Taking your WordPress site to a new host or domain?
Moving your website can improve its speed, security, and online visibility. But it’s important to ensure the process goes smoothly to prevent any issues.
Our comprehensive WordPress Migration Checklist is designed to help you achieve a flawless migration. From preserving your data to maintaining your site’s functionality, this checklist covers everything you need.
What is WordPress Migration Anyway?
WordPress migration is the process of moving your WordPress website from one place to another. This can mean switching to a new web hosting provider, changing your website’s domain, or moving your site to a new server. It involves transferring all your site’s files, data, and settings to ensure everything works properly in the new location.
Let’s dive into the 10 essential steps for a smooth WordPress migration!
WordPress Migration Checklist: 10 Steps to Follow
Step 1: Plan Your Migration
A strategic plan helps you anticipate challenges and ensures you have everything you need for a smooth transition.
Assess Your Current Website
Before you start the migration process, take a good look at your current website. This includes:
- Content: Ensure all your posts, pages, images, and other media files are accounted for.
- Plugins and Themes: List all the plugins and themes you’re using. Check for any that might be outdated or incompatible with your new host.
- Performance: Note your current site’s performance metrics. This will help you compare and assure the new setup is performing as expected.
Decide on the Migration Method
There are two main ways to migrate your WordPress site: manually or using a plugin. Each has its pros and cons.
- Manual Migration
- Pros: Greater control over the process, no dependency on third-party tools.
- Cons: Time-consuming, requires technical knowledge, higher risk of error.
- Ideal for: Tech-savvy users who want complete control over their migration.
- Using a Plugin
- Pros: Easier and faster, less technical knowledge required, and many plugins offer automated features.
- Cons: May have compatibility issues, and can be less customizable.
- Ideal for: Users who prefer a straightforward, hassle-free migration process.
Step 2: Backup Your Current Website
Before you start your website migration process, ensuring you have a complete backup of your current site is absolutely essential.
Why?
In case things go South during the migration process, a full backup will allow you to restore your website to its previous state with minimal downtime and data loss.
Tools and Methods for Backing Up
There are several tools and methods you can use to back up your WordPress site. Here are a few popular options:
- Backup Plugins
Backup plugins are user-friendly tools that can automate the backup process. Some of the most recommended plugins include:
- UpdraftPlus: This plugin is widely used for its simplicity and reliability. It allows you to back up your entire site, including your database, plugins, themes, and uploads, directly to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.
- BackupBuddy: Known for its comprehensive features, BackupBuddy not only helps in creating full backups but also facilitates easy restoration and migration of your website.
- VaultPress: Developed by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, VaultPress offers real-time backups and security scanning, ensuring your site is always protected.
- Hosting Provider Services
Many web hosting providers offer backup services as part of their hosting packages. These services often include:
- Automatic Backups: Hosting providers like SiteGround, Bluehost, and HostGator offer automatic daily backups. This ensures you have regular backups without needing to remember to do it manually.
- One-Click Restore: In case of any issues, these services usually provide a one-click restore option, making it easy to revert to a previous state.
- Managed WordPress Hosting: Companies like WP Engine and Kinsta offer managed WordPress hosting that includes daily backups as part of their service. These backups are stored off-site and can be restored quickly if needed.
- Manual Backups
For those who prefer more control over their backup process, manual backups are an option. This method involves:
- Downloading Website Files: Use an FTP client like FileZilla to download all your website files from your web server to your local computer.
- Exporting Database: Access your database via phpMyAdmin and export it as an SQL file. This step ensures you have a copy of all your site’s content, settings, and user data.
- Storing Backup Copies: It’s advisable to store your backup copies in multiple locations, such as an external hard drive and a cloud storage service, to ensure redundancy.
Step 3: Choose the Right Hosting Provider
Choosing the right hosting provider is another important element for your website’s performance, security, and scalability. Here are some key criteria to consider:
- Performance and Speed
- Look for providers that offer fast loading times and reliable uptime.
- Consider the server locations and whether they offer Content Delivery Network (CDN) integration to boost speed globally.
- Security Features
- Ensure the host provides robust security measures such as SSL certificates, firewalls, malware scanning, and automatic backups.
- Check if they offer regular updates and patches to keep your site secure.
- Customer Support
- Opt for a provider with 24/7 customer support via multiple channels like chat, phone, and email.
- Check customer reviews to gauge the quality of their support services.
- Scalability
- Choose a host that can grow with your website. Look for scalable plans and easy upgrades.
- Make sure they offer solutions for increased traffic and additional resources as needed.
- Pricing
- Compare pricing plans and what they include. Some hosts offer introductory rates that increase after the initial period.
- Consider the value provided in terms of features, performance, and support, rather than just the cheapest option.
- Ease of Use
- Look for a hosting provider with an intuitive control panel (like cPanel) and easy-to-use management tools.
- Ensure they offer one-click installations for WordPress and other necessary applications.
- Additional Features
- Some providers offer extra features such as free domain registration, email hosting, and marketing tools.
- Assess whether these additional features align with your needs.
Step 4: Set Up the New Hosting Environment
Here’s how to get your new server ready:
Set Up the New Hosting
- Access Your Hosting Account
- Log in to your new hosting provider’s control panel. This is often referred to as cPanel, Plesk, or a custom dashboard depending on the host.
- Add Your Domain
- Navigate to the domain management section and add your domain name. This links your domain to the new hosting account.
- If you’re changing domain names, add the new domain instead.
- Set Up DNS
- Update your DNS settings to point to the new server. This typically involves changing the nameservers at your domain registrar to those provided by your new host.
- Propagation may take up to 48 hours, so plan accordingly.
- Create a Database
- In the control panel, find the database management tool (like phpMyAdmin).
- Create a new database and database user, and make sure to note down the database name, username, and password. You’ll need these later.
Installing WordPress on the New Host
With your server prepared, the next step is to install WordPress. Here’s how to do it:
- Use One-Click Installers
- Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installations via the control panel.
- Look for options like “WordPress Installer” or “Softaculous Apps Installer.”
- Manual Installation
- Go to the official WordPress website (wordpress.org) and download the latest version.
- Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to upload the WordPress files to your new server’s root directory (usually public_html).
- Rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php and open it in a text editor. Enter the database name, username, and password you created earlier.
- In your web browser, navigate to your domain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com). This will launch the WordPress installation script. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
- Check Installation
- Once installed, log in to your new WordPress site’s admin dashboard to ensure everything is working correctly.
- Confirm that the default WordPress theme is active and that you can access the site without issues.
Step 5: Export Your WordPress Site
To migrate your WordPress site smoothly, you need to start by exporting your database.
Exporting Database
- Access phpMyAdmin
- Log in to your current hosting provider’s control panel.
- Locate and open the phpMyAdmin tool.
- Select Your Database
- In phpMyAdmin, you’ll see a list of databases on the left side.
- Click on the database associated with your WordPress site.
- Export the Database
- Once you’ve selected your database, go to the “Export” tab at the top.
- Choose the “Quick” export method for ease, ensuring the format is set to SQL.
- Click “Go” to download the SQL file to your computer.
Exporting Files and Content
Next, you’ll need to export all the files and content from your WordPress site. Here’s how you can do it:
- Use an FTP Client
- If you don’t already have an FTP client, download and install one like FileZilla.
- Open the FTP client and connect to your current host using your FTP credentials.
- Navigate to Your WordPress Directory
- In the FTP client, find the directory where your WordPress files are stored. This is typically the root directory, named “public_html” or something similar.
- Download All Files
- Select all the files and folders within your WordPress directory.
- Right-click and choose “Download” to save them to a folder on your computer.
Exporting Media and Other Content
Ensure you have a complete backup of all your content, including media files and custom content:
- Media Library
- Your media files (images, videos, etc.) are located in the “wp-content/uploads” directory. Make sure this directory is included in your FTP download.
- Export Content via WordPress Dashboard
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Tools > Export.
- Choose “All Content” to download an XML file containing your posts, pages, comments, custom fields, terms, navigation menus, and custom posts.
- Click “Download Export File” to save the XML file to your computer.
Step 6: Import Your Site to the New Host
Now that you have exported your database, it’s time to import it into your new hosting environment. Follow these steps to get started:
Import Your Site
- Access phpMyAdmin on the New Host
- Log in to your new hosting provider’s control panel.
- Open the phpMyAdmin tool.
- Select Your New Database
- Click on the database you created earlier for your WordPress site.
- Import the SQL File
- Go to the “Import” tab at the top.
- Click “Choose File” and select the SQL file you exported from your old host.
- Ensure the format is set to SQL and click “Go” to start the import process.
- Verify the Import
- Once the import is complete, you should see a success message.
- Check the database tables to ensure everything has been imported correctly.
Transferring Files via FTP
Next, you need to transfer your WordPress files to the new hosting environment. Here’s how you can do it:
- Connect to Your New Host via FTP
- Open your FTP client (e.g., FileZilla).
- Connect to your new hosting account using the FTP credentials provided by your new host.
- Navigate to the WordPress Directory
- In the FTP client, navigate to the root directory of your new host, usually named “public_html” or similar.
- Upload Your Files
- On your local machine, locate the folder where you saved your WordPress files from the old host.
- Select all the files and folders.
- Drag and drop them into the root directory on the new host’s server.
- Ensure All Files Are Transferred
- Verify that all files and directories have been successfully uploaded.
- Double-check the “wp-content/uploads” directory to ensure your media files are intact.
- Update wp-config.php
- If necessary, update the wp-config.php file with the new database details, such as database name, username, and password.
- Use your FTP client to access and edit the wp-config.php file on the new host.
Step 7: Update DNS Settings
DNS (Domain Name System) settings help you direct internet traffic to your website. Think of DNS as the internet’s phone book, translating domain names (like www.yourwebsite.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. When you move your website to a new host, you need to update your DNS settings to point to the new server’s IP address. This ensures that visitors are directed to your new hosting environment when they enter your domain name.
How to Update DNS Settings with Your Domain Registrar
Updating your DNS settings involves a few steps, typically done through your domain registrar’s control panel. Here’s how to do it:
- Log In to Your Domain Registrar
- Visit the website of your domain registrar (the service where you registered your domain name).
- Log in to your account using your username and password.
- Access DNS Management
- Navigate to the section where you can manage your domain’s DNS settings. This is often labeled as “DNS Management,” “DNS Settings,” “Manage Domain,” or similar.
- Find Nameserver Settings
- Look for the nameserver settings. Nameservers are the part of the DNS that holds the actual DNS records. These settings are usually labeled “Nameservers,” “DNS Records,” or “NS Records.”
- Update Nameservers
- Replace the current nameservers with those provided by your new hosting provider. Typically, your hosting provider will give you a set of nameservers, such as:
- ns1.newhost.com
- ns2.newhost.com
- Enter these new nameservers in the appropriate fields.
- Replace the current nameservers with those provided by your new hosting provider. Typically, your hosting provider will give you a set of nameservers, such as:
- Save Changes
- After updating the nameservers, save your changes. This might be a “Save,” “Update,” or “Apply Changes” button, depending on your registrar.
- Wait for DNS Propagation
- DNS changes can take some time to propagate across the internet. This process, known as DNS propagation, can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours. During this time, your website may be intermittently accessible on either the old or new server.
Example: Updating DNS Settings on Popular Registrars
- GoDaddy:
- Log in to your GoDaddy account.
- Navigate to “My Products” and select your domain.
- Click on “DNS” or “Manage DNS.”
- Under “Nameservers,” click “Change.”
- Enter the new nameservers provided by your hosting provider and save changes.
- Namecheap:
- Log in to your Namecheap account.
- Go to “Domain List” and click “Manage” next to your domain.
- Select the “Advanced DNS” tab.
- Under “Nameservers,” select “Custom DNS” and enter the new nameservers.
- Save your changes.
- Bluehost:
- Log in to your Bluehost account.
- Go to “Domains” and select your domain.
- Click on the “Name Servers” tab.
- Choose “Use Custom Name Servers” and enter the new nameservers.
- Save changes.
Step 8: Test Your Migrated Site
After migrating your WordPress site to the new host, it’s now time to thoroughly test everything to ensure it’s working as expected. This step will help you identify and fix any issues, such as broken links or missing images, that might have occurred during the migration.
- Manual Browsing
- Visit your site and navigate through various pages, posts, and categories.
- Check for missing images, broken links, and formatting issues.
- Verify that all menus and navigation elements work correctly.
- Functional Testing
- Test all forms (contact forms, subscription forms, etc.) to ensure they are working and submissions are being received.
- Verify that search functionality works properly.
- If you have an eCommerce site, test the checkout process, product pages, and cart functionality.
- Media Files
- Go through your media library to ensure all images, videos, and other media files are present and load correctly on the front end.
- Check image galleries and sliders for proper functionality.
- Plugins and Themes
- Ensure that all installed plugins are functioning as expected.
- Check the settings of critical plugins, such as SEO and security plugins, to confirm they are configured correctly.
- Verify that your theme displays correctly and all customizations are intact.
Tools for Testing Your Site
Several tools can help automate and streamline the testing process:
- Broken Link Checker
- Broken Link Checker Plugin: A WordPress plugin that scans your site for broken links and missing images, and provides a report so you can fix them.
- Online Broken Link Checkers: Tools like Dead Link Checker and Dr. Link Check can scan your site for broken links and provide detailed reports.
- Site Performance Tools
- Google PageSpeed Insights: Analyzes your site’s performance and provides suggestions to improve loading times and overall speed.
- GTmetrix: Offers detailed performance reports, including load times, page size, and requests.
- Browser Developer Tools
- Use the developer tools in browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge to inspect elements, check console errors, and monitor network activity.
- SEO Tools
- Google Search Console: Check for any crawl errors or indexing issues.
- SEMrush or Ahrefs: Use these tools to perform a site audit and identify any SEO-related issues post-migration.
- Responsive Design Testing
- BrowserStack or CrossBrowserTesting: Tools that allow you to test how your site looks and functions across different devices and browsers.
- Responsive Design Mode in Browsers: Built-in tools in Chrome and Firefox to test responsiveness.
- User Feedback
- Encourage a few trusted users or colleagues to browse your site and report any issues they encounter. This can provide valuable insights from a user’s perspective.
Step 9: Update Permalinks and Fix Internal Links
Permalinks are the URLs that lead to your individual posts, pages, and other content on your WordPress site. After migrating your site to a new host, it’s important to ensure that these URLs are still functioning correctly.
- Access Permalink Settings
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
- Review and Save Permalink Structure
- Check your current permalink structure. It’s usually set to a format like “Post name” or “Day and name.”
- Even if you don’t make any changes, click the “Save Changes” button. This action refreshes your permalink settings and often resolves any lingering issues caused by the migration.
- Test Permalinks
- Visit various posts and pages on your site to ensure that the URLs are working correctly and leading to the correct content.
- If you encounter any 404 errors or broken links, note them for further investigation.
Fixing Any Internal Links That May Have Changed
Internal links are hyperlinks that point to other pages within your own website. These links may break during the migration if URLs have changed or if there were any errors in the migration process.
- Identify Broken Internal Links
- Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker to scan your site for broken internal links. This plugin provides a detailed report of all broken links found on your site.
- Alternatively, you can use online tools like Dead Link Checker or Screaming Frog SEO Spider to identify broken links.
- Update Broken Links Manually
- For each broken link identified, navigate to the corresponding page or post in your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Edit the content to update the broken link with the correct URL.
- Use Search and Replace Plugins
- If you have a large number of broken links, using a search and replace plugin like Better Search Replace or Velvet Blues Update URLs can save time.
- These plugins allow you to search for old URLs and replace them with the new correct URLs across your entire site.
- Check for Hard-Coded URLs
- Review your theme files and any custom code to ensure there are no hard-coded URLs pointing to the old site structure.
- Update any hard-coded URLs to reflect the new structure.
- Verify Links in Widgets and Menus
- Don’t forget to check links in your widgets, menus, and other site elements.
- Go to Appearance > Menus and Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress dashboard to verify and update these links as necessary.
Example Using Broken Link Checker Plugin
- Install and Activate the Plugin
- Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Broken Link Checker,” and install it.
- Activate the plugin once the installation is complete.
- Configure the Plugin
- Navigate to Settings > Link Checker.
- The plugin will start scanning your site for broken links automatically.
- Review the Report
- After the scan, review the list of broken links provided by the plugin.
- Click on each link to edit the content and update the URL.
Step 10: Monitor Post-Migration
Once you’ve completed your WordPress site migration, the work doesn’t stop there. Monitoring your site post-migration is needed to ensure everything is functioning correctly and to catch any issues early. This ongoing vigilance helps maintain your site’s performance, security, and user experience. Regular monitoring can quickly identify problems like downtime, slow loading speeds, broken links, and security vulnerabilities, allowing you to address them before they impact your visitors or search engine rankings.
Tools and Practices for Monitoring Site Performance and Issues
- Website Uptime Monitoring
- UptimeRobot: Monitors your site every 5 minutes for uptime and downtime, sending alerts if your site goes offline.
- Pingdom: Offers comprehensive uptime monitoring with instant alerts and detailed reports.
- Performance Monitoring
- Google Analytics: Tracks visitor behavior, page load times, and other performance metrics. Set up custom alerts for unusual changes in traffic patterns.
- GTmetrix: Provides detailed insights into your site’s loading speed and performance, with recommendations for improvement.
- Google PageSpeed Insights: Analyzes your site’s speed and provides suggestions to improve load times on both mobile and desktop.
- Security Monitoring
- Wordfence: A security plugin that includes firewall protection, malware scanning, and live traffic monitoring.
- Sucuri: Offers comprehensive site security, including malware scanning, blacklist monitoring, and firewall protection.
- Link Monitoring
- Broken Link Checker: Continues to monitor your site for broken links and missing images, alerting you to any issues that arise post-migration.
- Server and Resource Monitoring
- New Relic: Monitors your server performance, providing detailed insights into your site’s backend performance and server health.
- ManageWP: A management tool for WordPress sites that offers performance checks, uptime monitoring, and security scans.
- Error Monitoring
- Google Search Console: Alerts you to crawl errors, indexing issues, and security problems. It also provides valuable insights into your site’s search performance.
- WP Debugging: Enables debugging in WordPress, helping you catch and resolve PHP errors and warnings.
- Regular Backups
- Ensure your site is backed up regularly using tools like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or your hosting provider’s backup service. Regular backups ensure that you can quickly restore your site in case of any issues.
Best Practices for Ongoing Monitoring
- Set Up Alerts: Configure email or SMS alerts for critical issues like downtime, security breaches, or significant drops in performance.
- Schedule Regular Checkups: Perform regular site audits, including speed tests, security scans, and content checks.
- Review Analytics: Regularly review your Google Analytics and Search Console reports to identify any unusual patterns or issues.
- Engage Your Users: Encourage feedback from your site visitors. They can provide valuable insights into issues that you might not catch.
Let the experts at cmsMinds handle it for you. Contact us today to learn how we can make your migration process smooth and hassle-free.
Final Thoughts
Migrating a WordPress site can be a complex task, but by following our comprehensive checklist, you can ensure a smooth and successful transition. Each step, from planning and backing up your site to updating DNS settings and monitoring post-migration, is vital for maintaining your site’s performance and security. By meticulously following these steps, you minimize the risk of errors and downtime, ensuring your visitors enjoy a seamless experience.
Remember, thorough planning is key. Take the time to assess your current site, choose the right hosting provider, and prepare for each stage of the migration. If you encounter any challenges, don’t hesitate to seek help from professionals or your hosting provider’s support team.
We hope this guide has been helpful in your WordPress migration journey. For more tips, tutorials, and guides on managing your WordPress site, please check out our blog page. If you found this post useful, please share it with others who might benefit.
Need expert assistance with your WordPress migration? The team at cmsMinds is here to help! Contact us today for professional support and ensure a seamless transition for your website. Happy migrating!