{"id":26124,"date":"2025-09-03T11:26:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T09:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/?p=26124"},"modified":"2026-01-16T12:51:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T11:51:52","slug":"how-to-migrate-a-wordpress-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/how-to-migrate-a-wordpress-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Migrate a WordPress Website\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Migrating a WordPress website may sound complicated, but with the right approach, it&#8217;s simple and safe. WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet &#8211; from personal blogs to corporate websites and online stores. Whether you want to switch hosting providers or move to a faster server, this step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to migrate your WordPress website smoothly and securely.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-choose-your-migration-method\">Choose Your Migration Method\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three main ways to migrate WordPress:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Migration Plugin<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manual Migration<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hosting Provider\u2019s Migration Tools<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each option works, but the best one depends on your experience level and hosting setup.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-1-using-a-wordpress-migration-plugin\">Method 1: Using a WordPress Migration Plugin\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The easiest way to migrate your WordPress website is with a plugin like <strong>All-in-One WP Migration<\/strong>. It\u2019s beginner-friendly and requires no coding knowledge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-install-the-plugin\">Install the Plugin\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In your WordPress dashboard, go to <strong>Plugins \u2192 Add New<\/strong>, search for <strong>All-in-One WP Migration<\/strong>, and click <strong>Install Now \u2192 Activate<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-export-your-website\">Export Your Website\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Navigate to <strong>All-in-One WP Migration \u2192 Export<\/strong>, select <strong>Export To \u2192 File<\/strong>, and download the backup file to your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-set-up-the-new-wordpress-site\">Set Up the New WordPress Site\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Install WordPress on your new hosting provider. Once done, add the same <strong>All-in-One WP Migration<\/strong> plugin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-import-the-backup\">Import the Backup\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Go to <strong>All-in-One WP Migration \u2192 Import<\/strong>, upload your backup file, and wait for the transfer to complete.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fix-permalinks\">Fix Permalinks\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Head to <strong>Settings \u2192 Permalinks \u2192 Save Changes<\/strong> to refresh your URL structure. Your website migration is now complete!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-2-manual-migration\">Method 2: Manual Migration\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For more control &#8211; especially on large websites &#8211; manual migration gives you full oversight of files and databases.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-back-up-wordpress-files\">Back Up WordPress Files\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use <strong>FTP (like FileZilla)<\/strong> or <strong>cPanel File Manager<\/strong> to download all website files from your old hosting provider.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-export-the-database\">Export the Database\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong>, select your WordPress database, click <strong>Export \u2192 Quick \u2192 SQL<\/strong>, and download the file.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-upload-files-to-the-new-host\">Upload Files to the New Host\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Use FTP or your new host\u2019s file manager to upload all your WordPress files to the <strong>public_html<\/strong> directory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-create-a-new-database\">Create a New Database\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>cPanel \u2192 MySQL Databases<\/strong>, create a new database and user. Assign full privileges to that user.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-import-the-database\">Import the database\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Open <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong>, select the new database, click <strong>Import<\/strong>, and upload your SQL file.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-update-wp-config-php\">Update wp-config.php\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Edit your <strong>wp-config.php<\/strong> file and update it with your new database credentials:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>define('DB_NAME', 'new_database_name');&nbsp;&nbsp;\ndefine('DB_USER', 'new_database_user');\ndefine('DB_PASSWORD', 'new_database_password');&nbsp;&nbsp;\ndefine('DB_HOST', 'localhost');&nbsp;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Save the changes, then go to your WordPress dashboard, refresh permalinks, and verify your site\u2019s functionality. If everything loads correctly, your migration is complete.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-3-hosting-provider-s-migration-tool\">Method 3: Hosting Provider\u2019s Migration Tool\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some hosting providers, including Contabo, offer built-in migration tools. This is the fastest option &#8211; just enter your old hosting details, click <strong>Migrate WordPress<\/strong>, and the system transfers everything automatically.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-common-issues-and-fixes\">Common Issues and Fixes\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with careful migration, a few common problems may occur. Here\u2019s how to fix them quickly:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-broken-links-or-missing-images\">Broken Links or Missing Images\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use the <strong>Velvet Blues Update URLs<\/strong> plugin to update all old URLs in your database when switching domains or hosts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-white-screen-of-death\">White Screen of Death\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your website displays a blank page, increase the PHP memory limit in <strong>wp-config.php<\/strong> by adding this line:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');&nbsp;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-database-connection-error\">Database Connection Error\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Double-check your <strong>wp-config.php<\/strong> credentials to ensure the database name, user, and password are correct.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-watch-our-youtube-video-on-migrating-a-wordpress-website\">Watch Our YouTube Video on Migrating a WordPress Website\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you prefer a visual walk-through, we have a Video on our YouTube ready for you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to migrate a WordPress website\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oXxNSxPcfMI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\">Conclusion\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, which method should you choose?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a <strong>plugin<\/strong> for quick and easy migrations.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose <strong>manual migration<\/strong> if you want full control.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take advantage of your <strong>hosting provider\u2019s migration tool<\/strong> if available &#8211; it\u2019s the fastest option.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Migrating a WordPress website may sound complicated, but with the right approach, it&#8217;s simple and safe. WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet &#8211; from personal blogs to corporate websites and online stores. Whether you want to switch hosting providers or move to a faster server, this step-by-step guide shows you exactly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":26131,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[3116],"class_list":["post-26124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Migrate-WordPress-Website.png",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Migrate-WordPress-Website-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Migrate-WordPress-Website-600x315.png",600,315,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Migrate-WordPress-Website-768x403.png",768,403,true],"large":["https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Migrate-WordPress-Website.png",1200,630,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Migrate-WordPress-Website.png",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Migrate-WordPress-Website.png",1200,630,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Anika Kopte","author_link":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/author\/anika\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Migrating a WordPress website may sound complicated, but with the right approach, it&#8217;s simple and safe. WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet &#8211; from personal blogs to corporate websites and online stores. Whether you want to switch hosting providers or move to a faster server, this step-by-step guide shows you exactly&hellip;","authors":[{"term_id":3116,"user_id":77,"is_guest":0,"slug":"anika","display_name":"Anika Kopte","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1c425caa652c679ae47e3f85a48de4e19f09d37bcb5593ba88a7aa4a08bb1d81?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26124"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27404,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26124\/revisions\/27404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26124"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=26124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}