What happens when you move WordPress to a new host

Moving a WordPress site means copying your entire site — all your posts, pages, images, settings, and the database that holds them — from your current hosting company to a new one. The process involves exporting your site's data, uploading it to the new host, and pointing your domain name to the new server. Most moves take between a few hours and a full day, depending on your site's size and how familiar you are with the steps.

The reason to move is usually cost, performance, or customer service. Some hosts become expensive after an introductory period, others slow down as your site grows, and some simply stop responding to support requests. Moving is not as complicated as it sounds, but it does require you to follow steps in order and to be careful with file names and passwords.

Key Takeaways

  • Before you start, back up your entire site on your current host and download that backup to your own computer.
  • Export your WordPress database using phpMyAdmin or a plugin like All-in-One WP Migration, then export your media files and theme files separately.
  • Set up WordPress on your new host, import your database and files, and test everything on a temporary domain before changing your main domain.
  • After your site works on the new host, update your domain's nameservers to point to the new hosting company, which usually takes a few hours to take effect.
  • Keep your old hosting account active for at least 48 hours after the move in case something goes wrong and you need to switch back.

Back up your site before you do anything else

Your current host may offer a one-click backup tool in your control panel. Look for a button labeled "Backup" or "Full Backup" in cPanel, Plesk, or whatever control panel your host uses. Download that backup file to your computer — do not leave it only on the host's server, because you will lose it if something goes wrong during the move.

If your host does not offer a backup tool, use the All-in-One WP Migration plugin. Install it from the WordPress plugin directory, go to All-in-One WP Migration, click Export, and choose Export to File. This creates a single file containing your entire site. Download it to your computer and keep it there until the move is complete.

A backup is your safety net. If the new host has problems or you realize you made a mistake, you can restore from this file and start over. Do not skip this step.

Export your database and files from the old host

Your WordPress site has two parts: the database (which holds all your posts, pages, comments, and settings) and the files (your theme, plugins, images, and the WordPress core code). You need both.

To export the database, log into your hosting control panel and find phpMyAdmin. Click on your WordPress database name on the left side, then click the Export tab at the top. Choose "Quick" export and the SQL format, then click Go. This downloads a .sql file to your computer. This file is your database backup.

To export your files, use the File Manager in your control panel or an FTP client like FileZilla. Navigate to your public_html or www folder (wherever your WordPress files live), select all folders and files, and download them to a folder on your computer. This includes wp-content (your themes, plugins, and uploads), wp-admin, wp-includes, and all the wp-config.php and other root files. This step takes longer if your site has many images, but it is necessary.

Set up WordPress on your new host

Log into your new host's control panel. Most hosting companies offer a one-click WordPress installer — look for "WordPress" or "Softaculous" in the control panel. Click it and choose to install WordPress in a temporary folder, like /wordpress or /staging. Do not install it in the root directory yet, because you want to test everything before your live site moves.

During installation, the system will ask you to create a database name and a database user. Write these down. It will also ask for a site title and admin username — these do not matter yet, because you will replace them when you import your old site's data.

After installation finishes, you will have a working WordPress site at a temporary URL like yourdomainname.com/wordpress. This is your testing ground.

Import your database and files into the new host

The easiest way to import everything is to use All-in-One WP Migration on the new host too. Install the plugin, go to All-in-One WP Migration, click Import, and upload the .wpress file you exported from your old host. The plugin will import your database, files, images, and settings all at once. This usually takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on file size.

If you prefer to import manually, use phpMyAdmin on the new host to import your .sql database file. Log into phpMyAdmin, click your new database name, click Import, choose your .sql file, and click Go. Then use File Manager or FTP to upload all your WordPress files (wp-content, wp-admin, wp-includes, wp-config.php, etc.) into the same temporary folder where you installed WordPress.

After import, visit your temporary WordPress URL and log in with your old admin username and password. Check that your posts, pages, images, and plugins are all there. Click around a few pages to make sure links work and images load. This testing step catches problems before your live site moves.

Point your domain to the new host

Your domain name currently points to your old host's servers through something called nameservers. To move your site live, you need to change these nameservers to point to your new host instead.

Log into the account where you registered your domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, or wherever you bought it). Find the DNS or Nameservers section. Your new host will give you two or four nameserver addresses — they look like ns1.newhostname.com and ns2.newhostname.com. Replace your old nameservers with these new ones.

This change takes effect gradually over a few hours to 48 hours. During this time, some visitors will see your old site and some will see your new one. This is normal. You can check the status by going to whatsmydns.net, typing your domain name, and clicking Search. When all the entries turn green, your domain is fully pointing to the new host.

Once your domain is pointing to the new host, move your WordPress installation from the temporary folder to the root directory. Use File Manager or FTP to move all files from /wordpress to the root (public_html or www), or reinstall WordPress in the root directory and import your database again. Your site is now live on the new host.

Keep your old host active and check for problems

Do not cancel your old hosting account immediately. Leave it active for at least 48 hours after the domain switch. If something goes wrong — a plugin breaks on the new host, images do not load, or email stops working — you can quickly switch your nameservers back to the old host while you fix the problem.

After the move, test your site thoroughly. Check that all pages load, images display, forms submit, and plugins work. If you use email through your domain, send a test email to make sure that still works. Search your site for any broken links or missing images.

Once you are confident everything works, you can cancel your old hosting account. But keep a copy of your backup file on your computer for at least a month, in case you need to restore something you missed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my domain registrar and hosting company are different?

This is common and makes the move easier. You only change nameservers at your registrar (where you bought the domain), not at your host. Your new host will tell you which nameservers to enter at your registrar. The registrar and host do not need to be the same company.

Can I move my site without any downtime?

Not completely, but you can minimize it. Set up and test everything on the new host first, then change nameservers during a slow time (like late evening). The switch takes a few hours to complete globally, so some visitors may see an error page briefly. Most people will not notice.

What if I get an error when importing my database?

The most common cause is a file size limit on the new host. If your .sql file is larger than the host allows, use All-in-One WP Migration instead, which handles large files better. If that does not work, contact your new host's support — they can import the database for you.

Do I need to change anything in WordPress settings after the move?

Usually not. WordPress stores your site URL in the database, so it updates automatically when you import. However, check Settings > General and confirm that both the WordPress Address and Site Address show your correct domain name. If they still show your old host's address, update them manually.

What happens to my email if I move hosts?

Email forwarding depends on your email setup. If you use email through your hosting company, you will need to set it up again on the new host. If you use a separate email service like Google Workspace or Zoho Mail, nothing changes — email continues to work because it points to that service, not your host. Check with your new host about email setup before you move.