In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to easily move your WordPress site to a new domain or from one web host to another. Doing this manually is a bit of a technical task, but thankfully, there’s a plugin that automates this process, making it much easier.
How do I migrate my WordPress site to a new host?With the all-in-one WP migration plugin, you can easily export your MySQL database, all your media files, themes, and plugins. You can then seamlessly import everything to your target site.
Read: In this detailed how-to guide for WordPress site moving, we refer to the free version of the all-in-one WP migration plugin. It has various restrictions on things like website size and export destinations. It works with most sites, but sometimes you may need to use one of ServMask’s premium extensions.
There are many reasons why you would want to move your WordPress site, including:
- Switch to a new web host
- Change your domain
- Move your development site to a live URL
No matter why you want to move your website, an all-in-one WP migration will help you complete the process quickly and easily.
Let’s get started, shall we?
If you have any questions about the process, please leave a message at the end of the article and I will try to help you.
Directory
- Install the all-in-one WP migration
- Export your WordPress site
- Import your WordPress site
- conclusion
WordPress site migration to new hosting example: Install all-in-one WP migration
First, you’ll need to install and activate the all-in-one WP Migration plugin, which can be found in the WordPress repository. This means that you can install and activate directly in the dashboard.
Log in to the WordPress dashboard of the site you want to move.
In the left sidebar, click on Plugins > Add New.
Search for “All In One WP Migration” and find the plugin from ServMask.
Click the “Install Now” button and then click “Activate”.
Export your WordPress site
How do I migrate my WordPress site to a new host?All-In-One WP Migration is a very small plugin, so there aren’t really any settings that need to be configured before exporting. They use a very simple method to migrate your website.
The plugin only exports your site content and MySQL database, not the WordPress installation itself. This means that you’ll need to install WordPress on the target site before importing the exported file.
Detailed how-to guide for WordPress site moving: Go to Tools > All-in-One WP Migration in the left sidebar and click Export.
This will take you to the following screen where you can configure the export.
WordPress site migration to a new host example: In the Find/Replace box at the top, you can look up and replace certain terms in your MySQL database if you need to (I’ve never used this, but in some cases you might want to).
Click the Advanced Options link to see the following options:
- Don’t export spam comments
- Post revisions are not exported
- Doesn’t export media libraries (files)
- Don’t export themes (files)
- Don’t export plugins (files) that you have to use
- Don’t export plugins (files)
- Don’t export databases (SQL)
- Don’t replace email domains (SQL)
If you want to exclude certain items from the export, check the appropriate boxes.
Next, click on the Export to button near the bottom. In the drop-down menu, select File (the free version only allows you to export to a file).
Then, you’ll see a progress pop-up to let you know that the file is being exported.
The export process may take some time, depending on the size of your website and internet speed, so be patient and wait for the plugin to finish its job.
Then, click Download on the pop-up window that appears when the export is complete. Save the .wpress file on your computer and make a note of its location.
The exported file can also be found in the Backups section under All-In-One WP Migrations > Backups. You can also download the export file here at any time.
Import your WordPress site
How do I migrate my WordPress site to a new host? Now that you have the export file, you’re ready for the second half of the migration process. The process is the same whether you’re moving your site from an on-premises site to a new server or from one web host to another.
Detailed How-To Guide to Moving a WordPress Site: In order to import your site, you need to install WordPress on the target site. If your host uses cPanel, then installing WordPress is really simple. You can also do this manually if you want, but it will require more work. Check out my WordPress installation guide for step-by-step instructions on how to install WordPress.
Once you have installed a fresh copy of WordPress on the target URL, proceed with the steps below.
Install and activate All-In-One WP Migration on the site you want to move to.
WordPress site migration to new hosting example: In the left sidebar, go to Tools > All-In-One WP Migration and click Import.
This will take you to the screen below.
Locate the .wpress file you exported earlier. You can then do any of the following to import the file:
- Drag and drop it into the window provided
- Click Import From, select File from the drop-down list, locate the file on your computer, and then click Open.
Once the import process is complete, you’ll see a pop-up window with a message informing you that your database, media items, plugins, and themes will be overwritten if you continue. Click the Continue button to complete the import process.
Now, you will see a pop-up window to let you know that all the data has been successfully imported. Exit your WordPress dashboard.
Use the username and password from your exported site to log back into your WordPress dashboard.
Go to “Settings” > “Permalink” and click on the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.
How do I migrate my WordPress site to a new host? Now that you’ve successfully imported your site, you need to check to make sure everything is working and working.
WordPress site moving detailed how-to guide summary
As with any technical task, transferring your WordPress site from one domain or host to another can seem overwhelming. Thanks to the all-in-one WP migration, moving your website is a quick, easy process that won’t make you want to pluck your hair.
