Migrating a WordPress website is the process of moving its content from one location to another. This is typically necessary when technical glitches arise with your current hosting provider or when you transfer WordPress website to a more reliable and feature-rich hosting environment.
It’s your choice to choose WordPress hosting plans that will meet all your requirements and expectations, and hopefully, you won’t be forced to move your website. Yet, if you ever have to migrate your website, knowing the basic process involved will make it less intimidating. In this blog, we’re walking you through the essential steps to successfully transfer your WordPress website.
Key Steps to Consider
1. Choose the Correct Hosting
There are various hosting options available for any size website and budget — but what is the ideal hosting for your precise needs? The solution can be tricky without knowing the ins and outs of URLs, bandwidth, storage, and much more.
If you are not familiar with the process of designing and managing a website, the types of hosting may be a little confusing. That’s why trusted providers like MilesWeb offer simplified solutions tailored for beginners and experts alike. We’ve done a quick recap of the most common types of hosting so it won’t be tedious for you when you decide what type you’re going to obtain.
Shared Hosting
The cheapest and lowest-level web hosting plan is shared hosting. Individuals who choose to utilize this kind of hosting will have their website live on the same server as a group of other websites. Because the quantity of bandwidth and storage you receive is a smaller segment of what a full server can offer, shared hosting suits less complex websites.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting occurs on “the cloud,” which isn’t a single server but rather a cluster of networked servers that connect. Cloud hosting can increase storage space and resources by adding several connected servers. The term cloud hosting is perhaps something you might already have experienced if you’ve used Google Drive or Dropbox. Cloud hosting packages are ideal for website owners who wish to enchant their users with lightning-fast load times without having the expertise.
Managed Hosting for WordPress
WordPress-managed hosting is perfect for anyone running a WordPress website who wants to keep things simple—no tech expertise is needed. It takes care of updates, security, and day-to-day management, so you can focus on your content instead of the backend. With a WordPress-managed hosting plan, your hosting company takes care of the server management, and hosting of your website, letting you save both time and resources.
2. Backup Your Data
It’s highly recommended to backup all parts of your website before you migrate it. It is a good habit to do before any big update, and this should be included in your overall WordPress security.
When using a backup plugin, you get full control—you can choose exactly which files to back up, decide where to store them, and even set how and when the backups should run. It’s a stress-free way to protect your website data.
3. Export Your Database
To export your database, simply login to your cPanel account and open the phpMyAdmin tool—it’s your go-to spot for managing WordPress databases with ease.
On the left-hand sidebar, find and select the database where your WordPress installation is located. Then, click on the Export tab in the top menu to proceed.
Keep the SQL format as it is, and choose the quick export option.
Then, just click the “Go” option, and the export process will begin.
Lastly, a database file will be downloaded onto your system.
4. Import the Database
Now and then, system glitches are just unavoidable—whether it’s because of a full hard drive, a harmful virus, or simply a compromised hard drive, it’s essential to have the ability to restore data. This may be accomplished in 2 easy steps:
- Log in to your new web hosting account and open your cPanel dashboard. From there, head to the MySQL Databases section and create a new database for your website—it only takes a few clicks to get things done.
- Create a new MySQL user and link it to the database you just made. Finally, grant this user account all permissions. Be sure to jot down the MySQL username, password, and database name—you’ll need them shortly to complete the setup.
5. Exchange Your Website Data
Use an FTP client to connect to your new hosting account and start uploading your website files. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) lets you move files between your computer and the server using programs like FileZilla, making the process smooth and efficient. When accessing your FTP client, you usually input the domain name of the website.
Since your domain is still linked to the old server, you won’t be able to use it to access your new hosting space just yet. Instead, use the server’s hostname or IP address—both of which you can find in your new host’s cPanel dashboard—to connect and upload your files.
Using your FTP client, place the .zip archive and installer.php file right into your website’s root directory—the central hub where all your website’s core files reside.
6. Update DNS
Once your new hosting server is up and running and the WordPress database has been migrated, it’s time to update your DNS settings (also known as domain name servers).
7. Remove Data from Your Previous Host Server
When you make a changeover between hosting businesses, it’s wise to retain your old website for at least seven days. This buffer period ensures a smooth transition and refrains from losing crucial website data.
Once that buffer time is over, you can remove all the files from your previous website hosting. The web hosting company will remove all your information based on their policy in case you are closing your account.
Conclusion
Migrating a WordPress website might seem intimidating at first, especially if you haven’t done it before. But, as you can see, migrating a WordPress website is quite easy and simple to do. Just follow these steps, and your website will be live and fully functional in no time.
Although the procedure is easy enough, before you attempt any of these techniques, ensure that you always backup your WordPress website. For those seeking a reliable hosting partner to assist with your WordPress website migration, MilesWeb provides free website migration, study security and powerful tools to make the procedure smoother.