Migrate wordpress to a new domain

Migrating a WordPress site to a new domain can be a bit of a process, but it's definitely doable. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Before you start:

  1. Backup your site: Before making any changes, make sure to backup your WordPress site using a plugin like UpdraftPlus or Duplicator.
  2. Update your DNS: Update your DNS settings to point to the new domain. This may take some time to propagate, so be patient.
  3. Check your hosting: Make sure your hosting provider allows you to migrate your site to a new domain. Some providers may have specific requirements or restrictions.

Step 1: Update your WordPress configuration

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Settings > General.
  2. Update the WordPress Address and Site Address fields to reflect the new domain. For example, if your old domain was oldsite.com and your new domain is newsite.com, update the fields to https://newsite.com and https://newsite.com.
  3. Click Save Changes.

Step 2: Update your database

  1. Use a plugin like WP Migrate DB or Duplicator to migrate your database to the new domain. These plugins can help you transfer your database and update the URLs to reflect the new domain.
  2. Alternatively, you can manually update your database by exporting your database from your old site and importing it into your new site. You'll need to update the URLs in your database tables using a tool like phpMyAdmin.

Step 3: Update your files

  1. Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your new site's file system.
  2. Upload your WordPress files to the new site's file system, overwriting any existing files.
  3. Update the URLs in your theme files and plugins to reflect the new domain.

Step 4: Update your permalinks

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Settings > Permalinks.
  2. Click Save Changes to update your permalinks.

Step 5: Update your plugins and themes

  1. Update your plugins and themes to ensure they're compatible with the new domain.
  2. Check for any plugin or theme updates that may be required.

Step 6: Test your site

  1. Test your site to ensure everything is working as expected.
  2. Check for any broken links or images.
  3. Test your site's functionality, including forms, e-commerce integrations, and other features.

Step 7: Update your DNS

  1. Once you've verified that your site is working correctly, update your DNS settings to point to the new domain.
  2. This may take some time to propagate, so be patient.

That's it! With these steps, you should be able to successfully migrate your WordPress site to a new domain.