WordPress website migration can be a real headache if you don’t have clear instructions or a proper plan.
That’s why we have brought you a handy WordPress migration checklist that will guide you through a smooth transition.
We have divided our checklist into two parts: pre- and post-migration. Check it out.
Pre Migration Checklist
1. Choose the Right Time
During migration, visitors won’t be able to access your site due to file or database transfers, as well as DNS settings. That means your website will be unavailable for visitors which can negatively impact the user experience and overall SEO.
However, you can decrease such impacts by choosing the right time (when your site sees the least amount of traffic) to move your site. In that case, tools like Google Analytics will help you find out and analyze your site’s consistent traffic pattern.
2. Inform Your Visitors
Once you have decided the best time for migration, inform your visitors about it. You can inform them through emails, pop-ups, or even social media.
This practice will build trust and prevent negative experiences for your visitors. In addition, it proves that you value your site visitors’ engagement and care about their experience.
3. Set Up Your New Web Hosting Account or Domain
Whether you’re switching to a new WordPress hosting plan or changing the domain name, it’s recommended to set them beforehand. Setting up these items during migration will add additional complexity to the transfer process.
If you’re migrating to a new host, purchase your preferred hosting plan and install WordPress there. On the other hand, if you’re changing your domain name, purchase a new one from your preferred domain registrar.
Besides setting up your new hosting account or domain name, there are certain details you’ll need during migration, such as:
| New Hosting Account | Domain |
| Control panel accessFTP/SFTP accessNew database detailsNameservers | Domain registrar accessDNS recordsEPP codeUnlocked domain & public WHOIS |
In case you’re not sure where to get all of the above-mentioned information, ask your new hosting or domain provider right away.
4. Make a Fresh Backup of Your Website
The next step is to create a fresh backup of your website’s elements that make it functional. In the backup, you should include:
- Website files (WordPress core files, themes, plugins, images, etc.)
- Database (posts, pages, user information, and settings.)
- Custom Configurations (modifications outside the core WordPress installation, like .htaccess files or custom code snippets)
Simply create and download your website’s file and database using your hosting provider cPlane or using a FTP client. You can simplify the backup process with plugins like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack.
Note: You’ll be using the backup copy for migration, and you can also use the copy to revert your site if anything goes wrong.
5. Deactivate Security, Caching, and Redirect Plugins
Before you migrate your WordPress website, deactivate all the plugins involved in security, caching, and redirects. That’s because these plugins can interfere with the transfer process and lead to a 403 Forbidden or 500 Internal Server Error.
For example, security plugins may block necessary requests for site files during migration. Additionally, cache plugins might serve outdated versions rather than the most recent ones.
To disable the plugins, go to the dashboard, click plugins, and deactivate all the necessary plugins.
6. Disable Search Engine Visibility
During the transition phase, issues like duplicate content, incomplete pages, and broken links can arise. If search engines crawl these pages during this transition, they may index an unfinished version.
Having an unfinished version indexed will not only frustrate your visitors but also harm your brand image. That’s why you should always prevent search engines from indexing your site before migration.
To disable search engine visibility, log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Settings> Reading. Then look for ‘’Search Engine Visibility,’’ check the box, and save changes.
7. Put Your Site in Maintenance Mode
You should put your site in maintenance mode before moving it to a new environment. By doing so, your visitors will see a maintenance mode page instead of your website’s content.
It’s like letting your audience know that your site is undergoing maintenance and will be back soon. You can enable maintenance mode with plugins like LightStart and CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin.
Post Migration Checklist
8. Migrate Your Site Files and Database
Transferring your site’s files and database from old hosting to new hosting is the main part of website migration. You can do this in two different ways.
- Using a migration plugin like Duplicator as an all-in-one solution.
- Migrating your site manually. If you prefer manual migration, you have to use your new hosting’s control panel or use an FTP client.
You can follow the below-provided instructions for file and database migration:
Migrate the Files:
- Access the control panel of your new hosting provider.
- Locate the file manager and navigate to your WordPress installation directory (usually the public_html folder).
- Now, upload your previously created backup file to this folder.
Migrate the Database:
- Access phpMyAdmin from your new hosting control panel.
- Create a new database for your WordPress site. (Remember the database name, username, and password.)
- Select the newly created database and click on the Import tab.
- Choose the SQL file you downloaded earlier and click Go to import the database.
9. Update Wp-Config.Php
After migrating your website’s files and database, you need to update the wp-config.php file to connect to the new database on your new hosting environment. To do so you can follow these steps:
- Log in to your new hosting provider’s control panel.
- Locate and click on the “File Manager” section within the control panel.
- Inside the File Manager, go to the “public_html” directory. (the root directory for your website files.)
- Find the wp-config.php file in the root directory of the “public_html” folder.
- Open the wp-config.php and then look for the following lines:
| define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘db_name’);define(‘DB_USER’, ‘db_user’);define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘db_pass’); |
Replace the placeholders (‘db_name’, ‘db_user’, ‘db_pass’) with the actual database name, username, and password you used while creating the database on the new hosting environment.
10. Update Site URLs (For Domain Name Migration)
Along with hosting, if you’re also changing the domain name or just changing the domain name, you have to update the site URLs. Updating the URL means all your existing links on your pages, posts, and menus will point to the new domain name.
So that your visitors won’t encounter any error messages and can navigate your website without disruption. You can easily update URLs with Better Search Replace or Velvet Blues Update URLs plugin.
On the other hand, you can update your site’s URL structure manually by updating the wp-config.php file. Access your wp-config.php, then add the following lines to the wp-config.php file:
- define(‘WP_HOME’, ‘http://newdomain.com’);
- define(‘WP_SITEURL’, ‘http://newdomain.com’);
Simply replace newdomain with your new domain name. And also, don’t forget to update permalinks too by going to dashboard > Settings > Permalinks and then click on “Save Changes.”
11. Point Your Domain Name to Your New Host
Once you’ve migrated your files, database, and updated wp-config.php, it’s time to connect your domain name to the new host. This involves editing your Domain Name System (DNS) settings. Updating DNS settings will vary depending on your hosting provider and domain registrar.
If you’re moving to a new host that offers free migration, they will update the nameserver automatically. Alternatively, if you’re using a manual migration route, you probably have and are using a domain registrar.
Simply login to your domain registrar control panel and update your DNS settings. DNS updates can take 48 to 72 hours to take effect across the internet.
Note: Check your domain registrar’s support or knowledge base for specific instructions on updating your nameservers manually.
12. Re-enable All the Deactivated Plugins
By now, your WordPress website migration should be complete. Now re-enable all plugins that you deactivated before migration and make sure to update them if a new update is available.
Also, don’t forget to clear your caching plugins’ caches, so your visitors get the latest version of your website.
13. Test Your Migrated Website
To ensure everything continues to run smoothly in its new home, you have to perform some quick tests. Follow the following aspects:
- Functionality: You have to check both front-end and back-end functionality. For the frontend, check homepage, blog section, menu, and navigation to ensure everything looks right. And for backend checkup, verify WordPress plugin and theme settings, and confirm data content integrity.
- SSL Certificate: Open any browser, visit your site, and check if there’s a little padlock icon next to your site’s URL. This indicates that the SSL certificate is functioning properly, which is essential to reassure visitors that your site is secure.
- Speed & Performance: Like many, if you’ve migrated your site for better speed, it’s worth checking its performance. You can use PageSpeed Insights to gather all the performance-related information.
- Content and Visuals: Check that all text content (blog posts, pages, product descriptions, menus) and visuals (images, videos, and other media elements) are migrated and displayed correctly.
- Broken Links: You may encounter broken link issues after migrating your site. It’s a common website migration issue that you can identify and fix using plugins like Broken Link Checker or AIOSEO.
- Forms: Test all the forms on your site to check if you receive an email confirmation or notification as expected. You can do it by filling out all the fields and submitting the form.
Note: If you see any issues with your site’s functionality, SSL certificate, or other issues, consult your new hosting provider for an appropriate solution.
14. Set Up 301 Redirects (For Domain Name Migration)
For domain name migration setting up 301 redirection is a must. That’s because it will automatically reroute anyone visiting your site’s pages using the old URL to the new one.
You can set up 301 redirects in two different ways, including by editing the .htaccess file or using plugins. We recommend you use a plugin like All in One SEO (AIOSEO).
After the setup, make sure to test the restriction to see if it works by visiting your site using the old URL.
15. Make Sure The New Website Is Indexable
Remember in Step 6 we discussed disabling search engine visibility? It was about preventing search engines from indexing your site.
Now, you have to reverse that setting.
Simply go to Settings > Reading from your WordPress Dashboard. Look for ‘’Search Engine Visibility’’ and uncheck the box next to it. By doing this, you’ll allow search engines to crawl and index your site’s content.
You can easily check the indexing status of your website’s content using Google Search Console.
16. Close Your Old Hosting Account
Once you have completed the migration and everything is working well, close the old hosting account by contacting your host’s customer service. It’s the last thing you must include on your WordPress website migration checklist.
However, don’t forget to move domain names and email accounts that are associated with your old hosting account before closing your old hosting account.
Common Migration Challenges and How Do You Avoid Them
During or after migrating your WordPress website, several unfortunate things can happen. While it’s not possible to predict what could happen, knowing common challenges and how to avoid them can be beneficial.
Have a look at some of the frequent issues and steps you can take to address them:
A. Compatibility Issues: Your site’s software, plugins, or themes may not be compatible with your new hosting environment. In that case, create a staging site environment mirroring your new hosting setup before migration. So that you can identify compatibility issues beforehand.
B. DNS Propagation Delays: This kind of issue usually happens because changes related to DNS have to spread across worldwide servers. Although you cannot completely avoid the delay entirely, reducing the TTL of the DNS record before migration can minimize the delay.
C. Data Loss and Corruption: Several reasons, like incomplete or corrupt backups, file transfer errors, and database import issues, are the main culprits behind data loss. Always create a complete backup and verify it if possible to ensure all data is included.
Closing Thoughts
We’re a group of WordPress experts who have been in the industry for more than a decade. So, you don’t need to hesitate to think about whether this WordPress migration checklist is good enough or not.
In this checklist, we’ve included almost every essential thing that will help you avoid disruptions during and after migration. We’ve also discussed common migration issues and how to avoid them.
By following our checklist, you’ll be well on your way to a successful migration. If you have any questions or need more personalized assistance, feel free to contact us, we’re happy to help.
FAQs about WordPress Website Migration
When it comes to migrate WordPress site, it’s obvious to have questions in mind. If you have any, check out this FAQ section to find the answers to commonly asked questions.
- Does WordPress Offer Free Migration?
No, WordPress does not offer free migration services. However, you can use plugins like UpdraftPlus to perform website transfers at no cost. Also, many WordPress hosting providers now include free WP migration services as part of their hosting plans.
- How Long Does a WordPress Site Migration Take?
Website migration can take different amounts of time based on your site’s size and the content’s complexity. A small website will take 1 to 2 hours, while a large, complex site can take 4 hours to 2 days for migration.
- Does Migration Affect Your Site’s SEO Performance?
Yes, migration can affect your site’s SEO performance if you don’t follow the right migration process. Improper migration can lead to issues like 404 errors, severe errors, and duplicate content. On the other hand, proper migration should positively affect SEO performance.
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