How to Migrate a WordPress Site to a New Host

Moving a WordPress website to a new hosting provider does not mean rebuilding your site from scratch.

Your pages, posts, images, themes, plugins, WordPress settings and database can all be transferred to the new server. The important part is doing the migration in the right order so the existing website stays available while you prepare and test the new copy.

For most websites, there are two practical ways to migrate WordPress to a new host:

1. Use a WordPress migration plugin such as All-in-One WP Migration.
2. Manually transfer the files and database using FTP, your hosting control panel and phpMyAdmin.

This guide walks through both methods, along with DNS changes, testing and the checks you should complete before cancelling your old hosting account.

Before You Move Your WordPress Website

Do not cancel your current hosting account before beginning the migration.

Your old website should remain live while you build and test the copy on the new server. Once the migrated site has been checked, you can point the domain to the new host.

Before beginning, make sure you have access to:

• your WordPress administrator account
• your old hosting account
• your new hosting account
• your domain’s DNS settings

It is also a good idea to take an independent backup before making changes.

If your website receives orders, membership registrations, bookings, form submissions or other frequently changing information, plan the final migration carefully. Content added to the old website after your database is copied will not automatically appear in the migrated copy.

Method 1: Migrate WordPress Using All-in-One WP Migration

All-in-One WP Migration is one of the easier approaches for a straightforward WordPress-to-WordPress hosting transfer.

The plugin creates a package containing your WordPress database, media, themes, plugins and other website data, which can then be imported into a WordPress installation on the new server.

The plugin is actively maintained and available through the official WordPress plugin directory.

Step 1: Install All-in-One WP Migration on Your Current Website

Log in to your existing WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins → Add New.

Search for All-in-One WP Migration, then install and activate the plugin.

Step 2: Export Your Existing WordPress Website

From the WordPress dashboard, go to All-in-One WP Migration → Export.

Choose Export To → File. The plugin will prepare a .wpress backup containing the website data.

Once the export is complete, download the file to your computer and keep it somewhere safe.

Do not delete anything from the existing hosting account yet.

Step 3: Install WordPress on the New Hosting Account

Set up WordPress on your new hosting account. Many cPanel and managed WordPress hosts provide a one-click WordPress installer.

At this stage, the new WordPress installation does not need your site’s design or content. It only provides the destination where you will import the existing website.

Log in to the new WordPress dashboard when the installation is complete.

Step 4: Install All-in-One WP Migration on the New Website

On the new WordPress installation, go to Plugins → Add New and install and activate All-in-One WP Migration again.

You now have the plugin installed on both the old and new environments.

Step 5: Import Your WordPress Website

On the new website, go to All-in-One WP Migration → Import.

Choose the exported .wpress file and begin the import.

The import replaces the temporary WordPress installation with the website you exported from the previous server.

After the migration finishes, you may be logged out because the destination site’s WordPress database has been replaced. Log back in using the WordPress username and password from your original website.

Step 6: Save the Permalink Settings

Once you are logged into the migrated website, go to Settings → Permalinks.

Click Save Changes without changing the permalink structure.

This refreshes WordPress rewrite rules and can resolve 404 errors that sometimes appear after a migration.

What If the All-in-One WP Migration Import Is Too Large?

You may encounter an upload or import limit when moving a larger website.

Do not assume that every installation of the plugin has the same fixed file-size limit. The amount you can upload may depend on the PHP configuration and resource limits set by the destination hosting provider. Check the maximum upload size shown by WordPress and your hosting control panel.

If the backup is too large to upload normally, you have several options:

• remove unnecessary cache files and old backup archives before generating your export
• ask your new hosting provider whether the PHP upload limit can be increased
• use another migration method
• perform the migration manually (Method 2 below)

Large WordPress installations, WooCommerce stores and websites with large media libraries can require additional planning because of their database size, files and server resource requirements.

Method 2: Manually Migrate WordPress to a New Host

A manual WordPress migration gives you more control and is useful when a migration plugin cannot complete the transfer.

The process involves moving the WordPress files and database separately.

Step 1: Back Up the Existing Website

Download a complete copy of your WordPress files and export the database before making changes.

Keep this backup separate from the working migration copy. It gives you a recovery point if something goes wrong during the move.

Step 2: Download the WordPress Files

Connect to your current hosting account through FTP, SFTP or its file manager, and download the WordPress installation.

This normally includes folders such as:

• wp-admin
• wp-content
• wp-includes

as well as files such as wp-config.php, .htaccess and the other WordPress files located in the site’s document root.

Step 3: Export the WordPress Database

Open phpMyAdmin from your existing hosting control panel.

Select the database used by the WordPress website and export it as an SQL file. Keep the database export together with your website-file backup.

Step 4: Create a Database on the New Host

In your new hosting control panel, create a new MySQL or MariaDB database.

Create a database user and assign that user the necessary privileges for the database.

Keep the database name, username, password and database host available because WordPress will need them.

Step 5: Upload the Website Files

Upload the WordPress files to the correct document root on the new server.

On many cPanel hosting accounts this will be public_html, although the directory can differ depending on how the hosting account is configured.

Step 6: Import the Database

Open phpMyAdmin on the new server. Select the new database and import the SQL file you exported from your old host.

Once the import finishes, your WordPress database has been copied to the new server.

Step 7: Update wp-config.php

Open wp-config.php on the new server and confirm that the database settings match the newly created database.

Check the database name, database username, database password and database host.

Incorrect database credentials will normally result in WordPress displaying an error establishing a database connection.

Test the Migrated Site Before Changing DNS

One of the most important parts of a WordPress hosting migration happens before the domain is pointed to the new server.

Test the new copy first.

Depending on the hosting provider, you may be able to use a temporary URL, staging domain or local hosts-file entry to view the new server while normal visitors continue reaching the existing website.

Open several important pages and test the functions that matter to your website. Pay particular attention to:

• navigation and images
• contact forms
• WordPress login
• plugins
• SSL
• ecommerce checkout and user accounts
• any integrations connected to the site

Only move the domain after the new installation is working correctly.

Point Your Domain to the New Hosting Provider

Once the migrated website has been tested, update the DNS records that direct your domain to the hosting server.

Depending on your setup, this may involve changing the domain’s nameservers or updating the A record to the IP address of the new server.

If possible, lower the DNS TTL before the migration. A lower TTL can help DNS resolvers refresh the changed record more quickly when you make the final switch.

DNS changes do not appear everywhere at exactly the same time, so keep the old hosting account active during the transition.

Do not cancel the old server immediately after changing DNS.

What to Check After Moving WordPress to the New Host

After the domain resolves to the new hosting account, test the website again from the public domain.

• Verify that HTTPS works correctly and that there are no SSL or mixed-content warnings.
• Check important pages, images, navigation, login functionality and plugins.
• Submit your contact forms and make sure the messages arrive where expected.
• For WooCommerce or membership websites, test the critical customer journey rather than checking only the homepage.
• Review your website for broken URLs or 404 errors.

If the domain name itself did not change, your existing page URLs should generally remain the same. If the migration also includes a domain change or substantial URL changes, redirects and additional SEO migration work will be required.

Can Moving a WordPress Site Affect SEO?

Simply changing hosting providers does not require changing your WordPress URLs.

When the domain and URL structure remain the same, the primary objective is to ensure Google and visitors see the same website after the server change.

Problems can occur if pages disappear, redirects are changed, the new site blocks search engines, HTTPS stops working, internal links break or the new server performs poorly.

Before finishing the migration, confirm that your robots settings, canonical URLs, XML sitemap and important redirects remain correct.

If you’re also changing the domain name, treat that as a separate SEO migration because it requires redirecting the old URLs to the corresponding new URLs.

When Should You Hire Someone to Migrate the Website?

A simple brochure website can often be transferred using a migration plugin without much difficulty.

Professional help becomes more useful when:

• the website is large
• the import repeatedly fails
• the old and new servers are configured differently
• you are moving WooCommerce
• there are custom plugins or integrations
• DNS is complicated
• the website cannot tolerate an extended interruption

It can also make sense to outsource the transfer simply because the potential cost of a broken business website is much higher than the cost of having the migration handled for you.

WordPress Hosting Migration Service from Hike Branding

If you’ve already selected a new hosting company, Hike Branding can help move your existing WordPress website there.

We can handle the WordPress files and database transfer, new-server setup required for the migration, DNS cutover assistance, SSL verification and post-migration website testing.

Before starting, we review your website and hosting environments so we can determine the appropriate migration method and scope.

Large websites, WooCommerce stores, multisite installations, domain changes, email migrations and websites with custom server requirements may require additional work, so these are reviewed separately before the migration begins.

To request a migration, send us:

• Your current website URL
• Your current hosting provider
• The hosting provider you are moving to
• Whether the domain is staying the same
• Any special functionality such as WooCommerce, memberships or custom integrations

Get a WordPress Migration Quote →

You do not need to send hosting passwords with your initial inquiry. We can first review the website and confirm what access is required.

Need New Hosting Too?

If you are moving because you also need a new host, compare low-cost WordPress hosting providers, or consider that Hike Branding offers a simple shared hosting plan for smaller websites.

The plan is $10 per month, billed annually ($120/year), and includes 1 GB storage, cPanel access, SSL and a US-based server. Domain registration is not included.

This plan is intended for small websites rather than large ecommerce stores, applications or storage-heavy websites. See how it compares with other options in our guide to cheap web hosting in the USA.

Ask About $10/Month Hosting →

If you’re unsure whether 1 GB is sufficient, send us your existing website URL and we can determine whether the small-site hosting plan is appropriate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I migrate a WordPress site to a new host?

The easiest approach for many websites is to create a complete backup using a WordPress migration plugin, install WordPress on the new hosting account, import the website there, test the migrated copy and then update the domain’s DNS records. You can also migrate manually by transferring the WordPress files and database separately.

Can I transfer a WordPress website without changing the domain?

Yes. Changing web hosting does not require changing your domain. You can keep the same domain and point it to the new hosting server after the migration is complete.

Can I move WordPress to another host without downtime?

You can substantially reduce or avoid visible interruption by preparing and testing the website on the new server before changing DNS. Keep the existing hosting account running during the DNS transition rather than cancelling it first.

Can I migrate WordPress for free?

A straightforward migration can often be completed yourself using a migration plugin or through a manual file-and-database transfer. Your hosting environment, website size and migration complexity can affect which approach is practical.

Does All-in-One WP Migration have a 512 MB limit?

You should not assume a universal 512 MB limit. The effective upload/import size can depend on the destination hosting environment and its PHP/server configuration. Check the limit shown on your own hosting account before beginning a large migration.

How long does a WordPress hosting migration take?

It depends on the size and complexity of the website, transfer speed, server configuration and whether the site contains frequently changing data such as ecommerce orders. The technical file transfer may finish relatively quickly for a small site, while testing and DNS changes can extend the overall process.

Should I cancel my old hosting before moving WordPress?

No. Keep the existing hosting account active until your website has been transferred, tested and the domain is successfully resolving to the new server. Maintaining the old hosting temporarily also gives you a fallback if a problem is discovered after the cutover.

Will changing hosting affect my WordPress URLs?

Not if you keep the same domain and permalink structure. Moving the website to another server does not inherently require changing page URLs.

Can Hike Branding transfer my WordPress site to another hosting company?

Yes. Hike Branding can handle WordPress hosting migrations even if the destination is a third-party hosting provider. Contact us with your website URL, current host and destination host so we can review the migration.

Can Hike Branding move my website and host it too?

Yes. For suitable small websites, Hike Branding also offers shared hosting for $10/month, billed annually ($120/year), with cPanel, SSL, 1 GB of storage and a US-based server. Domain registration is separate.