Move a WordPress Site to a New Host Without Losing a Thing
Quick answer: To move a WordPress site, make a full backup of files and database, copy both to the new host (with a migration plugin or by hand), test the copy using a temporary URL or your hosts file, and only then point your domain's DNS to the new server. Keep the old hosting active for at least a week after the switch.↗ Share on X
To move a WordPress site to a new host, you do five things in this order: back up everything, copy the files and database to the new host, test the copy before anyone sees it, switch your domain's DNS, and keep the old host alive for a week. If you test first and switch DNS last, your visitors never see a broken site. Many hosts will even do the move for free — ask before you start.
Here is the full process, with both the easy plugin method and the manual method.
Before you start: what do you need to have ready?
Find fast secure hosting for small business sites →
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Cheapest web hosting for new bloggers →Gather these five things. Missing one of them is the main reason migrations stall halfway.
1. Login to the old hosting account (control panel, such as cPanel).
2. Login to the new hosting account.
3. Login to your domain registrar — the company where you bought the domain. This is not always the same as your host.
4. WordPress admin login.
5. A list of your email accounts, if your email runs through the old host.
Also pick a quiet time. If most of your visitors come on weekdays, move on a weekend night.
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Step 1: How do you back up the site the right way?
A WordPress site has two parts, and you need both:
| Part | What's inside | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| Files | WordPress core, themes, plugins, uploaded images (`wp-content`) and `wp-config.php` | The server's file system |
| Database | Posts, pages, comments, settings, users | A MySQL or MariaDB database |
Make a full backup and download it to your own computer. A backup that only sits on the old server is useless if that server has a problem. Most control panels have a backup tool, or you can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus.
Step 2 (easy way): How do you migrate with a plugin?
How to Migrate a WordPress Site to a VPS Without Downtime →
How to Speed Up Your Website Without Changing Hosting →
Signs Your Small Business Needs a Hosting Upgrade Now →For most small sites, a migration plugin is the fastest and safest option. The general flow is the same for the popular ones:
1. Install a fresh WordPress on the new host (most hosts have a one-click installer).
2. Install the same migration plugin on both the old and the new site.
3. On the old site, create an export or "package."
4. On the new site, import that package. The plugin replaces the fresh install with your full site.
5. Log in on the new site with your old admin username and password.
| Plugin | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicator | Creates a package (zip + installer file) you upload to the new host | Slightly more technical, but very reliable |
| All-in-One WP Migration | Export file, then import on the new site | The free version has an upload size limit |
| Migrate Guru | Copies directly from server to server | Needs both sites reachable online |
Free limits change, so check each plugin's page. If your site is large (many gigabytes of images), ask the new host for help or use the manual method.
Step 2 (manual way): How do you move it by hand?
Use this if a plugin fails or your site is very large.
1. Export the database. In the old control panel, open phpMyAdmin, select your database and click Export (quick method, SQL format).
2. Download the files. Use the File Manager to zip the folder where WordPress lives (often `public_html`), then download the zip. Or use an FTP program such as FileZilla.
3. Create a new database on the new host. Write down the database name, user and password.
4. Import the database into the new one using phpMyAdmin on the new host.
5. Upload and unzip the files in the new host's main folder.
6. Edit `wp-config.php` on the new host so these lines match the new database:
- `DB_NAME`
- `DB_USER`
- `DB_PASSWORD`
- `DB_HOST` (often `localhost`, but some hosts use a different address — check their help page)
If the domain stays the same, you usually don't need to change any URLs inside the database.
Step 3: How do you test the site before switching?
This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that prevents downtime. Your domain still points to the old host, so you need a way to view the new copy.
Two common options:
- Temporary URL or preview link. Many hosts give one in the control panel.
- Edit your computer's hosts file. This tells only your computer to load your domain from the new server's IP address. On Windows, the file is at `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts`. On a Mac, it's `/etc/hosts`. Add one line: `NEW.SERVER.IP yourdomain.com`. Remove it after testing.
Then check:
1. The home page and three or four inner pages load.
2. Images show up.
3. You can log in to the admin area.
4. Contact forms send a message.
5. If you sell online, a test order goes through.
6. Go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save once. This rebuilds the link rules and fixes most "404 not found" errors on inner pages.
Step 4: How do you switch DNS without downtime?
When the copy works, point the domain to the new host. You have two options:
| Option | What you change | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Change nameservers | Replace the old host's nameservers with the new host's at your registrar | Simplest if the new host will manage everything |
| Change the A record | Point only the website record to the new server's IP | Better if you want to keep email or other services where they are |
Tip: a day before the switch, lower the "TTL" (time to live) of your DNS records to a short value like 300 seconds, if your DNS provider allows it. TTL is how long other computers remember the old address. A shorter TTL makes the switch spread faster.
After the change, it can take minutes or many hours for everyone to see the new server. During that time some visitors see the old site and some see the new one. That's why you don't edit content during the switch: new comments or orders on the old server would be lost.
What about email and SSL?
Email. If your email accounts (like you@yourdomain.com) run on the old host, changing nameservers can cut them off. Before switching:
1. Check your current MX records (the DNS records that route email).
2. Recreate the email accounts on the new host, or keep email with a separate provider.
3. Make sure the MX records point to the right place after the change.
SSL (the padlock / https). Your old certificate doesn't move automatically. Most hosts issue a free Let's Encrypt certificate, but it can only be created after the domain points to the new server. Turn it on in the new control panel right after DNS updates, then check that the site loads with https.
Step 5: What do you do after the move?
1. Keep the old hosting active for at least 7 days. If something is missing, you can still copy it.
2. Clear any cache plugin and, if you use one, your CDN cache.
3. Check that scheduled backups are running on the new host.
4. Test your site speed and compare it with before.
5. Submit your sitemap again in Google Search Console (optional, but helpful).
6. Then cancel the old hosting, and download one last backup before you do.
Common problems and quick fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Error establishing a database connection" | Wrong details in `wp-config.php` | Recheck database name, user, password and host |
| Home page works, inner pages give 404 | Link rules not rebuilt | Settings → Permalinks → Save |
| Images missing | `wp-content/uploads` not copied fully | Upload the uploads folder again |
| "Not secure" warning | SSL not issued yet | Activate the free SSL in the new control panel |
| White blank screen | Plugin or PHP version conflict | Set the same PHP version as the old host; disable plugins by renaming the plugins folder |
Your next step
Before touching anything, write down where your domain, your website and your email each live today — they may be three different companies. Then send one message to your new host's support asking, "Do you offer free WordPress migration?" If they say yes, let them do the copy, and you handle only the testing in Step 3 and the DNS switch in Step 4.
FAQ
Will my site go down while I move it?
It doesn't have to. If you copy and test the site on the new host first and only change DNS at the end, visitors keep seeing the old site until the new one takes over.
How long does DNS take to update?
Often a few minutes to a few hours, but it can take up to 48 hours in some places. Keep the old host running during that window so nobody lands on an empty server.
Do I need a plugin to migrate WordPress?
No, but a plugin like Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration or Migrate Guru makes it much easier for beginners. Many hosts also offer free migration done by their support team.
What happens to my email when I change hosts?
If your email is hosted with your old web host, it can stop working when you change DNS. Check where your email lives before you switch, and recreate the accounts and MX records on the new side if needed.