How To Migrate WordPress Site To New Host Manually
The Goal
In this guide, I will be going to show you how to migrate WordPress site to new host manually using my easy 1-2-3 method.
If you have tried migration using plugin before, you will notice that sometimes it will fail especially with free plugin, & you have no choice to try again on another plugin & hope that your migration will success.
After this guide, you will have full control on your own website to move to any host or any new domain name that you want at anytime & you will never just need to rely on plugin to do the migration any more. You can do it on your own.
The Easy 1-2-3 Method
The easy 1-2-3 method is actually a simple checklist that guide you to follow all the things you need to do on your old hosting & the things you need to do on your new hosting, so that you don’t miss out any of the important the step. You can download the simple checklist here for free.
Part 1: Preparing Your Old Hosting
Step 1: Download the wp-content Folder Begin by securing your website’s content. Access your hosting control panel and navigate to the file manager, typically found in the root folder or public_html. Locate your WordPress installation and download the “wp-content” folder. This folder houses your themes, plugins, and uploaded media.
Step 2: Copy Database Details In the same directory as your WordPress installation, you’ll find a file named “config.php.” Open this file using a text editor like Notepad. Within, you’ll discover valuable information: the database name and table prefix. Copy these details into a checklist as a reference for later.
Step 3: Export the Database Access PhpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel. Identify your website’s database, which should match the name you copied earlier. To verify, check the “wp-options” table for your website URL. Once confirmed, export the database. Your preparations on the old hosting are complete.
Part 2: Setting Up Your New Hosting
Step 4: Install a Fresh WordPress Instance On your new hosting, initiate a fresh WordPress installation on the domain of your choice. You can opt to retain your existing domain or select a new one.
Step 5: Delete the New wp-content Folder In the file manager of your new WordPress installation, delete the “wp-content” folder that came with the fresh installation.
Step 6: Upload the Old wp-content Now, upload the “wp-content” folder that you downloaded from your old hosting into the same location in your new WordPress installation.
Step 7: Drop the New Database In PhpMyAdmin on your new hosting, select your newly created database and drop all its tables. Your database is now empty and ready for the import.
Step 8: Import the Old Database Choose the “import” option in PhpMyAdmin and select the database file you downloaded from your old hosting. Execute the import process.
Step 9: Update Domain URL in wp-options Access the “wp-options” table in your new database via PhpMyAdmin. Edit the site URL to match your new domain if you’ve made a domain change. Save your changes.
Step 10: Update Table Prefix in config.php Return to the file manager and locate the “config.php” file in your new WordPress installation. Edit this file to replace the table prefix with the one you copied from your old hosting checklist.
Step 11: Replace Old URLs (if using a different domain) If you’ve switched to a new domain, it’s crucial to update any references to the old URL. Can install free plugin Better Search Replace or WP Migrate Lite – WordPress Migration Made Easy in your WordPress dashboard and use its search and replace URL function to accomplish this task.
Conclusion
With my straightforward “123 method,” you now have complete control over your website, making it easy to migrate to any web host while keeping your domain name intact. This method not only empowers you but also serves as a reliable manual backup alternative, especially if you want to avoid relying solely on plugins that may occasionally fail. Whether you’re seeking cost savings or enhanced performance, this guide ensures a hassle-free move to your new hosting provider.
If you feel that manually transfer a site is not for you, you can refer this guide to migrate WordPress site using a plugin.
