Moving a WordPress site to a new host can be an intimidating task, especially for those with little coding experience. It requires knowledge of domain name system (DNS) records and how web hosting works. Fortunately, there are steps that can be followed in order to ensure the transition is quick and efficient. This article will provide detailed instructions on how to move a WordPress website from one host to another.

The first step when moving a WordPress website is finding and setting up the new web hosting provider. It’s important to compare different providers in terms of features such as storage space, bandwidth limit, uptime guarantee, customer support level and pricing before making a decision. Once the right provider has been chosen then it’s time to transfer the domain name registration over to the new registrar or server.

The next step is backing up all content associated with the existing WordPress installation. This includes downloading any images, themes or plugins stored on the current server as well as exporting database files containing text content for posts, pages and other forms of data created by users. After these two preliminary tasks have been completed then it’s possible to begin transferring the actual WordPress site itself onto its new home.

Backup Your WordPress Site

Prior to transferring a WordPress site to a new host, it is essential that users create a backup of the existing site. This will ensure all content, plugins and settings are not lost during the transition process. The easiest way to obtain data backups is through using an automated plugin such as BackupBuddy or UpdraftPlus. These programs are user-friendly and can be installed directly from the WordPress dashboard within minutes. If opting for manual back up, then relevant files should be downloaded via an FTP client onto local storage devices. Additionally, a file containing any database information must also be created as part of this process. Once these steps have been completed successfully, users now possess an exact copy of their original website on another platform which can be used for future recovery if needed.

Export Existing Database

Prior to moving a WordPress site, exporting an existing database is essential. This can be done by accessing the database through phpMyAdmin and selecting ‘Export’ from the main navigation menu. Once selected, a user should choose between Quick or Custom export methods; for this process, it is recommended that the Custom option be used. The custom option allows users to customize their settings more specifically according to their needs such as what tables are exported, whether certain data types need to be included in the export file, among other options. After all necessary settings have been chosen, clicking on the ‘Go’ button will result in downloading of SQL file which contains all information from the database. It is important that this file be securely stored because without it, no content would exist once moved over to a new host.

Create A New Database On The New Host Server

Creating a new database on the new host server is essential for moving a WordPress site. First, login to the cPanel of the new hosting account and locate the MySQL Database Wizard in order to create a database and an associated user. Begin by assigning a name for both entities; it is recommended that this should be related to the website itself so as to aid with identification later on. Next, input a strong password as access will be provided to other users. When complete, press “Create User” and then “Create Database” before proceeding any further. It is important at this stage to make note of all information given such as username, password and database name since they are going to be needed during the migration process.

Import Database To New Host Server

The next step in the process of migrating a WordPress site to a new host is importing the database. It is important that any changes made to website files are properly transferred over, and this requires moving the database as well. Here are three steps to accomplish this task:

 

  • Export the existing database from the previous host server. This can be done using phpMyAdmin or similar tools.
  • Create a new database on the new hosting platform and make sure it has been assigned an appropriate username and password.
  • Import data previously exported into newly created database on new host server, again with help of phpMyAdmin or other similar software.

Once finished, all content within WordPress should have been migrated successfully and the website should be ready for use on its new hosting platform.

Upload WordPress Files To New Server

The next step is to upload WordPress files to the new server. This can be done through an FTP program or a file transfer protocol (FTP) client such as FileZilla, which allow users to connect to their host and access/upload files directly from their computer. Once connected, WordPress files should be uploaded in the public_html directory of the web hosting account. All directories must be maintained during this process so that they are in the same structure as before, thus ensuring a successful transition of the site to its new home. After all files have been uploaded, it is important to test if everything has been transferred successfully by visiting the website using its domain name on a browser window. If there are any issues with display or functionality, further investigation may need to be conducted into why certain elements are not working correctly.

Point Domain To New Host

The first step in moving a WordPress site to a new host is pointing the domain of the website to its new hosting provider. This can be done through changing the name server records associated with the domain. Depending on where the domain was originally registered, this process will vary slightly; however, most registrars allow for changes to name servers directly from their administrative interface. The new name server addresses provided by the hosting provider must be used in order to point the domain successfully. It may take up to 24 hours for these changes to propagate across all DNS servers around the world and become active.

Once propagation is complete, any visitors arriving at the old URL would now be redirected straight away to its corresponding address on the new hosting platform. Additionally, emails sent using that particular domain would also start being handled by email services running on the new host instead of those hosted elsewhere formerly.

Conclusion

It is strongly recommended to back up a WordPress site prior to moving it to a new host. This can be done using an FTP program or backup/migration plugin. It is also important to export the existing database and create a new one on the new host server before importing this data. Once uploaded, the domain must be pointed to the new hosting provider in order for the website to function properly.

In conclusion, all steps should be taken with caution when transferring a WordPress site from one hosting environment to another. All necessary backups should be created and tested prior to making any changes so that no information is lost during the transition process. Existing databases need to be exported and imported into a new database on the new host server as well as uploading WordPress files onto this same system before finally pointing domains at the correct locations. Following these procedures will ensure quick and successful migration of WordPress sites between different hosts.