Migrating Your WordPress Site to a New Server

Is It Daunting?

Is migrating a WordPress website to a new server daunting? Some would say yes, but it doesn’t have to be! It’s a smooth and easy process that doesn’t require much technical know-how if you follow the right steps. Whether you’re moving from a shared hosting provider to a VPS or a dedicated server, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to migrate your WordPress site to a new server.

Step 1: Backup Time

Creating a backup of your website files and database is the first and most important step in any migration. This will ensure that you don’t lose any data during the transfer process. You can back up your website using a backup plugin or through your hosting control panel.

To backup manually, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your website via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client like FileZilla.
2. Locate your WordPress installation directory.
3. Select all files and folders in the WordPress directory and download them to your computer.
4. Next, log in to your website’s cPanel or hosting panel.
5. Locate the backup section and create a backup of the website database.

Step 2: Move It, Move It

Once you’ve created a backup of your website, it’s time to move it to the new server. Follow these steps below to transfer files from the old server to the new server:

1. First, you need to access your new server via FTP.
2. Create a directory or folder to store your website files.
3. Next, transfer all the files you backed up earlier to the new server using FTP. You can drag all the files and folders to the new location in your FTP client.

Step 3: Migrate Your Database

Now that you’ve transferred your website files to the new server, it’s time to move your database. If you’re using phpMyAdmin, you can export your database from your old server and then import it to your new server. Here are the steps:

1. Log in to your old server’s cPanel and go to the “phpMyAdmin” section.
2. Click on “Export” and select “Quick” export method, then choose the database to export and click “Go.”
3. Save the exported file to your computer.
4. Next, log in to your new server’s cPanel.
5. Go to the “phpMyAdmin” section.
6. Click on “Import” and browse the previously exported file.
7. Click on “Go” to import the database.

Step 4: URL Update, It’s a Must

Once you’ve uploaded your website files and transferred your database, you need to update your website URL to point to the new server. This is essential if you want your website to function correctly on the new server. Here’s how to do this:

1. Access your website’s wp-config.php file using an FTP client.
2. Find the lines of code that mention the website’s URL.
3. Replace the old website URL with the new website URL you want to use.
4. Save the wp-config.php file.

Step 5: Keep Testing

Once you’ve updated your website URL, it’s time to test your site on the new server. Make sure all the pages, images, and content are loading correctly. If everything looks good, it’s time to update your DNS. This step is essential to ensure that users can access your website from the new server. To update your DNS, access your domain registrar or DNS provider’s dashboard and update the nameservers. This will point your domain name to the new server.

Step 6: Updating Permalinks

The last step is to update your permalinks. This step is essential to update any links within your posts or pages that are pointing to the old server. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to the “Settings” tab.
3. Click on “Permalinks” and select “Post name.”
4. Save your changes.

Congratulations, You’re Done!

You’ve successfully migrated your WordPress site to the new server! It may seem complicated, but if you follow these simple steps, it can be a smooth and hassle-free process. Remember to back up your website and database, transfer your files and database, update your website URL and DNS, and update your permalinks. With these steps, you’ll be up and running in no time!