How to migrate a WordPress website
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Prepare the move
Back up files and the database, inventory email and DNS settings, and confirm the destination meets WordPress requirements.
Copy and test
Use a supported migration method, test on a temporary address where possible, and check images, forms, internal links, and login before switching DNS.
Finish carefully
Update DNS, verify HTTPS and redirects, test critical workflows, and retain the old account until the new site and email work correctly.
A safe cutover sequence
Lower DNS TTL in advance if you manage DNS, take a final backup, test the destination with a temporary mapping, then update the necessary DNS records. Avoid editing content on both copies during the transition.
After the switch
Check the site on a separate network, submit a form, verify email, and inspect redirects. Keep the old host until the new site and mail have been stable.
Put this guide to work
Use this short worksheet before making changes or purchasing a service. Keep your answers with your website records so you can revisit them when your needs or contract change.
- Prepare the move: Back up files and the database, inventory email and DNS settings, and confirm the destination meets WordPress requirements. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- Copy and test: Use a supported migration method, test on a temporary address where possible, and check images, forms, internal links, and login before switching DNS. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- Finish carefully: Update DNS, verify HTTPS and redirects, test critical workflows, and retain the old account until the new site and email work correctly. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
If an answer is uncertain, pause that part of the decision and verify it. For changes to a live site, make a restorable backup first and test the result before deleting the previous configuration.