Manually move wordpress site to new host

A manual migration! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you manually move your WordPress site to a new host:

Before you start:

  1. Backup your site: Make sure to backup your WordPress site, including the database and files, to prevent any data loss during the migration process.
  2. Update your DNS: Update your domain's DNS settings to point to the new host's IP address. This may take some time to propagate, so be patient.
  3. Verify your new host's settings: Check your new host's control panel or documentation to ensure you have the necessary information, such as the database credentials, FTP credentials, and PHP settings.

Step 1: Export your database

  1. Log in to your current host's control panel (e.g., cPanel) and navigate to the "Databases" section.
  2. Click on "phpMyAdmin" or "MySQL Databases" and select your database.
  3. Click on the "Export" tab and choose "Quick" as the export method.
  4. Select "SQL" as the format and click "Go".
  5. Save the exported database file (e.g., database.sql) to your local machine.

Step 2: Upload your files

  1. Use an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) or your new host's file manager to connect to your new host.
  2. Upload your WordPress files (e.g., wp-content, wp-includes, wp-admin, etc.) to the new host's public_html or www directory.
  3. Make sure to upload the files in the correct directory structure (e.g., wp-content/uploads should be uploaded to public_html/wp-content/uploads).

Step 3: Create a new database

  1. Log in to your new host's control panel and navigate to the "Databases" section.
  2. Create a new database and note down the database name, username, and password.

Step 4: Import your database

  1. Log in to phpMyAdmin or your new host's database management tool.
  2. Click on the "Import" tab and select the exported database file (e.g., database.sql) you saved earlier.
  3. Click "Go" to import the database.

Step 5: Update your wp-config.php file

  1. Edit your wp-config.php file using an FTP client or your new host's file manager.

  2. Update the database credentials to match your new database settings:

    define('DB_NAME', 'new_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'new_database_username');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'new_database_password');

    Step 6: Update your site's URL

  3. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Settings > General.

  4. Update the "WordPress Address" and "Site Address" fields to reflect your new site's URL.

Step 7: Update your plugins and themes

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
  2. Update any plugins that require updates.
  3. Go to Appearance > Themes and update any themes that require updates.

Step 8: Test your site

  1. Visit your site to ensure everything is working correctly.
  2. Test your site's functionality, including forms, plugins, and themes.

That's it! Your WordPress site should now be successfully migrated to your new host.