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WordPress 3 min read · Updated July 2026

Different Ways to Migrate a WordPress Website: A Comprehensive Guide

AK
Ajay Khandal
WordPress Developer
TL;DR

There are four main ways to migrate a WordPress site to a new host or server: manual migration (backing up files and database yourself via FTP and phpMyAdmin), migration plugins like Duplicator or UpdraftPlus, host-provided migration tools, or WP-CLI over SSH for developers comfortable with the command line. Manual and WP-CLI methods give you the most control but require technical know-how; plugins and hosting tools are faster and safer for non-developers, but always back up your site before starting any migration method.

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Manual migration

  • Backup your WordPress files and database from the current server.
  • Upload the files to the new server using FTP or file manager.
  • Create a new database on the new server and import the database backup.
  • Update the wp-config.php file with the new database credentials.
  • Update the site URL in the WordPress database using a tool like phpMyAdmin.

Different Ways to Migrate a WordPress Website: A Comprehensive Guide

WordPress migration plugins

  • There are several plugins available that simplify the migration process, such as “Duplicator,” “All-in-One WP
    Migration,” and “UpdraftPlus.
  • Install and activate the migration plugin on your current site.
  • Use the plugin to create a backup package of your website files and database.
  • Download the backup package from the plugin and upload it to the new server.
  • Install a fresh copy of WordPress on the new server.
  • Install and activate the migration plugin on the new site.
  • Use the plugin to restore the backup package, which will migrate your files and database.

For businesses new to WordPress, check out our
Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Website Development
to get started.

Hosting-specific migration tools

  • Many hosting providers offer migration tools specifically designed for transferring WordPress websites between their
    servers.
  • Check if your current and new hosting providers offer such tools, as they can simplify the migration process
    significantly.
  • Typically, these tools involve a few clicks to initiate the migration and transfer your website seamlessly.

Using SSH and WP-CLI

  • If you have SSH access to both servers and are comfortable using the command line, you can use WP-CLI, the
    command-line interface for WordPress, to migrate your site.
  • Export the database from the source server using WP-CLI:
    wp db export
  • Copy the WordPress files from the source server to the destination server using SSH commands like
    scp
    or
    rsync
  • Import the database on the destination server using WP-CLI:
    wp db import
  • Update the site URL and any necessary configurations using WP-CLI commands or by editing the wp-config.php file.

These are some of the common methods for migrating a WordPress website to a new server. The most suitable method for
you may depend on your technical expertise, hosting environment, and available tools.

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To dive deeper, see our complete WordPress migration guide.

AK

Written by Ajay Khandal

WordPress Developer — building, fixing and speeding up WordPress sites.

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