{"id":3211,"date":"2025-08-29T12:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T10:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mijn.host\/blog\/4-ways-migrate-wordpress-website\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T16:27:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T14:27:59","slug":"4-ways-migrate-wordpress-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/4-ways-migrate-wordpress-website\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Migrate a WordPress Website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are various reasons why you might want to move your WordPress site. Maybe you&#8217;re dissatisfied with your current hosting because the site loads too slowly, or the customer service is subpar. Or you want to upgrade to a faster server like a VPS or cloud hosting. Sometimes you want to change your domain name, or you have a test or development environment you want to launch live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever the reason, there are four different ways to move your WordPress site. From completely manual for the tech-savvy among us to completely worry-free by professionals. In this article, I discuss all the options so you can easily choose what best suits your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"method-1-the-manual-migration\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 1: The manual migration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"when-to-choose-this-method\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When to choose this method?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The manual migration is for you if you want to maintain full control over the process and have technical knowledge. It&#8217;s the most complex method but gives you the greatest flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-do-you-need\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What do you need?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An FTP client such as <a href=\"https:\/\/filezilla-project.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FileZilla<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access to phpMyAdmin or another database tool<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Basic knowledge of files and databases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"408\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" src=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/filezilla.png\" alt=\"FileZilla home. \" class=\"wp-image-2474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/filezilla.png 1000w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/filezilla-300x122.png 300w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/filezilla-768x313.png 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"stepbystep-plan\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step-by-step plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Backup files<\/strong><br>Download the entire wp-content folder (or all files) from your old website via FTP. This may take some time depending on the size of your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Export database<\/strong><br>Create a .sql export of your entire database via phpMyAdmin. This contains all your content, settings, and user information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Upload files<\/strong><br>Upload all downloaded files to the new server via FTP. Make sure the folder structure remains intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Create new database<\/strong><br>Create a new, empty database on your new hosting. Note the database name, username, and password \u2013 you&#8217;ll need these later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Import database<\/strong><br>Import the .sql file into the new database via phpMyAdmin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Adjust wp-config.php<\/strong><br>Update the wp-config.php file with the new database details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Update URLs<\/strong><br>Use a tool like the <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/better-search-replace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Better Search Replace<\/a> plugin or run an SQL query to replace the old domain name with the new one in the database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pros-and-cons\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pros and cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Full control over the process.<\/strong> Every step, from file transfer to database import, you perform yourself. This means you know exactly what&#8217;s happening and are not dependent on the limitations of a tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No dependency on plugins.<\/strong> Since you&#8217;re not installing extra software, you avoid possible compatibility issues, security risks, or limitations that plugins may bring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Always works, regardless of hosting or website size.<\/strong> This method works guaranteed for any WordPress site, regardless of size, complexity, or with which hosting provider you are.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Very error-prone.<\/strong> A small error, like a typo in wp-config.php or a wrong step during the database import, can make your entire website unreachable. Solving such issues requires patience and expertise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time-consuming.<\/strong> Downloading and uploading thousands of files via FTP and processing large databases can, depending on the size of your site, take hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Requires substantial technical knowledge.<\/strong> You must be comfortable with FTP, phpMyAdmin, and editing PHP configuration files. Without this knowledge, the chance of problems is high.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"method-2-using-a-migration-plugin\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 2: Using a migration plugin<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"when-to-choose-this-method-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When to choose this method?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the ideal method for almost everyone. You get the perfect balance between user-friendliness and control without needing technical skills. This is a method I often use myself for moving smaller websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"popular-plugins\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Popular plugins<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/all-in-one-wp-migration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All-in-One WP Migration<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Very user-friendly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/duplicator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Duplicator<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Advanced options for experienced users<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/updraftplus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UpdraftPlus<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Mainly known for backups, but you can also use it to migrate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"444\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" src=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-migration.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-migration.png 1000w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-migration-300x133.png 300w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-migration-768x341.png 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"stepbystep-plan-with-allinone-wp-migration\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step-by-step plan (with All-in-One WP Migration)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I migrate a site with a plugin, I always use the free version of All-in-One WP Migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Install &amp; export<\/strong><br>Install the plugin on your old website and create an export file (.wpress) of your entire site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"610\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" src=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-bestand-exporteren-1.png\" alt=\"All-in-One WP export. \" class=\"wp-image-2476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-bestand-exporteren-1.png 1000w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-bestand-exporteren-1-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-bestand-exporteren-1-768x468.png 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. New WordPress installation<\/strong><br>Ensure you have a clean WordPress installation running on your new hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Install &amp; import<\/strong><br>Install the same plugin on the new site and import the .wpress file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"461\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" src=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-importeren.png\" alt=\"All-in-One WP import. \" class=\"wp-image-2477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-importeren.png 1000w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-importeren-300x138.png 300w, https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/all-in-one-wp-importeren-768x354.png 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Finish up<\/strong><br>The plugin automatically overwrites everything and handles the URL adjustments. Then log in again with your old login details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pros-and-cons-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pros and cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fast and reliable.<\/strong> A plugin automates the entire process, resulting in a migration often completed within minutes with a very small chance of errors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Very user-friendly.<\/strong> The steps are packaged in a clear, graphical interface. You don&#8217;t have to touch any code or dive into databases. You simply follow the on-screen instructions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automatically resolves URL issues.<\/strong> One of the trickiest steps in a migration\u2014adjusting all internal links and media URLs\u2014is handled fully automatically and correctly by the plugin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Limitations in free versions<\/strong>. Many plugins have a limit on the maximum file size you can import in their free version. For larger websites, a paid version or add-on is often necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dependency on the plugin.<\/strong> If the plugin contains a bug or is not compatible with your server environment (such as the PHP version), the migration can fail. You are then dependent on the support from the developer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"method-3-through-your-web-hosts-control-panel\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 3: Through your web host&#8217;s control panel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"when-to-choose-this-method-3\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When to choose this method?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This option is perfect if your hosting provider offers it and you quickly want to make a copy, for example, for a test or staging site. Or you have a site design you want to use for another website. The easiest way is to simply clone the relevant site and remove all content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-it-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How does it work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many hosting control panels like DirectAdmin or Plesk have tools like the WP toolkit. These almost always contain a &#8220;Clone&#8221; or &#8220;Staging&#8221; function that does the work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"stepbystep-plan-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step-by-step plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Log in to your hosting panel<\/strong><br>Find your WordPress installation in the control panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Choose the clone option<\/strong><br>Select &#8220;Clone,&#8221; &#8220;Staging,&#8221; or &#8220;Copy&#8221; &#8211; the exact naming varies by host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Specify new location<\/strong><br>Specify where you want to place the copy (another domain, subdomain, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Automatic copy<\/strong><br>The tool automatically copies all files and the database for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pros-and-cons-3\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pros and Cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Extremely fast and easy<\/strong>. Often it is just a matter of a few clicks in your hosting panel. Within minutes, a complete copy of your website is ready for use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No extra plugins needed<\/strong>. You don&#8217;t need to install anything on your WordPress site. The functionality is directly integrated into your hosting environment, minimizing the chance of conflicts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fully automated<\/strong>. The hosting provider&#8217;s tool handles everything: copying the files, duplicating the database, and correctly configuring the new installation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Less flexible.<\/strong> These tools are often designed for one specific purpose. You typically have little to no control over the details of the migration process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Works only internally.<\/strong> This method is intended only for copying a site within the environment of your current host. You cannot use it to move to another provider.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"method-4-let-your-new-web-host-do-it-for-you\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 4: Let your new web host do it for you<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"when-to-choose-this-method-4\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When to choose this method?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the best option if you don&#8217;t have the time, inclination, or technical knowledge and want to be sure that everything is done correctly. Specialized WordPress hosts like <a href=\"https:\/\/my.host\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">my.host<\/a> can handle a move for you in no time. Perfect for beginners, but also for people who simply don&#8217;t have the energy for these kinds of tasks. The one time in my life that I switched web hosts, I took advantage of the free relocation service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-does-it-work-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How does it work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Professional hosting providers take care of the entire relocation process for you. You only need to provide the necessary information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"stepbystep-plan-3\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step-by-step plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Choose a host with relocation service<\/strong><br>Select a provider like my.host that offers free relocation service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Order your hosting<\/strong><br>Choose an appropriate hosting package for your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Provide access<\/strong><br>Provide the necessary information from your old website (WordPress login, FTP, etc.) via their secure procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Sit back<\/strong><br>The experts perform the full relocation, thoroughly test the website, and let you know when everything is ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pros-and-cons-4\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pros and Cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Completely stress-free.<\/strong> You don&#8217;t have to worry about technical details, possible errors, or downtime. You give the task and can focus on other important matters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Professionally executed by experts.<\/strong> The relocation is performed by professionals who migrate WordPress sites daily. They know all pitfalls and ensure a smooth transition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No technical knowledge required.<\/strong> This is the perfect solution if you have no technical experience at all. You only need to provide login information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Often a free service.<\/strong> Many quality hosting providers offer this for free as part of a new hosting package to make the transition as attractive as possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Guarantee that it is done right.<\/strong> A professional party guarantees the result. If something does go wrong, they will fix it for you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>None, as long as you work with a provider that knows what they are doing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"which-method-suits-you\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which method suits you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The choice depends on your technical knowledge, available time, and comfort level:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manual relocation.<\/strong> For techies who want full control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plugin method.<\/strong> For most people &#8211; good balance between convenience and control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hosting control panel.<\/strong> For quick copies within the same provider.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Professional relocation service.<\/strong> For everyone who wants to move without worries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most website owners, method 2 (plugin) or method 4 (relocation service) is the best choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ready to move without worries? Check out the packages from <a href=\"https:\/\/my.host\/webhosting\/\">my.host<\/a> and let the experts do the work for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are various reasons why you might want to migrate your WordPress site. Perhaps you&#8217;re dissatisfied with your current hosting because the site loads too slowly or the customer service is subpar. Or you want to upgrade to a faster server such as a VPS or cloud hosting. Sometimes, you want to change your domain name, or you have a [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hide_cta_migrate_site":false,"hide_toc_block":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[222,228],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hosting","category-tips-tricks"],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":3211,"nl":2471},"pll_sync_post":{},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3211"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3327,"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3211\/revisions\/3327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.host\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}