How to Move WordPress Site to New Host or Server

Do you want to transfer your website to another host? That’s good! But the biggest problem, if you do not migrate it properly, it can hurt your site SEO.

Furthermore, when you move the website from one server (host) to another, there may be data loss and downtime.

As a result, it will reduce your site ranking!

But do not worry, In this guide I’ll show you how to move WordPress to a new host or server without downtime.

Why Move WordPress Site to New Host

There may be several reasons to change web hosting from one server to another! But the biggest reason, If your website is very slow after optimizing WordPress speed, then you need to migrate your website from one server to another that can handle your growing traffic.

Here I’ve listed best WordPress web hosting that you can use.

Now let’s get started how to move WordPress site to a new host…

How to Move Your Website to Another Web Host

There are several ways to change web hosting but here I will tell you about two ways – With a plugin and without plugin.

First we will move the content to the new host. After this, we’ll change domain nameserver.

Method 1: Transfer Website to Another Host Using Plugin

Step 1: Install Plugin on Your Site

I will use the UpdraftPlus backup plugin. Install it on your old host. Then make a complete backup of your site and restore backup file to the new host.

Here’s the step-by-step guide how to do?

After installing the plugin, click on Settings >> UpdraftPlus Backup >> Settings and click on Google Drive.

How to Move WordPress to a New Host or Server

Now scroll down and click on Authenticate with Google.

Next step, sign to your Gmail account in which you want to take a backup. Now, UpdraftPlus will access your Google account, so click on the Allow button.

Again a new page will open. Click on Complete setup.

When you back up your WordPress site, you can send the backup file in the remote storage with one click.

Go to the Current Status tab and click on the Backup Now button.

Your backup will now start. Now we have a backup file, let us restore it on the new host.

Step 2: How to Restore Backup on New Host

Install WordPress on your new web hosting. Then install and activate the UpdraftPlus plugin. And authenticate with your Gmail (old host Gmail that you authenticated in the previous step).

After that click on Settings >> UpdraftPlus Backup >> Existing Backup and click refresh. Then click the Restore button.

A new popup will open. Select all checkboxes and hit on the Restore button.

Now, the restore process will start on. Congratulation! You have migrated your website from one server to another.

Method 2: Transfer Website to Another Host Without Plugin

This method is also very easy. You just have to import your content to the new host.

Step 1: Export Your File from Old Host

In your old host, click Tools >> Export and select All content. Then hit on the Download Export file.

Once you’ve saved the download file, you can use the Import function in your new host to import this content.

Step 2: Upload Old Host File to New host

Now, install WordPress on your new web hosting. Then click on Tool >> Import option. Here, click on Install Now that appears below the WordPress option. Then click Run Importer.

In the next step, choose your file to upload, then click Upload file and import button.

After the file is imported, it will ask you whether you want to create a new user for the post or import the content along with the existing user. It depends on you what you want to do.

You have successfully imported your content from old host to new.

When you are visiting your site and your images are break, upload your old host “upload” folder in the new host.

Go to the Root folder (public_html) >> WP-Content and Compress uploads folder. Then download it to your computer.

Now log in to your new host’s cPanel. Navigate to the root folder (public_html) >> WP-content and upload the “compressed uploads” folder in the same directory and then extract it.

If you ask for permission to overwrite, simply click on OK. This step will fix your image breaking problem.

Step 3: How to Backup and Restore WordPress Database

I would recommend the updraftPlus backup plugin to backup and restore the WordPress database. Reason, with its help a beginner can also easily backup and restore the site’s database.

Just click on Settings >> updraftPlus and click the Backup Now button.

A new popup will open, you need to check the first box “Include your database in the backup (…)“. Then click on the Backup Now button.

This will start backing up your database. Click on your database and download in your computer.

Note: Don’t rename your database file. Otherwise it will not work.

Now log in to your new host and install and activate the updraftPlus backup plugin.

Once activated, click on Settings >> updraftPlus. In this page click on Upload backup files and upload your database file that you downloaded in the previous step.

After uploading the file, click on Restore.

A new popup will open, in this page check Database box and click on the Restore button.

This will start restoring the database to your new host. Again click on Restore button.

That’s it! You have successfully restored the database on your new web hosting.

Update Your Domain Name Servers (DNS)

Now, you’ve migrated your WordPress database and files on your new hosting server, but your domain still points to your old web hosting account.

To point your website to new hosting, you need to switch your DNS nameservers. If you are using a domain registrar like GoDaddy, then you need to update your nameservers by going to domain management section.

After changing your nameserver, it can take 4 – 48 hours to propagate for all users.

Since your old host and new host have similar content. So your WordPress migration will be without downtime.

How to fix Mixed Content Error after moving from HTTP to HTTPS

After installing SSL, there may be Mixed Content Error on your site. To fix this error, you need need to edit all the URLs in your database that are still on HTTP.

You can use the Better Search Replace plugin for this. After installing and activating the plugin, click Tools >> Better Search Replace.

In the ‘Search for’ box enter your website URL with HTTP and in the ‘Replace with’ box enter your website URL with HTTPS. Then select all your database tables and click the Run Search/Replace button.

How to Move WordPress Site to New Host or Server

This plugin will replace all your HTTP URLs with HTTPS.

Note: Run as dry run? option Keep unchecked.

More resources:

Hope this article helped to move your WordPress site to a new host

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