Backup and restore wordpress site to new server

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to backup and restore a WordPress site to a new server:

Backup

1. Backup your database:
   • Log in to your current server's control panel (e.g., cPanel) and navigate to the "Databases" section.
   • Click on "phpMyAdmin" and select the database associated with your WordPress site.
   • Click on the "Export" tab and select "Quick" as the export method.
   • Choose "SQL" as the format and click "Go".
   • Save the SQL file to your local machine.
2. Backup your files:
   • Use an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) to connect to your current server.
   • Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress site and select all files and folders.
   • Right-click and select "Download" or "Get" to download the files to your local machine.
   • Alternatively, you can use the "Backup" feature in your control panel (e.g., cPanel) to create a zip file of your files.

Restore

1. Upload files to new server:
   • Use an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) to connect to your new server.
   • Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress site and upload the files you downloaded earlier.
   • Make sure to upload the files in the correct directory structure (e.g., wp-content, wp-includes, etc.).
2. Create a new database on new server:
   • Log in to your new server's control panel (e.g., cPanel) and navigate to the "Databases" section.
   • Click on "MySQL Databases" and create a new database.
   • Note down the database name, username, and password.
3. Import database to new server:
   • Log in to phpMyAdmin on your new server and select the database you created earlier.
   • Click on the "Import" tab and select the SQL file you exported earlier.
   • Click "Go" to import the database.
4. Update wp-config.php file:
   • Open the wp-config.php file in a text editor and update the database settings to match your new server's database credentials.
   • Save the file.
5. Update site URL:
   • Log in to your WordPress site's dashboard and go to "Settings" > "General".
   • Update the "WordPress Address" and "Site Address" fields to reflect the new server's URL.
   • Save the changes.
6. Update permalinks:
   • Go to "Settings" > "Permalinks" and click "Save Changes" to update the permalinks.

Additional Tips

• Make sure to update your WordPress site's theme and plugins to ensure compatibility with the new server.
• Test your site thoroughly to ensure everything is working as expected.
• Consider using a backup plugin (e.g., UpdraftPlus) to automate your backups and make the process easier.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully backup and restore your WordPress site to a new server.