Migrate wordpress to another hosting requires a full database export, a file transfer, and an updated DNS record. You must have administrative access to your current control panel and your new host. Compare the current site’s total file size and database size against the limits of your new WordPress hosting plan.
Review Hosting Bureau recommends verifying your current DNS records before starting to ensure your email routing remains intact during the move. Migrating wordpress to another hosting often fails because people rely on automated tools that skip hidden configuration files, which causes the site to break even if the data moved successfully.
- What it is
- WordPress migration is the process of moving a website’s files, database, and configurations to a new server
- Who it suits
- Users needing to move a site to a different host without downtime or changing the public URL
- What you need first
- A clear understanding of the current database size and file count listed in the hosting control panel
- What it costs to change later
- DNS records stay active because the migration preserves the existing domain name and points it to new IP addresses
- First thing to check
- The A record in the public DNS zone confirms the site points to the new server’s IP address
Safe methods to move your WordPress hosting
You can migrate your WordPress site without losing data, email, or rankings by creating a full backup, using a migration plugin to move files, and updating your DNS records. These steps ensure your database, media files, and search engine positions remain intact during the move.
Identify your specific migration setup
Identify your specific situation by checking your current setup. If you use a migration plugin, the tool moves your site files and database. If you manage your own files, you must manually back up the directory and database. If you need to keep email active, verify that your current provider handles your mail server.
- Create a full site backup using a tool like UpdraftPlus to verify all files are saved.
- Install a migration plugin to transfer wordpress hosting to the new server.
- Verify the new site works on a hosting staging environment to check for errors.
- Update the DNS records at your domain registrar to point to the new server.
Hosting staging lets you test your site before the move
Hosting staging is a private copy of your website hosted on a temporary server. It allows you to preview the migration and check for errors without affecting your live site. Using this ensures your website remains online and functional for visitors during the transition.
Migration timeline for WooCommerce stores
Suppose you are migrating a WooCommerce store with a total file size of 5GB. Assume the migration process takes 1 hour for every 2GB of data. In this example, the calculation is 5GB divided by 2GB, which equals 2.5 hours. This means the move will take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
| Site size | Small (under 1GB) | Medium (1GB-10GB) | Large (10GB+) |
| Estimated time | 30 minutes | 2 to 4 hours | Overnight |
Time required to transfer hosting for a WordPress site
The time required depends on your site size and data volume. Small sites typically migrate in under an hour. Large stores with many products may set up WordPress hosting for agencies to move the database and files.
How do I change my hosting provider without affecting my site's SEO rankings?
You can change my hosting provider without affecting my site’s SEO rankings by maintaining a consistent URL structure and an active SSL certificate. Keeping the site’s indexing stable requires a swift transition that prevents 404 errors. Consistent server configurations ensure that search engines continue to crawl and rank the existing content correctly.
The official WordPress server requirements establish that the new host must support PHP version 8.3 or greater, MariaDB version 10.11 or greater or MySQL version 8.0 or greater, and HTTPS to maintain site functionality.
Hosting risk mitigation steps
- Verify the maximum upload limit on the new server to accommodate large media files. The maximum upload limit is the largest file size that a web server allows you to upload at one time.
- Replicate the existing database to the new host to preserve all content.
- Audit the current URL structure to ensure no paths change during the move.
- Compile a full backup of the website files before you begin to transfer wp hosting.
- Provision a new SSL certificate on the destination server to maintain HTTPS status.
Risk of site downtime during the move
Downtime occurs if the DNS propagation takes time to point to the new server IP. Users might experience a temporary outage while the internet updates the site location. You can minimize this by preparing the new environment fully before updating the nameservers.
Data migration rules for your website and email
Email accounts do not move automatically when you perform a wordpress hosting change. You must manually migrate your mail data because the mail server at your old host remains separate from your website files. This process requires a separate migration of your mailboxes to the new provider to understand why the fastest WordPress hosting is fast.
Move data to a new mail server
To keep your mail active, you must move your data to a new mail server. Most users use IMAP, which is a protocol that synchronizes your mail folders across multiple devices. If you understand how managed hosting works, your new host will have access to your old messages.
Verify email and WordPress hosting support
You should check your current hosting plan to see if the provider includes email services. Before switching, you should test WordPress hosting support before signing up. If the new host does not include email, you must choose a separate mail provider to host your accounts.
Whether you need to change your domain name
You do not need to change your domain name during a transfer. A domain name is the text address that people type into a browser to visit your website. The domain name remains your identity regardless of which company hosts the files or the email. You only need to update the DNS records to point to the new server.
Ensure your new host meets the official WordPress server requirements to keep your site functional. This includes support for PHP version 8.3 or greater, MariaDB version 10.11 or greater or MySQL version 8.0 or greater, and HTTPS.
What is the best way to transfer a WordPress hosting site to a new provider?
The best way to transfer a WordPress hosting site involves moving the website files via FTP and the database via a MySQL database export. You can also install WordPress on hosting with cPanel to set up a staging environment for testing. These techniques ensure the site remains functional during the move.
Verify destination server technical standards
Users must verify that the destination server meets specific technical standards. According to WordPress.org, WordPress recommends a host that supports PHP version 8.3 or greater, MariaDB version 10.11 or greater or MySQL version 8.0 or greater, and HTTPS. You can check these specific requirements at the official WordPress server requirements to confirm your new host is compatible.
Minimum server requirements for your new host
The destination host must support PHP version 8.3 or greater and MariaDB version 10.11 or greater or MySQL version 8.0 or greater. The server must also support HTTPS to maintain security and accessibility.
Handling large file uploads during WordPress migration
You can manage large file uploads by increasing the PHP configuration limits on your server. Adjusting specific directives ensures the server accepts large media files or database exports during the migration. These changes prevent the migration from failing due to file size restrictions imposed by the hosting environment.
Modify the upload_max_filesize directive
The php.ini file contains the configuration settings for the PHP engine. The php.ini is a configuration file used to set rules for how the PHP programming language runs on a server. You can modify the upload_max_filesize directive to set the maximum size for individual files.
According to WordPress.org, the limit on the size of individual file uploads can be configured using the upload_max_filesize php.ini directive. This specific setting determines the maximum size of a single file that the server accepts, though you should evaluate free WordPress hosting limitations before choosing a provider.
Set the post_max_size limit
The post_max_size directive limits the total size of the data sent in a single request. This value must be equal to or larger than the upload_max_filesize value. If the migration involves a large database, both values must accommodate the total payload size.
Strategies for managing large file transfers
To transfer hosting of a WordPress site with large files, you can use a migration plugin that breaks files into smaller chunks. Alternatively, you can use a command line interface to migrate files directly between servers. These methods bypass the web server limitations and compare Windows with Linux hosting to prevent timeout errors during the move.
Migrate your WordPress hosting without losing your data or rankings
Choosing a new provider requires a clear technical roadmap to ensure your website remains online and your data stays intact during the transition.
Migration checklist
- Identify your current hosting specifications. List your current PHP version, database version, and server limits. This provides the baseline for your new requirements.
- Verify the new host meets WordPress.org recommendations. Confirm the new provider supports PHP version 8.3 or greater, MariaDB version 10.11 or greater or MySQL version 8.0 or greater, and HTTPS.
- Check the new server upload limits. Ask the new provider for their post_max_size php.ini directive. Ensure it is large enough to handle your total site data.
- Confirm individual file upload capacity. Verify the upload_max_filesize php.ini directive with the new host. This ensures your largest media files will transfer successfully.
- Request a migration plan from a technical professional. Ask a developer to confirm the move will preserve your email and rankings. A confirmed plan means you are ready to proceed.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I test the new hosting environment before making the final switch?
- Testing the new hosting environment involves using a hosting staging environment to check for errors. This allows you to verify the site works before updating the nameservers.
- Will moving my wordpress hosting impact my SEO rankings?
- You can change hosting of wordpress site without affecting rankings by maintaining a consistent URL structure and an active SSL certificate. Swift transitions prevent 404 errors to keep indexing stable.
- Is there a specific way to transfer wordpress hosting to a new provider?
- The best way to transfer wordpress hosting involves moving files via FTP and the database via a MySQL database export. Using a migration plugin also moves your site files and database.
- How do I move my email data during the migration?
- Email accounts do not move automatically when you perform a wordpress hosting change. You must manually migrate your mail data to a new server to keep your mail active.