WordPress hosting migration involves transferring your complete website including files, databases, configurations, and email accounts from one hosting provider to another. Proper migration maintains functionality, preserves SEO rankings, and ensures zero downtime when executed correctly using systematic processes that eliminate common pitfalls.
Performance issues persistently affecting site speed despite optimization efforts indicate hosting inadequacy. Your current provider's infrastructure cannot support your traffic levels or resource requirements. You'll migrate seeking better server specifications, optimized WordPress configurations, or superior hosting performance capabilities.
Reliability problems including frequent downtime, slow support responses, or recurring technical issues damage business credibility. Visitors encounter error messages, incomplete page loads, or unavailable services. You'll switch providers prioritizing uptime guarantees, redundant infrastructure, and responsive technical support.
Security concerns arise when hosting providers fail implementing adequate protection or responding effectively to breaches. Your site experiences repeated attacks, malware infections, or vulnerability exploitations. You'll migrate to hosts with robust security features, proactive monitoring, and expert security teams.
Cost optimization opportunities emerge when outgrowing current plans or discovering better value elsewhere. You're paying premium prices for features you don't utilize or finding comparable services at lower costs. You'll migrate balancing budget constraints against service quality requirements.
Audit your current WordPress installation documenting installed themes, active plugins, PHP version requirements, and custom configurations. You'll identify dependencies ensuring your new hosting environment supports all essential functionality. Create comprehensive inventories preventing post-migration surprises about incompatible features.
Analyze resource requirements including storage space, bandwidth consumption, database sizes, and email account needs. You'll select appropriate hosting plans accommodating current requirements whilst providing growth capacity. Understanding actual resource usage prevents selecting undersized plans requiring immediate subsequent upgrades.
Choose your new hosting provider carefully researching performance benchmarks, customer reviews, support quality, and WordPress-specific features. Compare hosting types including shared, VPS, managed WordPress, or cloud hosting matching your requirements and budget.
Schedule migrations during low-traffic periods minimizing visitor impact if issues arise. Weekend overnight hours typically experience minimal traffic for business websites. You'll reduce the number of visitors potentially affected by temporary accessibility problems during migration processes.
Create comprehensive backups capturing all files, databases, email accounts, and configurations before initiating migration. You'll maintain recovery options if migration encounters problems or new hosting proves unsuitable. Never begin migration without verified, tested backups.
WordPress files backup includes themes, plugins, uploads directories, and core files. Use FTP, SFTP, or hosting file managers downloading complete WordPress installations. Verify downloaded files match server copies checking file counts and total sizes.
Database export using phpMyAdmin or command-line tools creates SQL files containing all content, settings, and configurations. Export complete databases rather than selective tables preventing data omissions. Test exports by importing to local development environments confirming completeness and validity.
Email account exports preserve messages, contacts, and settings enabling seamless transition to new hosting. Download emails using IMAP protocols or webmail export functions. Document email configurations including server addresses, ports, and security settings for new host setup.
Automated migration services offered by many hosting providers handle complete transfers without manual intervention. You'll provide current hosting credentials allowing new hosts to automatically transfer files, databases, and configurations. Services like Kinsta, WP Engine, and SiteGround offer free professional migration assistance.
Manual migration provides maximum control and understanding of transfer processes. You'll personally transfer files, export/import databases, and configure settings. This approach suits technically confident users wanting complete oversight or dealing with complex custom configurations.
WordPress migration plugins like Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration, or WP Migrate DB simplify transfers through automated processes. You'll create migration packages on current hosting, upload to new servers, and execute installation scripts. Plugins handle database URL replacements and configuration updates automatically.
Professional migration services employ experts managing complex transfers for substantial fees. You'll receive guaranteed successful migration with minimal involvement. This option suits large, complex, or business-critical sites where migration mistakes risk significant financial impact.
Download your complete WordPress installation from current hosting using FTP or SFTP clients like FileZilla. Connect to your server navigating to public_html or www directories containing WordPress. Transfer all files maintaining directory structures exactly matching original layouts.
Export your WordPress database using phpMyAdmin selecting your WordPress database and choosing "Export" functionality. Use default export settings capturing complete database structures and data. Save the generated SQL file securely alongside downloaded files.
Set up your new hosting environment creating databases, configuring PHP versions, and establishing file structures. Most hosting control panels offer database creation tools and one-click WordPress installations. Configure environments matching or exceeding previous hosting specifications.
Upload WordPress files to new hosting using FTP/SFTP maintaining identical directory structures. Transfer can take significant time for large sites with extensive media libraries. Monitor transfer progress ensuring completion without errors or skipped files.
Import your database to new hosting using phpMyAdmin on new servers. Create blank databases then use Import functionality uploading SQL files. Large databases may require adjusting PHP upload limits or using command-line import methods.
Update wp-config.php file reflecting new database credentials including database name, username, password, and host details. These settings connect WordPress to your newly imported database on new servers.
Search and replace operations update all URLs throughout databases changing old domain references to new hosting URLs. Manual database editing risks errors corrupting databases. Use specialized tools ensuring accurate, complete replacements.
Better Search Replace plugin performs database-wide search and replace operations safely handling serialized data. Install the plugin on new hosting, run replacements updating old URLs to new locations. The plugin preserves data integrity preventing corruption from manual editing.
WP-CLI command-line tool offers powerful search-replace capabilities for technically proficient users. Execute commands like wp search-replace 'oldurl.com' 'newurl.com' performing comprehensive database updates. WP-CLI provides detailed output confirming replacement operations.
For staging migrations to temporary URLs before DNS changes, update WordPress Address and Site Address in wp-config.php or directly in databases. You'll test complete functionality before pointing domains to new hosting.
DNS changes redirect your domain from old hosting to new servers making your site accessible at new locations. Modify DNS records through your domain registrar's control panel updating A records, CNAME records, and MX records pointing to new hosting.
Reduce TTL (Time To Live) values several days before migration preparing for faster DNS propagation. Lower TTL allows DNS changes to propagate more quickly. Standard TTL values range from 3600 seconds (one hour) to 86400 seconds (24 hours).
DNS propagation takes 24-48 hours completing globally as DNS servers worldwide update cached records. During propagation, visitors may reach either old or new hosting depending on their DNS server update status. Maintain old hosting active during this period ensuring accessibility regardless.
Verify DNS propagation using online tools checking whether your domain resolves to new hosting IP addresses from different global locations. Tools like WhatsMyDNS show propagation status worldwide confirming when migration completes.
Thoroughly test all site functionality immediately after migration verifying pages load correctly, forms submit properly, and interactive features work. Browse your entire site systematically checking navigation, internal links, and content display across multiple browsers.
Test WordPress admin area functionality including posting content, uploading media, managing plugins, and accessing settings. Verify your admin credentials work and all dashboard functionality operates normally. Admin area problems indicate configuration issues requiring immediate attention.
Validate external integrations including payment gateways, email services, analytics tracking, and third-party APIs. Confirm services connect properly using correct credentials and new hosting configurations. Integration failures often result from IP address changes or firewall configurations.
Check email functionality sending and receiving test messages through all email accounts. Verify mail client configurations work correctly and webmail interfaces function properly. Email problems commonly arise from incorrect MX records or server authentication settings.
Review and optimize performance on new hosting implementing caching, CDN integration, and image optimization. New hosting environments may require different optimization approaches compared to previous servers. Benchmark performance using tools like GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights.
Update external services pointing to your website including payment processors, marketing platforms, and monitoring services. Confirm backup systems function correctly on new hosting. Verify SSL certificates install properly and HTTPS redirects work correctly.
Monitor site closely during the first week after migration watching for errors, performance issues, or functionality problems. Check error logs, analytics for traffic anomalies, and support tickets for user-reported issues. Rapid problem detection and resolution prevents prolonged user impact.
Database import failures often stem from file size limitations, timeout settings, or incompatible database versions. Split large databases into smaller chunks, adjust PHP settings, or use command-line imports bypassing web interface restrictions. Test database imports on staging environments before production migration.
File permission errors prevent WordPress from functioning correctly after migration. Set appropriate permissions typically 755 for directories and 644 for files. Incorrect permissions cause upload failures, plugin errors, or complete site inaccessibility.
Incomplete URL replacements leave broken links, missing images, or mixed content warnings. Thoroughly test search-replace operations verifying all old URLs update successfully. Check serialized data carefully as improper replacements corrupt serialized arrays.
Email disruption occurs when MX records update incorrectly or email configurations don't transfer properly. Document email settings completely before migration and test email functionality immediately after DNS changes take effect.
Staged migration involves building complete site copies on new hosting before DNS changes. You'll develop, test, and optimize installations on temporary URLs ensuring perfect functionality before switching DNS. This approach guarantees visitor-facing sites remain accessible throughout migration.
Parallel hosting maintains sites on both old and new servers during DNS propagation. You'll update content on both locations during the transition period ensuring consistency regardless of which server visitors reach. This duplication requires extra effort but guarantees accessibility.
Cloudflare or similar CDN services can mask migration processes proxying traffic whilst backend servers change. You'll migrate hosting transparently to visitors who continue accessing cached content. This professional approach suits business-critical sites requiring absolute reliability.
Email migration requires careful coordination preventing message loss during transitions. Download all emails from old hosting using IMAP protocols before canceling previous accounts. Import downloaded messages to new hosting ensuring complete email history preservation.
Update email client configurations including server addresses, ports, and authentication methods matching new hosting specifications. Distribute updated settings to all users ensuring everyone can access email after migration. Provide clear instructions and support during transition periods.
MX record changes redirect incoming email to new hosting servers. Update MX records simultaneously with A record changes ensuring email arrives at correct servers. Verify MX record propagation separately from website DNS changes.
Large WordPress installations with gigabytes of media files require specialized transfer approaches. Use server-to-server transfers, rsync commands, or hosting provider migration tools avoiding slow FTP transfers. Budget additional time for large file transfers completing successfully.
Complex custom coding may require developer assistance ensuring compatibility with new hosting environments. Custom plugins, theme modifications, or server-specific configurations need evaluation and potential adjustment. Allocate development time for migration testing and troubleshooting.
High-traffic sites need coordinated migration timing and load testing verifying new hosting handles traffic volumes adequately. Test new hosting under load before DNS changes ensuring performance meets requirements. Consider gradual traffic migration using DNS percentage routing if available.
How long does WordPress hosting migration typically take?
Simple WordPress sites migrate within 2-4 hours including file transfer, database export/import, and configuration updates. Complex sites with large media libraries, custom coding, or extensive content may require 8-24 hours. Professional migration services often complete transfers within 1-3 business days including testing and optimization. Plan migration timing allowing adequate completion windows without rushing processes. DNS propagation adds 24-48 hours before migration fully completes globally.
Can I migrate WordPress without technical knowledge?
Many hosting providers offer free assisted migration services handling technical aspects professionally. You'll provide current hosting credentials whilst migration teams manage transfers. WordPress migration plugins simplify processes for less technical users through automated workflows. However, understanding basic concepts helps troubleshooting if issues arise. Consider professional migration services for business-critical sites where mistakes risk significant impact. Basic technical competence improves migration success rates substantially.
Will migration affect my SEO rankings?
Properly executed migrations maintain SEO rankings without negative impact. Your content, URLs, and backlinks remain unchanged. Ensure 301 redirects work correctly, maintain URL structures, and avoid prolonged downtime. Monitor rankings after migration addressing issues quickly if ranking fluctuations occur. Google treats hosting changes as routine website maintenance when executed properly. Most sites experience no ranking changes following professional migrations.
Should I keep old hosting active after migration?
Maintain old hosting for at least 7-14 days after DNS changes ensuring complete propagation and identifying overlooked migration issues. This safety period allows reverting if serious problems emerge on new hosting. After confirming successful migration and stable operation, cancel old hosting. Some users maintain old hosting longer archiving historical data or providing additional backup security.
What if something goes wrong during migration?
Comprehensive backups enable complete restoration to original hosting if migration fails catastrophically. Contact new hosting provider support immediately when encountering problems during migration. Most providers offer free migration assistance or troubleshooting. Maintain old hosting accessible until confirming successful migration. Professional migration services typically guarantee successful transfers providing recourse if issues occur. Careful planning and testing prevent most migration problems.
How do I migrate WordPress multisite installations?
Multisite migrations involve additional complexity because multiple sites and databases require coordinated transfer. Use specialized multisite migration plugins or professional migration services familiar with network installations. Test thoroughly on staging environments before production migration. Consider migrating sites individually if network size makes complete transfer impractical. Multisite migrations benefit significantly from professional assistance given increased complexity and risk.
Can I migrate to different hosting types successfully?
Migrating between hosting types like shared to VPS or traditional to managed WordPress hosting succeeds regularly. Ensure new hosting meets WordPress requirements regarding PHP versions, database support, and server configurations. Some hosting types offer enhanced features requiring configuration adjustments. Test compatibility thoroughly on staging environments before committing to new hosting. Different hosting types may necessitate performance optimization adjustments maximizing new environment capabilities.
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Written by the migration specialists at London Web Design, with 12 years of experience successfully migrating hundreds of WordPress sites between hosting providers across London and the UK.
