Switching hosts sounds risky, but a WordPress migration is a routine job if you follow a clear order. This is the process we use when we move client sites – with no lost data and little or no downtime.
Before you start
- Check whether your new host migrates for free. Many managed WordPress hosts do it for you or provide their own migration plugin. If so, use it – then use the testing steps below to check the result.
- Choose a quiet time. Avoid sale days, launches and campaigns.
- Lower the DNS TTL on your domain to 5–10 minutes a day before the move, so the switch spreads faster.
- Note down your email setup. If your email runs on the old host, plan where it will live before you touch DNS.
Step 1: Make a full backup
Back up both the files (the whole WordPress folder, especially wp-content) and the database. Keep a copy off the server. Even if a migration plugin does the work, this is your safety net.
Step 2: Freeze changes
For a blog, simply avoid publishing during the move. For a store or membership site, consider a short maintenance window so that no new orders or sign-ups are made on the old server after you copy it.
Step 3: Copy the site to the new host
Use your host’s migration tool or a plugin such as Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration or Migrate Guru. These package files and database together and handle the search-and-replace of URLs. Manual migration (files via SFTP, database via export/import) works too, but takes longer.
Step 4: Test before you switch
Open the copied site on the new host before changing DNS – most hosts give you a temporary URL, or you can edit your computer’s hosts file. Check:
- the homepage, a few posts and pages, and images;
- forms (send a test message), login, and the admin area;
- for stores: cart, checkout with a test payment, and order emails;
- permalinks (if inner pages return 404 errors, re-save Settings → Permalinks).
Step 5: Point your domain to the new host
Update the DNS records (usually the A record, sometimes a CNAME) as instructed by your new host. Thanks to the lowered TTL, most visitors will reach the new server within minutes; some may take a few hours.
Step 6: SSL and final checks
Once DNS points to the new server, activate the free SSL certificate and make sure the whole site loads over HTTPS without “mixed content” warnings. Check that scheduled tasks (cron), transactional emails and any payment webhooks work.
Step 7: Keep the old hosting for a while
Don’t cancel the old plan on day one. Keep it for one or two weeks as a fallback, then download a final backup and cancel.
Common problems and quick fixes
- White screen or 500 error: often a PHP version mismatch or a plugin conflict – check the error log and the PHP version.
- Old URLs or broken images: run a proper search-and-replace on the database (serialised data safe).
- Emails not arriving: set up SMTP sending and check your SPF/DKIM records on the new setup.
Choosing where to move? Use our 12-point WordPress hosting checklist first.