How to Migrate a WordPress Site to a New Host (Easy Way)

Moving your WordPress site to a new host or server might sound like a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a seamless and stress-free process. Whether you’re switching to a more reliable hosting provider, scaling up to handle increased traffic, or moving to a different server for better performance, this guide has you covered.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process, from preparing your site for migration to verifying everything works flawlessly on the new server.

How to migrate a WordPress site

1. Choose and set up your new hosting plan 

1. Make sure that your plan meets (or, better yet, exceeds) the minimum WordPress requirements.
2. Ensure that your new host has adequate resources for your specific site, including disk space, bandwidth, memory, and CPU. Not sure what you need? This article can help you figure it out.
3. Consider the location of your server. If most of your visitors are in a particular country, then it makes sense to use a server located as close to them as possible to help your site load quickly. If your traffic comes from all over the world, you’ll want to consider a WordPress CDN once you’re up and running. 
4. Set up server-level backups. If your site is only updated periodically, a daily backup will probably be fine. But if you run a store or your site’s content updates regularly, you’ll need something more frequent. Remember, you shouldn’t rely on your host alone for backups. You’ll also want to use a tool like Jetpack Backup to protect your site.
5. Set up any additional features you want to use. This may include server-side caching, a staging environment, email accounts, or an SSL certificate (see our guide on getting a free SSL certificate).

2. Install Jetpack

Jetpack Backup takes the headaches out of migrating your WordPress site, plus provides ongoing daily or real-time backups that you can count on. 

1. From your WordPress dashboard on your current site, go to Plugins → Add New and search for “Jetpack.” 
2. Click Install Now → Activate.
3. Connect to an existing WordPress.com account or create a new one.
4. Choose a Jetpack plan that includes Jetpack Backup.

3. Set up SSH/SFTP/FTP credentials

Jetpack will need to connect to your new host using SSH, SFTP, or FTP. Your hosting provider should have specific instructions on finding this information, but if in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact their support team. For more information on finding and adding your credentials, read our documentation.

4. Prepare for migration

It’s important to migrate at a time when you aren’t planning to publish any new content. If you create new content during the migration, you might lose that data. It’s also a good idea to do the entire process when your site isn’t too busy, so there’s minimal interruption to visitors. This time will be unique for every website, but may mean that it’s best done over the weekend or late at night. 

Jetpack’s clone feature transfers WordPress and its data over to a new server, but will not transfer other data such as email accounts. If you have email set up with your old hosting provider, now might be a good time to migrate this to a dedicated email host (like G Suite or Microsoft 365), which typically offer more features than standard hosting email. At the very least, make sure that you have a plan for any email accounts that you have set up.

Before you start, there are a few things you’ll need on hand:

• SSH/SFTP/FTP credentials for your new web host.
• The login for your DNS host. This will usually be your domain name provider, but could also be a standalone DNS provider such as Cloudflare.
• The DNS records for your new server. This will usually be the server IP address, which you can find from your hosting provider.

5. Let’s get cloning

Start the cloning process from your WordPress.com account for your site:

• Go to Settings → General.
• Scroll to the Site Tools section at the bottom and select Clone.
• This page will show you some basic information about your website. If it’s all correct, click Continue.
• Enter your destination site title and destination site URL. This is the new host you’re cloning to — in most cases, you’ll need to enter your temporary/staging URL rather than your original site’s domain name as you’ll point your original domain’s DNS records to the site after cloning has finished. If you are updating your URL, enter the new URL. Click Continue.
• Enter your new server credentials, which we spoke about earlier. Jetpack will use these to clone your site from your current host to your new host. If you’re unsure, check with your host for the right information.
• Enter the destination WordPress path. This is where your site’s files should be stored and is probably something like /public_html. If you’re at all unsure, then your new host should be able to provide this information. Click Save.
• Select Clone current state to use the most recent backup. Or choose Clone previous state to choose an earlier backup. If you choose the latter, you’ll be taken to your activity log to select an appropriate clone point. Click Yep! Begin cloning to kick-off the copy process.
• You’ll see a confirmation screen that allows you to return to the site’s activity log. Click To the Activity Log! to follow the progress.

6. Test, test, test!

To check if your migration was successful, it’s useful to check the website before pointing your domain name to the new host. Ensure that content is loading as expected and all functionality works properly. This isn’t a step to rush. Be thorough and take your time. 

There are a few ways to do this:

1. Use a proxy service such as hosts.cx. This super simple way to test works on nearly every operating system. Simply enter your new server IP address and the website domain name (be careful here — ensure everything is correct including www vs. non www).
2. Change your hosts file. This is a file that sits on your computer that allows you to point a domain name to a different IP address. The process changes depending on your operating system. Click here for more information.

7. Point your domain name to your new host

Once you’re satisfied that the migration was successful, you’ll need to change your DNS settings to point your domain name to your new server. The specific process for this depends on your provider, but here are the typical steps:

• Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider and locate the area to update your DNS settings. Again, this will vary based on your provider, but they should supply clear documentation.
• Change the A record to your new server IP address. The exact steps to follow are dependent on your provider, but domain.com has a great example. You can also always ask your provider to make this change for you. Important: Don’t remove, edit, or delete any other DNS settings unless you are certain that you no longer need them. 
• Once you’ve saved your settings, you need to wait for the DNS to propagate. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to update around the world. For this reason, it’s important not to immediately cancel your old hosting until you’re confident that propagation has finished. You can verify propagation with tools such as DNS Checker.

Note that your Jetpack plan will be transferred to your new site, but will be put into maintenance mode. To reactivate Jetpack, look for the maintenance mode prompt and select “Fix the Jetpack Connection.” 

Reasons to migrate your WordPress site

You need a better host or server

You’ll know that it’s time for new hosting when your current website has:

1. Too much downtime. Any time your website is inaccessible, it’s simply unacceptable. If you run a business, it can erode trust with your client base and cut off one of your main money-making assets. Timeout errors and what’s called the “white screen of death” are often related to network configuration (meaning it’s the fault of the host), and if they’re happening often, it’s time to think about switching. There are many hosts that guarantee at least 99% uptime. So there’s really no reason to settle for anything less. Pro tip: Use Jetpack downtime monitoring to alert you if there’s a problem. 
2. Slow loading speed. There are many factors that affect the speed of a website, but once you’ve optimized your site as much as you can, it comes down to hosting. If your host doesn’t focus on loading speeds, it could be time to migrate.
3. Poor customer support. Whether you’re experiencing a stressful outage, want to add new features to your hosting, or just have a question about how your site should work, then access to knowledgeable support is key. If your host makes it hard to get in touch, or provides service that doesn’t give you the answers you need, consider moving your website. 
4. Limits on your storage or traffic. Most hosting packages limit both storage space and website traffic. In addition, some sites see spikes of site visitors — for example, when launching a new product or announcing a sale — and these aren’t always handled well by basic hosting packages. If you’ve hit the maximum levels with your current provider, or need to more easily scale during spikes, then it may be time to find a new company.
5. Poor security. Have you been hacked? This is one of the most stressful things that can happen to website owners. Although there are many precautions you can take with your own website’s configuration, part of protecting your site rests with your hosting provider. You want one that knows how to set up their servers for maximum security, and that also includes regular backups of your site for quick restores in the event of a hack. If your host can’t provide those options, consider migrating.
6. Lack of advanced features. Some hosting companies offer cheap packages, but charge extra fees for features like SSL certificates and backups. This can really add up! If your host is nickel-and-diming you with add-ons, it may be time to move your website to a host that offers a more complete package.
7. Doesn’t support the community. WordPress is open source software, and that means it relies on the investment of developers and community members to remain strong, safe, and accessible to everyone. Some hosting companies are good WordPress community members and make it a point to contribute to the software; you can support WordPress indirectly by taking your hosting business to a company that is active in the WordPress community.
8. No special configuration for eCommerce. If you sell online, you want a hosting company that specializes in eCommerce. With a good security configuration and the ability to handle large amounts of important data, the right host can make the difference in your success. 

Remember, when it comes to good hosting, you get what you pay for. So if you’re living with some or all of these issues in the name of saving money, then it’s probably time to admit that the impact to your site isn’t worth it. Time to migrate!

Other reasons to migrate a website

1. Moving from a staging environment to a live environment. When you’ve had a website for a while and need a major design overhaul, it’s hard to make that happen on a live site. The best way to work on major changes is to create a copy of your website — called a staging site — where you can iron out any problems and make everything perfect before launch. Copying your website to a staging site, and then copying it back to your live website, are both migration processes.
2. Launching a new business website with a running start. If you have an existing site and want to create offshoots for specific ideas, you can copy and modify it instead of starting from scratch. This works perfectly if you have a business with multiple locations and want each to have its own site with identical branding and similar content.

Whatever the reason for migrating your site, if it’s time to make a change, don’t let the technical process get in your way. The effort will be well worth it!

Frequently asked questions

How long does a WordPress migration to a new host take?

A WordPress migration can be very quick, often taking between 30 minutes and a couple of hours. The total time depends on the size of your website and the migration method you choose. Using a plugin is usually the fastest way for small to medium sites.

A very large website with many images and files will take longer to transfer. After the files are moved, you must also wait for DNS propagation. This is the process where internet service providers update their records with your site’s new location. This part can take anywhere from a few hours up to 48 hours to complete.

Will migrating my WordPress site to a new host hurt my SEO?

Migrating your WordPress site will not hurt your SEO if you do it correctly. The most important thing is to make sure that all of your URLs stay the same or are properly redirected to their new location. A common mistake is failing to update all internal links, which can lead to broken pages and a poor user experience.

To avoid SEO problems, create a full backup before you start. After the migration, use a tool to check for broken links and submit your new sitemap to Google Search Console. This tells Google your site has moved and helps it index the new location quickly.

How much downtime should I expect when migrating my WordPress site?

You can migrate a WordPress site with almost zero downtime if you plan carefully. The best method is to work on a temporary URL provided by your new hosting company. This allows you to get the new site working perfectly before you point your domain to it. Once you have tested everything and are sure it is ready, you can update your DNS records.

The only potential downtime occurs during the DNS propagation phase, but because the old site remains live, most visitors will not notice any interruption. They will simply start arriving at the new server as their local internet providers update.

Can I migrate my WordPress site to a new domain name at the same time as changing hosts?

Yes, you can migrate your site to a new domain name while also changing hosts, but it makes the process more complex. You are essentially doing two major operations at once.

After moving the files and database to the new host, you must perform a “find and replace” operation in your database to update all instances of the old domain to the new one. You also need to set up 301 redirects from your old domain to your new domain. This tells search engines that your site has permanently moved, ensuring you pass along your SEO authority.

What is the safest way to migrate a WordPress site for a beginner?

For a beginner, the safest way to migrate a WordPress site is to use a reliable migration plugin. Tools like Jetpack Backup are built specifically for this purpose.

Plugins like this handle the process of packaging your files and database, moving them, and then unpacking them on the new server. They reduce the risk of human error, such as forgetting a file or making a mistake while editing the database. Another very safe option is to choose a web host that offers a free migration service. In that case, their expert team handles the entire process for you.

Do I need to update my DNS records after migrating to a new host?

Yes, updating your DNS records is the final and most critical step of the migration process. Your DNS records, specifically the ‘A’ record, tell browsers where on the internet to find your website’s server.

After you have copied your site to the new host and confirmed everything works correctly, you need to log in to your domain registrar’s website. From there, you will update the DNS settings to point to the IP address of your new web host. Once you save these changes, the DNS propagation process begins, and traffic will start hitting your new server.

How do I know if my WordPress migration was successful?

You can confirm a migration was successful by performing a thorough check of the site on its new server. First, browse through the main pages, including your homepage, about page, and contact page, to ensure they load correctly. Check that all images and media appear as they should.

Next, test your site’s core functionality. Submit a test message through your contact forms, check the login and logout process, and if you run an online store, test the checkout procedure. Finally, make sure the site’s backend is accessible and all your plugins and theme settings are intact.

What’s the first thing I should do after my WordPress site is live on the new host?

The very first thing you should do is clear all caching. This includes any caching plugins on your WordPress site, caching from your server, and any CDN cache like Cloudflare. Old, cached files can cause conflicts and make it appear as though the migration was unsuccessful.

After clearing the caches, perform the full post-migration check to test all links, forms, and functions. Once you are certain everything is working, you should remove any migration plugins or backup files you used for the transfer. Finally, set up a new automated backup schedule on your new host.

Should I use a plugin or do a manual WordPress migration?

You should use a plugin for migration unless you are an experienced developer. A plugin automates the technical steps, reducing the chance of errors. It is faster, more reliable for most users, and easier to manage.

A manual migration gives you complete control, which can be useful for very large or complex sites. However, it requires you to be comfortable with tools like FTP and phpMyAdmin to move files and edit the database. For the vast majority of website owners, a trusted migration plugin provides the best balance of safety, speed, and ease of use.

You can do it: Migrate WordPress to a new server

Congratulations! You now have the power to move your site to any host you want. Remember to take your time, double-check everything, test your site before you update the DNS, and reach out to your new host if you have questions! 

Ready to get started?