Knowledgebase

The most common migration.

TWO APPROACHES

A migration plugin, which handles most of it Manual transfer of files and database

USING A PLUGIN

Install it on both sites, export from the old, import to the new.

Works well for most sites. Large sites may exceed limits.

MANUAL TRANSFER

1. Download wp-content and the root files
2. Export the database
3. Create the database here, import
4. Update wp-config.php with the new database details
5. Upload files
6. Test with a hosts file entry before switching DNS

THE WP-CONFIG POINT

Database name, user and password all change.

Remember the cPanel prefix on database names.

THE URL PROBLEM

If the site address changes, URLs stored in the database must be updated.

Use a tool that handles serialised data. A plain find-and-replace corrupts it.

AFTER MIGRATING

Run AutoSSL Set up a real cron job, since HTTP wp-cron is blocked here Check permalinks work Test forms and email