Transferring Your WordPress Site to a New Host

Are you planning to transfer your WordPress site to a new host, but feeling overwhelmed by the process? Fear not, with a few simple steps, we’ll show you how to migrate your site to a new hosting provider effortlessly without losing any valuable data or facing any technical complications.

Preparation

• Access to your existing hosting account
• Access to your new hosting account
• Access to your WordPress dashboard
• FTP client such as FileZilla or Cyberduck

Steps

1. Choose Your New Hosting Provider Carefully

To begin the transfer process, choose a reliable hosting provider that can offer you fast, secure hosting with excellent customer support. Read reviews and compare prices to find the best option for your needs. Check if the new hosting provider can provide essential features like PHP and MySQL support to operate WordPress.

2. Backup Your Site and Database

Backing up is crucial to ensure that no data is lost during the transfer process. You can use a WordPress plugin like UpdraftPlus to create a complete backup of your website, including all files, themes, plugins, and your database. Alternatively, use your hosting provider’s backup tool to create a full backup of your site.

3. Upload Your Files to the New Hosting Provider

Now that you have the backup file, upload it to your new hosting provider’s cPanel account. Find the file manager, navigate to the directory where you want to upload the backup file, click on “upload” and choose the backup file from your computer.

4. Create a New Database

Create a new database on your new hosting provider to transfer your WordPress site. Log in to your new hosting account, navigate to the cPanel, and under the “MySQL database” section, create a new database by entering a name, a username, and a strong password. Make sure to note these details as you’ll need them further.

5. Import the Database

Log in to your old hosting account, find the phpMyAdmin tool, select the database you want to move, and click on the “export” tab to export the database and save it to your computer. Log in to your new hosting account, find the phpMyAdmin tool, select the new database created earlier, and click on the “import” tab. Browse for the database file on your computer and click “Go.” The imported database is now available on your new hosting account.

6. Update the wp-config.php File

Navigate to the wp-config.php file in your new hosting account’s file manager, right-click on the file, and select “edit.” Update the following lines with your new database credentials:

define('DB_NAME', 'newdatabase');
define('DB_USER', 'newusername');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'newpassword');

7. Test Your Website

Visit your site on your new hosting account, ensure everything is working correctly, including images, links, and functionality. Test your website again and troubleshoot any arising issues.

8. Change Your Domain Name Server (DNS)

Login to your domain registrar account, navigate to the domain that needs to be transferred, and change the nameservers to the ones provided by your new hosting provider.

9. Update Your Permalinks

Finally, update your permalinks by navigating to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard, select your preferred permalink structure, and click on “Save Changes.” The permalinks update ensures that your website links remain the same after migrating to a new host.

Conclusion

By following these steps, migrating your WordPress site to a new host can be accomplished easily and successfully without losing any data. Remember to back up your site, choose a hosting provider carefully, upload files to your new host, test your website, and update your DNS and permalinks. With these steps, your website will be up and running on your new hosting account smoothly and with minimal technical issues.