To migrate a WordPress website, move its files and database—or use a migration plugin designed to transfer the full site—then test the copy before directing visitors to it. Back up both files and database first. If the domain changes, update URLs and plan redirects; WordPress’s built-in content export alone does not copy a complete site.
Decide what is changing
First identify whether you are changing only the host or server, the domain, the WordPress installation’s directory, or the protocol from HTTP to HTTPS. A host-only move that keeps the same database and URLs has fewer URL changes than a domain move. The official WordPress migration guide explains that a move does not necessarily require reinstalling WordPress.
Keep the old site available while you prepare the new one. That gives you time to check the copy before changing where the domain points and helps avoid losing updates made during the transition.
Back up the complete site
Before changing anything, make a restorable backup of both the WordPress files and database. Include the WordPress directory, images, plugins, themes, and other site files. Keep a separate copy; WordPress Learn’s migration tutorial recommends saving a backup to an external drive.
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A content export is not a substitute for this backup: it does not contain the full site setup. Keep the backup until the migrated site is working as intended.
Choose a transfer method
The right route depends on whether you need the whole site or only its content. These options are not interchangeable:
| Approach | What it moves | Work involved | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migration plugin | Intended to transfer the site as a whole; check the selected plugin’s actual scope and limits. | Install and configure it on the source and destination, then export and import the site. | A plugin-guided full-site transfer. |
| Manual files and database | WordPress files and database, with configuration updates as needed. | Transfer files, export and import the database, and adjust configuration and URLs if required. | Administrators comfortable working with server files and databases. |
| WXR content export/import | Posts, pages, custom post types, comments, custom fields, categories, tags, custom taxonomies, and users; not themes, design, or plugin files. | Export and import content, map authors, and separately transfer or recreate the site setup. | Moving content into another WordPress installation, not copying a complete site. |
Use a migration plugin for a guided full-site move
WordPress Learn describes using a migration plugin to export and import a site, and names Duplicator, Backup Migration, and All-in-One WordPress Migration as examples to explore. The tutorial does not identify one as universally best. Before choosing one, check its current compatibility, backup-size limits, and the destination host’s migration process.
Move files and database manually
Copy the WordPress files and transfer the database to the destination. If the new database uses different credentials, update the database name, user, and password in wp-config.php. Follow the steps in the WordPress manual migration guide for the relevant server and URL setup.
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Use WXR when you only need content
In WordPress, go to Tools > Export to create a WXR XML export. Import that file into the destination site when you need to move supported content, but plan separately for the theme, design, plugins, and other site files. WordPress documents the content export’s scope in its Tools Export Screen guide; WordPress Learn also clarifies that the export does not include themes, design, or plugins.
Coordinate the final copy and cutover
Prepare and test the destination before changing where the domain points. If people can publish or submit content while you work, make a fresh backup or export close to cutover and account for changes made after the initial copy. WordPress Learn warns that edits made after an export will not appear in the destination copy.
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- Set up the destination and transfer the site using your chosen method.
- Test the destination while the existing site remains available.
- Make a final copy near cutover if the source site has received updates since the earlier transfer.
- For a host-only move with the same domain, change where the domain points only after the destination copy is ready and checked.
Update URLs and redirects when the domain changes
If the new site uses a different domain or site URL, update the WordPress URL settings and relevant database or configuration values. Plan redirects from old URLs to their corresponding new destinations so existing links and visitors can reach the right pages. WordPress Learn includes 301 redirects among its migration learning outcomes, but the correct mapping depends on your site’s URL structure; do not assume that one blanket redirect is suitable for every site.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the migrated site
After the transfer, check the new site as both a visitor and an administrator. Test representative pages rather than relying on the home page alone.
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- Open the front end and sign in to the administration area.
- Confirm that representative posts, pages, images, and other media load.
- Check internal links and verify that the site uses the intended domain and HTTPS behavior.
- Confirm the database connection works.
- If routes return errors, revisit permalink and rewrite settings. The WordPress migration guide notes that existing rewrite rules may need to be disabled and permalinks reconfigured when a site goes live.
Do not remove the source backup until the destination is working as intended.
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