If you’re changing web hosts, moving your WordPress site can be easy with the All-in-One WP Migration plugin. This tool helps you transfer your entire website – including all its files, settings, and databases – with just a few clicks. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Why Use All-in-One WP Migration?
This plugin is a popular choice because:
- It’s easy to use: Just export your website from the old host and import it into the new one.
- It backs up everything: This includes your site’s files, database, themes, plugins, and settings.
Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin on Your Old Site
First, you’ll install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on the website you want to move.
1. Log into your WordPress dashboard on your current hosting account.Log into your WordPress dashboard on your current hosting account.
2. Go to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for All-in-One WP Migration in the search bar.
4. Install and activate the plugin.
Step 2: Export Your Website
Once the plugin is installed, you can export your website data.
1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to All-in-One WP Migration > Export.
2. Click Export To and select File as the export option.
3. The plugin will create a backup file of your entire website, including files, themes, plugins, and database.
4. Once the export is complete, download the file to your computer and save it somewhere safe.
Step 3: Set Up WordPress on Your New Host
Now, you’ll set up WordPress on your new hosting account.
1. Log in to your new hosting provider and install WordPress. Most hosts have a simple “One-Click WordPress Install” option.
2. After installing WordPress, log in to your new WordPress dashboard.
Step 4: Install All-in-One WP Migration on the New Site
To import your website, you need to install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on the new WordPress site as well.
1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your new WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for All-in-One WP Migration.
3. Install and activate the plugin.
Step 5: Import Your Website
With the plugin now on your new site, it’s time to import your website backup.
1. In your new WordPress dashboard, go to All-in-One WP Migration > Import.
2. Click Import From and select File.
3. Choose the file you downloaded in Step 2, and let the plugin upload and import your website data. This may take a few minutes.
After the import is done, the plugin might log you out of WordPress. When this happens, just log back in with the same username and password you used on your old site.
Hitting the 512MB Import Limit?
One of the most common issues users encounter with the free version of All-in-One WP Migration is the import file size limit. If your website backup exceeds 512MB, the plugin may prevent you from importing it. Fortunately, there are several ways to work around this limitation.
Option 1: Reduce the Backup Size
If your website is only slightly over the limit, create a smaller backup by excluding unnecessary files such as cache folders, backup archives, log files, or unused themes and plugins. This is the quickest solution for websites that don’t require every file to be migrated.
Best for: Small websites that only exceed the limit by a small amount.
Option 2: Import the Backup via FTP
For larger websites, upload the backup file directly to your hosting account using an FTP client such as FileZilla. Once the file is uploaded to the plugin’s backup directory on the new server, you can restore it from within the All-in-One WP Migration plugin without relying on the browser upload limit.
Best for: Medium to large websites with access to FTP or a hosting file manager.
Option 3: Use an Alternative Migration Plugin
If your website is significantly larger than the import limit, consider using free alternatives such as Duplicator or UpdraftPlus. These plugins provide different migration methods and can be a better choice for larger websites or more complex WordPress installations.
Best for: Large websites or users who frequently migrate WordPress sites.
Method 2: Manual WordPress Migration (FTP + phpMyAdmin)
If you prefer not to use a migration plugin, you can move your WordPress website manually. Although it takes more time, this method gives you complete control over the migration process and works with virtually any hosting provider.
Step 1: Export the Database
Log in to your current hosting account and open phpMyAdmin. Select your WordPress database, click the Export tab, choose the Quick export method, and download the SQL file to your computer.
Step 2: Download Your Website Files
Connect to your hosting account using an FTP client like FileZilla. Download your entire WordPress installation, including the wp-content, wp-admin, and wp-includes folders, along with all files in the root directory.
Step 3: Upload Files to the New Host
Connect to your new hosting account via FTP and upload all of your WordPress files to the appropriate public directory, usually public_html.
Step 4: Create a New Database
From your new hosting control panel, create a new MySQL database and database user. Assign the user to the database and grant all privileges.
Step 5: Import the Database
Open phpMyAdmin on the new host, select the newly created database, click Import, choose the SQL file you exported earlier, and start the import.
Step 6: Update wp-config.php
Edit the wp-config.php file and replace the following values with your new database credentials:
- Database Name
- Database User
- Database Password
- Database Host
Save the file and upload it if necessary.
Step 7: Search and Replace URLs
If your domain name has changed, update all old URLs in the database. You can use plugins such as Better Search Replace or WP-CLI to safely replace old domain URLs with the new ones.
Once completed, visit your website to verify that everything loads correctly.
Pointing Your Domain (DNS) Without Downtime
After your website has been migrated, you’ll need to point your domain to the new hosting provider. Doing this correctly helps minimize downtime and ensures visitors continue accessing your website without interruption.
Step 1: Lower the TTL
Before making any DNS changes, lower your DNS Time to Live (TTL) value to around 300 seconds at least 24 hours before the migration. This allows DNS changes to propagate much faster.
Step 2: Complete the Website Migration
Move all website files and the database to the new hosting account before changing any DNS settings. Test the new installation to confirm everything is working correctly.
Step 3: Update DNS Settings
Depending on your hosting provider, either:
- Update your domain’s A Record to point to the new server’s IP address, or
- Change your domain’s Nameservers to those provided by your new hosting company.
DNS propagation typically takes anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours.
Step 4: Test Before Going Live
Before the DNS changes fully propagate, modify your computer’s hosts file to point your domain to the new server. This allows you to test the migrated website privately without affecting visitors.
Check:
- Homepage
- Internal pages
- Images
- Contact forms
- Login page
- SSL certificate
Only after confirming everything works should you wait for DNS propagation to complete.
Post-Migration Checklist
Once your WordPress website is live on the new host, perform these final checks to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
Flush Permalinks
Go to Settings → Permalinks in the WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes without modifying anything. This refreshes your permalink structure and resolves many 404 errors.
Verify SSL
Ensure your SSL certificate has been installed correctly. Visit your website using HTTPS and check for security warnings or mixed-content errors.
Test Contact Forms and Email
Submit a test message through every contact form and confirm that emails are being delivered successfully. Also verify any transactional emails generated by plugins or WooCommerce.
Check Website Functionality
Browse your website thoroughly and confirm that:
- Pages load correctly.
- Images display properly.
- Navigation menus work.
- Plugins function as expected.
- User logins work correctly.
Reconnect Google Search Console
If necessary, verify your website in Google Search Console and submit an updated XML sitemap. This helps Google crawl your website after the migration.
Monitor for 404 Errors
Use Google Search Console and your hosting logs to identify broken links or missing pages. Fix any 404 errors promptly to preserve your search engine rankings and provide a better user experience.
Monitor Website Performance
Over the next few days, monitor your website’s speed, uptime, and error logs to ensure the new hosting environment is performing as expected. Address any issues early to prevent disruptions for your visitors.
Need Help Moving Your WordPress Website?
We migrate WordPress sites of all sizes with minimal disruption. Whether you’re switching hosting providers or upgrading your server, our team handles the entire migration process, ensuring zero downtime, secure data transfer, and a fixed, transparent price.
FAQ
Yes — All-in-One WP Migration (free up to 512MB import), Duplicator, or a manual FTP + database migration all cost nothing. This guide covers all three.
