Move your WordPress site to another domain

Step 1 – Ensure that your current website is functioning

Go to your current WordPress website and verify that everything is functioning correctly.

Step 2 – Download the files of your website

Initially, you must back up your site, including the web space files and your database.

Download the files from your website onto your computer. Save copies of the files to an additional directory on your PC. You can then save it for backup.

Take a look at any of the guides we have compiled if you want some assistance in the following:

• Save your web space using File Manager
• Back up your web space using FTP

Step 3 – Export your database

Export your database using phpMyAdmin and save an exported sql-file to a separate folder on your computer for backup.

If you need help, read our tutorial for how to back up the database you have.

Step 4 – Upload files to your new domain

Log in using FTP and then upload your backup into your new website’s webspace. If you created your backup using File Manager, extract it before uploading.

Step 5 – Import your database

Transfer data backups from your databases into phpMyAdmin. Read our tutorial on how to transfer the database for those needing assistance.

Step 6 – Go to wp_options

Once your database is transferred, look for the table wp_options within the left menu.

Step 7 – Update site and home

The next step is to modify your site’s address on the databases.

1. In wp_options, find the URL of the website and the home. Usually, they are located on the right-hand side of your table between lines 1 and 2.
2. To get your website Click the field under choice_value and replace the previous domain with the new name.
3. Enter for saving.
4. Make the same thing happen in your home.

Step 8 – Update connection details in wp-config

Now you need to change your login credentials from your previous domain to those for the new environment you have registered in WordPress.

We’ve created a step-by-step guide to show how to change the information on your connection should you require assistance.

Step 9 – Check your site on your new domain

Removing your old site to ensure it won’t affect your new website. This can be done by transferring the files into another folder.

Start your new domain in your browser, then check out what it looks like. If everything is functioning exactly as you intended, you’re completed. But sometimes, you will require manual adjustments.

Step 10 – Fix permalinks (Optional)

If you encounter an error 404 when you attempt to access hyperlinks on your site, it is because the Permalinks aren’t working correctly. Fortunately, it’s straightforward to solve this.

1. Log into the WordPress dashboard.
2. Select Options followed by Permalinks
3. Scroll down, and then select to save changes.

Step 11 – Fix broken images (Optional)

If images don’t display correctly, the links still link to an old domain. This can be fixed by manually reinserting the photos.

If you own a website with many pictures, you could try an extension called Better Search Replace. It replaces your domain name with your new domain within your database.

NOTE: Plugins are a third party’s third product and are not something we can assist you with. Contact the creator of the plugin in case you are having issues. We advise you to create backups of the data on your website and your database before making any modifications.

1. Log into Your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click the Plugins, after which click add a new.
3. Find a search term for a better search and replace it with the plugin that has the same name.
4. Click “Activate” to activate the plugin.
5. Click Tools and Better Search Replace.
6. Find the domain name that was previously used and Replace it with that new domain’s name.
7. Choose the tables you would like to search within. Posts are stored inside wp_posts, but you can choose any table.
8. Check the “Run as dry” box and then click the Run Search/Replace button. If you’d like to conduct an initial test run before making any changes, leave the box marked Dry run unchecked.

Step 12 – Recheck your site (Optional)

In most cases, your site has moved successfully, including images and hyperlinks. If you still have issues, we suggest you go through the WordPress codex for further assistance.