How to Migrate a WordPress Website From One Host to Another

One of the best things about having a self-hosted WordPress website is that you have the freedom to choose where your website is hosted. That means if you’re currently on a shared hosting platform and you’re ready to upgrade security and site speeds with managed hosting providers like Kinsta or BigScoots, you can do it! 

It sounds like a huge process, but it’s something that actually only takes a few clicks and is relatively simple to do. Today, we’re going to talk about how to migrate a WordPress website from one host to another. I’ll walk you through each step and show you how to use my favorite plugin for the process. Let’s go! 

 

Why migrate a WordPress website?

Before we get into how to migrate a WordPress website, let’s talk about why you might want to migrate a WordPress website.

Here are the reasons most people take the leap and make the switch from shared hosting to a managed hosting service like BigScoots or Kinsta:

• Improved security: Some managed hosting providers offer better security features to protect your data (and more frequent backups of your information). 
• Better site speed and performance: If your current host is S L O W, it might be time for an upgrade. A faster site means happier visitors and better SEO. Win-win!
• Better support: Managed hosting support teams are typically easier to get ahold of and super helpful with any problems or website hiccups.
• Cost considerations: Cheaper isn’t necessarily better, but sometimes you’ll come across a great deal for an amazing hosting provider.

 

Potential technical difficulties with WordPress migration

Migrating a WordPress website isn’t complicated, but moving a website from one place to another can feel risky and a little scary. What if you lose all your data? What if your site goes down? What if you can’t get everything working with the new host?

 WordPress migration can indeed come with challenges, like:

• Potential data loss (cue the horror music)
• Downtime during migration (the dreaded “site unavailable” message)
• Technical complexities (FTP what now?)

And, yes, those things can be really intimidating. But with the right tools and steps, things get so much easier-and you can confidently migrate a site without worrying about things going wrong. 

 

Our migration plugin pick: Migrate Guru

So, if you’re wondering how to move a WordPress website to a new host, this is where a plugin comes in handy! Our favorite to use is Migrate Guru. It’s far, far easier than other WordPress migration plugins we’ve tried, and we haven’t hit any hiccups yet. Here’s why we love it.

1. It’s simple: We’re talking a few clicks simple. No need to be a developer!
2. It’s fast: In just a few minutes (depending on the size of the site), your site can be up and running on its new home.
3. It’s reliable: I’ve used a lot of migration plugins over the years, and Migration Guru is hands down the most straightforward and dependable I’ve found.

Preparing for WordPress migration

Before we dive into how to transfer a WordPress site to another account, let’s take care of a few necessary prep steps.

First, you will need to choose a new host. Whether you’re eyeing Kinsta, Flywheel, or another provider, make sure you’ve got your new hosting account set up and ready to go.

Second, back up your website. Always, always, ALWAYS back up your site to a downloadable backup before migrating It’s like wearing a seatbelt-you hope you won’t need it, but you’ll be glad you have it if something goes wrong.

 

Step-by-step guide: how to migrate a WordPress website using Migrate Guru 

 

1. 1. Login to your current WordPress account. Take a minute here to update all of your plugins (just in case any of them are out of date!)
   2. Click on Plugins → Add New.
   3. Search for Migrate Guru.
   4. Click Install Now.
   5. Once it’s installed, click Activate.

• Repeat steps 1-4 for your new site location.

1. On the original site, find and click on Migrate Guru. If you get a popup about receiving plugin alerts & updates, it’s OK to click Skip.
2. Enter your email address and agree to the terms & conditions before clicking Migrate.
3. Select the host you’re migrating to.
4. Now you’ll need to get the migration key from your new site. Click over to your destination site (your newly hosted WordPress install) and click on Migrate Guru. Copy the destination key.
5. Go back to your old site and paste the migration key into the Migration Key field, then hit the Migrate button.
6. Check your new site to make sure everything migrated smoothly. (I’ve never had anything go awry, but it’s always best to double check!)

Want to follow along with our step by step guide of migrating a site with MigrateGuru?

 

 

 

That’s it! You’ve migrated your site

And there you have it! Now you can migrate a WordPress website without as much stress, in just a few easy clicks. That’s why we love Migrate Guru.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your hosting or just want to explore your options, give Migrate Guru a try. It’s free, it’s easy, and it might just make your WordPress migration a whole lot simpler.

 

Ready to make your move?

We help service providers create WordPress websites that get found online, attract more traffic, and convert visitors to clients & handle any migrations needed along the way. Book a call to see if we’re a perfect fit for each other!