Give your database a name in the Create New Database area. Then choose Create Database from the dropdown menu. After you’ve created the MySQL database, go to the MySQL Users column. Click the Create a User button after entering a username and password.
- Incorporate a User into Your Database
To provide the user authorization to operate on the database, you must first add the First, select the database user you just created from the dropdown menu next to User in the Add User to a Database box. Next, select the database and then click Add.
Your database is now up and running. First, open your computer’s Notepad software and note down the database name, username, and password—you’ll need these in the following step.
Step 5: Start the Website Migration Process.
Finally, let’s get to the purpose of this article. In this stage, you’ll launch the installer file. This is what you must do:
- Join the Duplicator
Open a new window in your browser and enter the following address: http://www.example.com/installer.php. Your domain name should be replaced with example.com.
After the installation completes a few checks, you must check the terms and conditions checkbox. Then press the Next button. Your MySQL host, database name, username, and password are required. Now is a perfect moment to launch the Notepad program and copy-paste the information into the appropriate areas. Your host is almost certainly going to be localhost. After that, fill in the specifics of the database you generated before. Finally, select the Test Database option. If the connection to Duplicator is successful, a string beginning with Pass will appear. You’ll get information about the database connection issue if you don’t.
- Duplicator should be able to import a WordPress database.
To proceed, click Next after Duplicator has appropriately connected. Duplicator will be able to import your WordPress database from the archive.zip file into your new database as a result of this. There are other options to change the site’s URL or route. But don’t make any changes since you’re not changing domain names. Next should be selected. Duplicator will display the Login button when you complete the remaining stages. Next, you may verify whether everything was correctly imported by logging into your WordPress site on the new server.
Step 6: Make sure your domain name servers are up to date (DNS)
You have a complete copy of your WordPress database and files on your new hosting server at this point. The only thing left is to modify the routing for your domain, which is still pointing to your previous web hosting account. Next, you’ll need to change your DNS nameservers to update your environment. Then, when your users seek your domain, they will be sent to the new address of your website.
- Change the nameservers for your DNS (Domain Name System)
You should transfer your domain name to a different host if you registered it via your web hosting provider simply because it’s easier. However, if you used a domain registrar like Domain.com, you need to adjust your nameservers.
Get the DNS nameserver information from your new web host. This usually consists of a pair of URLs, such as:
- ns1.yourhostname.com
- ns2.yourhostname.com
Disclaimer: Depending on your domain registrar or web host, changing DNS nameservers will be different. The core premise, though, stays the same.
The domain administration area must be found first, followed by the nameservers. Under nameservers, fill in the information for your new hosting provider (the two URLs we covered before), and you’re done a course. Of course, you may always call your web hosting firm for help if you need it along with the procedure. Remember that DNS updates take around 4-48 hours for all users to propagate. However, once you click the Save button, everything of your website material will appear in your new account immediately—no downtime required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move my WordPress website to another host?
A: Yes. You can move your website to another web host, but you will need to transfer all of its data so that everything is accessible again.
How do I move a WordPress site to another host manually?
A: You can manually move a WordPress site to another host, but you should be careful because the process is not always successful. The best way to do this would be via FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and it takes some time, depending on your hosting provider’s restrictions.
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