Introduction
Your website is like your home on the internet. It should be fast, secure, and always available to your visitors. But sometimes, the place where your website lives—called a web host—may not be working well for you anymore. Maybe your site has become slow, crashes often, or lacks important features. That’s when many people think about moving their website to a better hosting provider. This process is called website migration.
Website migration means taking everything from your old web host and moving it to a new one. This includes your website’s files, images, databases, and settings. It might sound hard, but it doesn’t have to be. With a clear plan and the right tools, you can move your website safely and smoothly.
There are many reasons people migrate their websites in 2025. Some do it because their website has grown and their old hosting can’t handle the traffic. Others want faster loading times, stronger security, or more helpful customer support. Some switch to save money or take advantage of new features like automatic backups or better caching. Whatever the reason, the goal is usually the same: to give visitors a better experience and to make your website easier to manage.
In today’s world, people expect websites to load quickly and work on all devices. If your website is slow or offline often, it can hurt your reputation. You might lose visitors, sales, or search engine rankings. A slow or broken site can even make people stop trusting your business. That’s why choosing the right hosting provider—and moving your site if needed—is so important.
Now you might be thinking, isn’t moving a website risky? It can be if it’s done without planning. If you skip steps or rush the process, you could lose data, break links, or cause your site to go offline. That’s why many people are nervous about migration. But don’t worry—when done correctly, migration is safe and even beneficial. In fact, many hosting companies now help with free or paid migration services, and there are easy-to-use tools available, especially for WordPress users.
You don’t need to be a tech expert to move your website. All you need is the right guidance. That’s where this guide comes in. It’s written in a simple, easy-to-follow way to help you through the entire process. You’ll learn how to back up your website, move your files, set up the new hosting, and make sure everything works just right. You’ll also learn how to update DNS settings, keep your SEO safe, and avoid downtime.
This guide is for everyone—bloggers, business owners, online store owners, and even developers. Whether your site is big or small, this guide will help you move it without stress. You’ll learn the best tools, smart tips, and what to avoid. You’ll gain the confidence to take control of your website’s future.
If your website deserves a faster, safer, and more reliable home, then it’s time to get started. With the right steps, you can make the move without trouble—and your visitors will thank you for it. For more info: Migrate or move WordPress website to a new host in 2025
Pre-Migration Checklist
Before you move your website to a new host, there are a few very important things you need to do. Think of this step like packing before moving to a new house. If you forget something or rush through, you might lose valuable stuff or break something along the way. Taking a little time to prepare properly can save you from big problems later.
The first and most important thing is to take a full backup of your website. This means saving all your website files and your database. Your files include things like images, themes, plugins, and core WordPress files. Your database holds your posts, pages, settings, and user information. Both are needed to rebuild your site exactly the way it is. Even if your migration goes smoothly, a backup gives you peace of mind. If anything goes wrong, you can restore your site back to how it was.
Next, you need to make sure that you control your domain name and DNS settings. Your domain is your website’s address on the internet—like "example.com." DNS settings tell browsers where to find your website. If you don’t have access to your domain account, you won’t be able to point your domain to the new host later. Make sure you know the login info for your domain provider, like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or wherever you registered it.
Before the move, it’s also important to prepare your new hosting account. You’ll need to log in to your new host, create a space for your website (usually called an account or a cPanel), and gather details like your FTP login, cPanel access, and database login. If your new host offers a migration tool, now is the time to learn how it works. Some hosts even offer free migration services—check with their support team in advance.
Take note of your current website’s setup. Write down the themes, plugins, and special settings you’re using. Some plugins or tools may not work the same on your new hosting, so having a record helps you check everything after the move. You can also take screenshots of your dashboard and plugin settings as a quick visual reminder. This step is super helpful if you ever need to rebuild or troubleshoot your website.
Finally, double-check the technical requirements of your website. Most websites use PHP and MySQL to run. Make sure your new host supports the right versions of both. If your site uses PHP 8.1, for example, and your new host only supports PHP 7.4, things might break. You can find this info in your WordPress site health check or ask your current host. Then compare it with the specs of your new host.
Doing these steps before you start the migration gives you control and reduces the chance of mistakes. It’s like checking your car before a long trip—safe, smart, and necessary. Now that you’ve packed your website safely and know where everything is, you’re ready to begin the move with confidence.
Popular Ways to Migrate a WordPress Website
There are many ways to move a WordPress website to a new host. Some are easy and beginner-friendly, while others give more control for experienced users. Let’s look at the most trusted methods used in 2025.
Manual Migration with FTP and phpMyAdmin
This method gives you full control of the migration process. You start by using an FTP client like FileZilla to download all your website files, including themes, plugins, media uploads, and WordPress core files. Then, you export your website database using phpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel. After that, you upload the files to your new hosting account and import the database. You may need to update the wp-config.php file with your new database settings. This method is best if you have technical knowledge and want to do everything by hand. It takes more time, but some users prefer it because they can monitor every step.
Using a WordPress Migration Plugin
Plugins make site migration fast and easy. Tools like All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator, Migrate Guru, and UpdraftPlus allow you to export your entire site as a single file. Then you install WordPress on the new host, add the same plugin, and restore the file. Most of these tools handle all files and the database for you, and some even update your URLs automatically. This method is perfect for beginners or anyone who wants a smooth, no-code solution. It’s also useful if your site is large or has complex settings.
Letting Your Hosting Provider Handle It
Many hosting companies today offer free migration services. If you’ve signed up with hosts like SiteGround, Cloudways, Hostinger, Bluehost, or WP Engine, they may move your site for free. Sometimes this is done automatically using their tools, or their support team does it for you. This is the easiest and safest way to migrate if you don’t want to worry about technical details. It also means your host will make sure everything works after the move, which can save you from post-migration headaches.
Migrating with WP-CLI (For Developers)
WP-CLI is a tool that lets you control your WordPress site using command-line instructions. It’s powerful and fast but requires technical skills and SSH access to your server. With WP-CLI, you can export databases, move files, update URLs, and even automate the entire migration process. Developers often use this for large or repeat migrations because it saves time and reduces errors. If you’re comfortable with terminal commands and want maximum speed and control, this is a solid option.
Method One: Manual WordPress Migration (Step-by-Step)
If you want full control over your site move, manual migration is a trusted method. It might sound technical, but if you follow the steps carefully, it’s very doable. You’ll need access to both your old and new hosting accounts, and you’ll be using tools like FileZilla and phpMyAdmin. Here’s how to do it in the right order:
Download All Website Files Using FTP
First, connect to your current website using an FTP tool like FileZilla or your hosting cPanel's File Manager. Once connected, go to the public_html folder (or your WordPress folder) and download everything. This includes your WordPress core files, themes, plugins, images, and all the content that makes your site work. Be sure to keep the folder structure exactly the same when saving to your computer.
Export the Database Using phpMyAdmin
Next, log in to your hosting control panel and open phpMyAdmin. This is where your website's database lives. Select your site’s database, then click the "Export" tab at the top. Choose the "Quick" export method and the format as "SQL", then hit "Go." This will download a .sql file to your computer, which holds all your posts, settings, and user data.
Upload Files to Your New Host Using FTP
Now it’s time to connect to your new hosting account using FTP or the File Manager again. Find the public_html folder (or whichever folder your new site will use), and upload all the files you downloaded earlier. This can take a while depending on your internet speed, so be patient. Once done, your site files are now on the new server.
Create a New Database on Your New Hosting
Go to your new hosting cPanel or dashboard and create a new MySQL database. You’ll also need to create a new database user and give that user full permissions to the database. Save the database name, username, and password—you’ll need these in the next step.
Import the Old Database into the New One
After setting up your new database, go to phpMyAdmin on your new host. Choose the new database you just created, then click the "Import" tab. Now select the .sql file you exported earlier and upload it. Once the import finishes, your entire WordPress database is now on the new host.
Edit the wp-config.php File with New Database Details
Open the wp-config.php file in the root folder of your site using a code editor or through File Manager. Look for the lines that define your database name, username, and password. Replace the old ones with your new database info. This file connects WordPress to your database, so make sure everything is typed correctly.
Fix the Site URLs if Something Looks Broken
If your site was using a different domain or things aren’t loading right, you may need to update the site URLs in the database. You can do this in phpMyAdmin by editing the siteurl and home rows in the wp_options table. Or you can use WP-CLI to search and replace old URLs with your new ones. This step helps make sure images, links, and pages work properly after the move.
Preview and Test Your Site Using a Temporary URL
Before pointing your domain to the new host, test your site using a temporary preview link or by editing your computer’s hosts file. Visit your site and check that everything loads correctly—pages, posts, images, menus, and login. This is your chance to fix any small issues before making the site live.
Recommended WordPress Migration Plugins in 2025
In 2025, several trusted plugins are widely used to make WordPress migration easier and faster. Tools like UpdraftPlus, Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration, and Migrate Guru are popular choices. Each plugin has a unique process and feature set, but they all aim to move your site without much manual work. These plugins are especially helpful for beginners or those who don’t want to deal with databases, FTP clients, or cPanel access.
Using UpdraftPlus to Migrate a Website
UpdraftPlus is known for its simplicity and powerful backup options. To migrate with it, first install UpdraftPlus on your current website and create a full backup of all files and the database. Then install WordPress and UpdraftPlus on the new host. From there, upload your backup files using the restore option inside the plugin settings. Once the restore completes, your entire site should look and work exactly the same on the new hosting.
Using Duplicator to Move Your WordPress Site
Duplicator works by packaging your entire site, including files and database, into a downloadable ZIP archive along with an installer script. First, you install the plugin and create a new package. After downloading the archive and installer, upload both to your new host. Access the installer URL in a browser, and follow the guided steps to extract and configure the site. The tool handles the database creation and configuration automatically if you have the credentials ready.
Migrating with All-in-One WP Migration
All-in-One WP Migration is one of the easiest tools for beginners. You export your site into a single file using the plugin, then install WordPress and the same plugin on the new server. After that, you use the import function to upload the file. For larger websites, you may need to install a free extension to increase the upload size limit. Once the process finishes, your site should be fully moved and ready to use.
Using Migrate Guru for Large Sites and Multisite Networks
Migrate Guru is a free tool developed by BlogVault and is designed for large websites, WooCommerce stores, and multisite networks. It does not require manual file downloads or uploads. You enter your destination host’s FTP or cPanel credentials, and the plugin handles everything from there using its secure migration servers. It's a fast and reliable option, especially for websites larger than 1GB or hosted on managed WordPress platforms.
What to Do After Downloading and Uploading Files with Any Plugin
After using your chosen plugin to create a backup or export file, you’ll usually need to upload it to the new WordPress installation on your new hosting provider. Depending on the plugin, you might do this using an upload tool, FTP, or direct server access. Once uploaded, you’ll use the plugin’s interface to complete the restore or import process. Most plugins will replace all your themes, plugins, media files, and database content, so everything is exactly how it was before.
Troubleshooting Common Plugin Migration Errors
Sometimes migration plugins run into errors. These could include timeout issues, upload file size limits, missing file errors, or database import failures. If you see an error, make sure your server meets the plugin's system requirements. Increase the upload limit in php.ini or ask your hosting provider for help. Clearing cache and disabling other plugins can also help avoid plugin conflicts during migration.
Plugin vs Manual Migration – Which One Should You Use?
If you're not very technical or simply want the fastest method, a plugin is usually the best way to go. They are especially helpful for beginners and small business owners. Manual migration gives you more control and is better for developers, advanced users, or when working with complex setups like multisite, large WooCommerce stores, or special customizations. Sometimes plugins may not work properly if your old or new host has limitations, so it's good to know both options.
Method Three: Let the Hosting Provider Handle It
Many hosting companies understand that moving a website can be stressful for their customers. To make the process easier, several popular hosts now offer free migration services. This means the hosting provider’s team or automated tools will move your entire website for you, often at no extra cost. This option is perfect for beginners or anyone who wants to avoid the technical work of manual migration.
Some well-known hosts that offer free migration services include Cloudways, SiteGround, A2 Hosting, Hostinger, Rocket.net, and more. These companies have developed smooth migration processes and usually provide support teams who can guide you or even handle the migration from start to finish. Choosing a host with a free migration service can save you time and reduce risks during your website move.
To request a migration from your new hosting provider, you usually need to contact their support team or fill out a migration request form through their website or control panel. You will be asked to provide some basic information, such as your current website URL, login details to your old hosting account (like FTP, cPanel, or SSH), and your domain registrar credentials if applicable. It’s important to provide accurate and complete information to help the support team migrate your site smoothly.
Once the migration starts, the hosting provider takes care of copying all your website files, databases, and settings to the new server. However, your involvement doesn’t end there. After the migration is complete, you should carefully check your website to make sure everything works correctly. Look for broken links, missing images, and test key functions like forms, shopping carts, or login areas. Also, verify that your domain is properly pointing to the new server and that SSL certificates (for HTTPS) are working.
While the hosting company usually tests the migration thoroughly, it’s wise to keep a backup of your website just in case something goes wrong. Monitor your site’s speed and uptime closely for a few days after the move to catch any issues early. If you notice problems, contact your hosting support immediately so they can help resolve them quickly.
Letting your hosting provider handle the migration takes a lot of pressure off you and makes the entire process much smoother. It’s an excellent choice if you want expert help and don’t want to learn the technical details. Just remember to stay involved by double-checking your site after the move and keeping a backup handy.
Migrating Email Accounts and MX Records
When moving your website to a new hosting provider, don’t forget about your email accounts. If your email is managed by your current web host, it’s important to migrate those email accounts and settings properly to avoid losing messages or service interruptions.
If Your Host Manages Your Email (For Example, Using cPanel)
Many web hosting providers include email services bundled with your website hosting, especially if they use cPanel. If that’s the case, your email accounts, inboxes, and settings live on your current server. When migrating your website, you’ll want to manually recreate all your email accounts on the new host before switching over. Unfortunately, email data usually doesn’t migrate automatically with website files, so you might need to back up your emails using an email client like Outlook or Thunderbird and then restore them afterward.
It’s a good idea to ask your new hosting provider if they offer email migration support. Some hosts provide tools or services that can help move your emails safely. Also, remember to double-check your email client settings (like SMTP, IMAP, or POP3) after migration to match the new host’s details.
For Google Workspace or Zoho Mail Users
If you use third-party email services such as Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) or Zoho Mail, your email isn’t hosted on your website’s server. In this case, migrating your website does not directly affect your email inboxes or accounts, but you still need to manage your domain’s DNS records carefully.
Your MX (Mail Exchange) records in your domain’s DNS settings tell the internet where to deliver your email. When you move your website hosting, your domain’s DNS settings might need updating. Make sure your MX records continue pointing to your email provider’s servers (Google or Zoho). Otherwise, your email could stop working or go to the wrong server.
How to Reconfigure MX and DNS Records After Migration
After completing your website migration, you’ll usually update your domain’s DNS settings to point your domain to the new hosting server. While doing this, be careful not to overwrite or remove your MX records.
Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider’s control panel and verify that your MX records still point to your email service’s servers. If you moved to a new DNS provider or hosting with DNS management, you may need to manually add the MX records again based on your email provider’s instructions.
Along with MX records, double-check any related DNS entries such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. These help prevent spam and ensure your emails are delivered securely. Keeping these DNS records accurate is crucial for uninterrupted email service.
Updating DNS and Nameservers
Once you have successfully migrated your website files and database to your new hosting provider, the next important step is to update your domain’s DNS settings so that visitors will be directed to your new server. This usually means changing your domain’s nameservers or DNS records.
How to Change Your Domain’s Nameservers
Nameservers are like the address book of the internet; they tell browsers where to find your website. When you switch hosting providers, you need to update your domain’s nameservers to point to the new host. To do this, log into the account where your domain is registered—this might be with companies like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains.
Inside your domain management panel, look for options related to DNS or nameservers. Replace the old nameservers with the ones provided by your new hosting company. These will usually be a set of addresses like ns1.newhost.com and ns2.newhost.com. Save the changes, and your domain will start directing traffic to the new server.
Propagation Time: What to Expect
After updating your nameservers, keep in mind that changes don’t happen instantly. It takes time for the internet to recognize and update the new information worldwide. This delay is called DNS propagation and can last anywhere from a few minutes up to 48 hours, though it’s often much faster nowadays.
During propagation, some visitors may still be directed to your old hosting while others see the new site. This is completely normal and expected. Patience is key during this phase because the changes need to spread across many servers around the globe.
Tools to Monitor DNS Propagation
To check if your DNS changes have fully propagated, you can use free online tools like WhatsMyDNS.net, DNSChecker.org, or IntoDNS.com. These websites allow you to enter your domain and see which nameservers are currently resolving around the world. This helps you monitor the progress and verify that your site is correctly pointing to your new host.
Temporary Downtime vs. Seamless Transition
If you prepared your migration carefully and tested your site on a temporary URL before updating DNS, you can avoid most downtime. However, some short interruptions might still occur during propagation.
To reduce downtime, avoid deleting your old website or canceling your old hosting until you confirm the new site is live and working perfectly. This way, visitors who reach the old server during propagation will still see your website without errors.
With proper planning and by following best practices, most website migrations are seamless, and visitors won’t notice any disruption.
Testing Your Site Before Going Live
Before you officially point your domain to the new hosting server, it’s very important to test your migrated website thoroughly. This helps you catch any problems early and avoid frustrating downtime or errors for your visitors once the site is live.
Accessing the Site Using a Temporary URL or Hosts File Edit
Most hosting providers offer a temporary URL or staging link that lets you view your site on the new server before updating DNS. This link usually looks like yourdomain.newhost.com or something similar. Using this, you can check your entire site without affecting your live website.
If your host doesn’t provide a temporary URL, you can edit the hosts file on your computer. This special file overrides domain lookups, allowing you to view the site as if the domain was already pointing to the new server. It’s a safe way to preview the site without changing public DNS settings.
Checking Website Functionality
When testing your site, go through all key parts carefully. Visit different pages to confirm they load correctly. Test any contact or payment forms to make sure they send data as expected. Log in to the WordPress admin panel and check if all your plugins work and your settings remain intact. It’s a good idea to test any special features like eCommerce carts, membership areas, or custom scripts to ensure they function properly.
Verifying Image Links and Internal URLs
Images and internal links can sometimes break during migration, especially if URLs weren’t updated correctly. Browse your pages and confirm that images load properly without missing pictures or broken thumbnails. Click internal links to make sure they lead to the right pages. If you find broken links, you might need to fix URLs in your database or use a plugin to update links site-wide.
Checking Browser Console and Debug Logs
For more technical testing, open your browser’s developer console to look for any error messages or warnings related to scripts, styles, or network issues. These messages can hint at problems with plugins, themes, or resource loading.
Additionally, if you have WordPress debugging enabled (WP_DEBUG), check the error logs for any PHP notices or errors. Resolving these issues before going live helps prevent unexpected problems once your visitors start using the site.
Fixing Common Post-Migration Issues
After migrating your WordPress website, you might face some common problems. Knowing how to identify and fix these issues will help you get your site back to normal quickly.
Homepage Not Loading? Check Permalinks and .htaccess
If your homepage or other pages return a 404 error or don’t load properly, the problem often lies in the permalink settings or the .htaccess file. To fix this, log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Permalinks, and simply click “Save Changes” without making edits. This refreshes your permalink structure and can fix broken URLs.
If the problem persists, check your .htaccess file in your website’s root directory. Sometimes it gets corrupted during migration. You can rename the existing .htaccess to .htaccess_backup and then re-save permalinks in WordPress to generate a fresh file.
White Screen of Death
Seeing a completely blank white screen is frustrating and often caused by PHP errors, exhausted memory limits, or incompatible plugins or themes. Enable debugging by adding define('WP_DEBUG', true); in your wp-config.php file to see error messages. You can also increase PHP memory by editing your php.ini or wp-config.php file.
If a plugin or theme is causing the problem, try disabling all plugins via FTP by renaming the plugins folder, then reactivate them one by one to find the culprit. Switching to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three can also help identify theme-related issues.
Mixed Content or Broken Images
If your site loads but some images or resources don’t show, or you get security warnings about “mixed content,” it usually means your URLs are still using HTTP instead of HTTPS. Use plugins like Better Search Replace or Really Simple SSL to update URLs in your database and fix these problems. Also, clear your browser cache after making changes.
Plugin or Theme Compatibility Errors
After migration, some plugins or themes may cause errors due to version mismatches or server differences. Make sure all your plugins and themes are updated to the latest versions compatible with your WordPress version and PHP environment.
If errors occur, temporarily deactivate problematic plugins or switch themes to troubleshoot. Contact plugin or theme developers if needed, or seek alternatives if compatibility issues persist.
Login Issues and Password Reset Tips
Sometimes, you may find that your WordPress login page doesn’t work or your password reset emails don’t arrive. Ensure your new host allows PHP mail functions or configure SMTP email sending using plugins like WP Mail SMTP.
If you can’t reset your password through email, you can manually reset it via phpMyAdmin by editing the wp_users table or use WP-CLI commands if you have server access.
500 Internal Server Errors
The dreaded 500 Internal Server Error can appear for many reasons such as incorrect file permissions, corrupted .htaccess, or PHP version conflicts. Check your error logs in your hosting control panel for clues.
Fix file permissions to recommended settings (755 for folders, 644 for files). If .htaccess is causing the issue, rename it and regenerate via permalinks. Also, ensure your PHP version matches WordPress and plugin requirements. If unsure, ask your hosting provider for help.
Update Your Website After Migration
Once your WordPress website is migrated and live on the new hosting, it’s essential to perform several important updates to keep everything running smoothly and ensure optimal performance.
Regenerate Permalinks
One of the first things to do is to regenerate your site’s permalinks. This refreshes your URL structure and helps fix any broken links or 404 errors caused by migration. Simply log into your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings > Permalinks, and click the “Save Changes” button without making any modifications. This action rewrites your .htaccess file and ensures that your URLs work correctly.
Reinstall or Replace Cache Plugin
Caching plugins are key to speeding up your website by storing temporary copies of pages and resources. After migration, your old cache may be invalid or incompatible with the new environment. Clear your cache plugin’s data, and if necessary, reinstall or replace it with a fresh installation. This helps avoid serving stale content and ensures your visitors see the most updated version of your site.
Reconnect Your CDN (Cloudflare, Bunny.net, and Others)
If you use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare or Bunny.net, double-check that it is properly connected to your new hosting setup. You might need to update CDN settings or flush cached files to reflect the migration. Proper CDN connection boosts your site speed and protects against traffic spikes or attacks.
Update Hard-Coded URLs Using a Search and Replace Tool
Sometimes URLs are hard-coded in your database or theme files, meaning they still point to your old domain or server. To fix this, use plugins like Better Search Replace or Velvet Blues Update URLs to scan your database and replace old URLs with the new ones. This ensures images, links, and other resources load correctly and prevents broken links.
Verify Robots.txt and Sitemap.xml Files
Finally, review your robots.txt and sitemap.xml files to ensure they are intact and correctly configured. The robots.txt file guides search engines on which pages to crawl or avoid, while the sitemap helps search engines index your content efficiently. Any errors or outdated references in these files could affect your SEO performance after migration.
Set Up Site Monitoring and Security
After successfully migrating your website, the next important step is to ensure your site stays safe, secure, and always online. Setting up monitoring and security tools protects your investment and gives you peace of mind.
Enable Firewall and Malware Scanning
A web application firewall helps block malicious traffic and attacks before they reach your site. Many security plugins, like Wordfence or Sucuri, offer firewall protection combined with malware scanning. These tools regularly check your files for malware or suspicious changes, alerting you immediately if they detect a problem. Enabling firewall and malware scanning strengthens your site’s defenses and helps prevent hacks or infections.
Turn On Downtime Alerts
It’s important to know if your website ever goes down, so you can act quickly to fix the issue. Services like UptimeRobot or Jetpack monitor your site’s availability around the clock. They send instant alerts via email or SMS if your website becomes unreachable. Setting up downtime alerts ensures you never miss critical outages and can maintain a reliable online presence.
Enable Daily Backups
Backing up your website daily protects you from data loss due to hacks, server failures, or accidental mistakes. Use backup plugins or your hosting provider’s backup tools to create automatic daily snapshots of your entire site—including files and databases. Store backups safely, preferably in an offsite location like cloud storage, so you can restore your site quickly if needed.
Use HTTPS with Free SSL Certificates
Securing your website with HTTPS encrypts data between your visitors and your server, boosting trust and improving SEO. Most modern hosts support free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt. Activating SSL is usually as simple as enabling it in your hosting control panel or through plugins like Really Simple SSL. Once active, your site URL will start with “https://” and display a padlock icon, signaling a secure connection.
Speed Optimization on Your New Host
After migrating your website to a new hosting provider, ensuring your site loads quickly is essential. A fast website improves user experience, reduces bounce rates, and boosts SEO rankings. There are several steps you can take to optimize your site speed effectively.
Test Site Speed Using GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights
Begin by measuring your site’s current performance with tools like GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights. These tools analyze your website’s loading times, highlight bottlenecks, and provide detailed recommendations for improvement. Running these tests after migration gives you a clear starting point to track your optimization efforts.
Optimize Images with Plugins
Images often make up the majority of a webpage’s size, so compressing and optimizing them is critical for speed. Use popular WordPress plugins like ShortPixel or Smush, which automatically compress images without noticeable quality loss. These tools can also convert images to modern formats like WebP, further reducing load times.
Use Object Caching and Redis if Supported
Many modern hosting providers support object caching solutions like Redis or Memcached. These tools store frequently accessed data in memory, reducing database queries and speeding up page loads. If your host offers Redis, enabling it can significantly improve your site’s responsiveness, especially for dynamic content-heavy websites.
Set Up Full Page Caching
Full page caching saves an entire webpage as a static file, so it can be served quickly to visitors without generating content on each request. Plugins like LiteSpeed Cache (for LiteSpeed servers) or WP Rocket offer robust full page caching features. Configuring these plugins correctly ensures your visitors get instant loading pages, even during high traffic periods.
Minify CSS and JavaScript Files
CSS and JavaScript files can sometimes contain unnecessary spaces, comments, or code that slows down loading. Minification removes these extra elements, reducing file size. Many caching and optimization plugins automatically minify these files for you. Smaller CSS and JS files help your pages load faster and improve overall site performance.
SEO Impact of Migration
Moving your website to a new host or server can affect your search engine rankings if not handled carefully. To maintain your SEO health and avoid drops in traffic, it’s important to follow best practices during and after migration.
How to Avoid SEO Drops
One key to preserving your SEO during migration is making sure all URLs remain consistent. Avoid changing your website’s URL structure unless absolutely necessary. If you must change URLs, set up proper 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones to inform search engines about the change. This helps retain the ranking power of your pages.
Additionally, minimize downtime during the migration because search engines may temporarily reduce your rankings if they cannot access your site. Testing your site on a temporary URL before switching the DNS can help prevent downtime.
Check for Broken Links
Broken links can harm user experience and SEO rankings. After migration, use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to crawl your website and identify any broken internal or external links. Fix or update these links promptly to maintain your site’s integrity and ranking.
Submit New Sitemap to Google Search Console
Once your site is live on the new host, submit your updated sitemap to Google Search Console. This tells Google where to find all your pages and helps speed up the indexing of your content. Ensure your sitemap is accurate, includes all important pages, and does not contain broken links.
Check Canonical URLs
Verify that canonical tags on your pages point to the correct URLs. Canonical tags help search engines understand the preferred version of a page when duplicate content exists. Incorrect canonical tags after migration can cause indexing issues or ranking losses.
Monitor Indexing and Organic Traffic for Two Weeks
SEO effects from migration may take some time to appear. Monitor your website’s indexing status and organic traffic closely for at least two weeks after going live. Use Google Search Console and analytics tools to track if your pages are being indexed correctly and if there is any unusual drop in traffic. If you notice problems, act quickly to troubleshoot and fix them.
How to Migrate a WooCommerce Website
Migrating a WooCommerce store requires extra care compared to a regular WordPress site. Because WooCommerce manages orders, products, customer data, and inventory, it’s crucial to plan the migration carefully to avoid data loss and downtime.
Special Considerations: Orders, Products, and Inventory
WooCommerce sites have dynamic data that changes frequently, like new orders, stock updates, and customer information. This means you must ensure your migration captures the entire database, including all WooCommerce tables. Simply copying files is not enough. Failing to do this properly can result in lost orders or inventory mistakes.
You should also be mindful of payment gateways, shipping settings, and tax configurations, as these might require reconfiguration on the new host.
Set Up Maintenance Mode During Migration
To prevent customers from placing orders while your store is in transition, it’s wise to enable a maintenance or “coming soon” mode. This helps avoid losing orders or confusing shoppers with a partially moved site. Many plugins can enable maintenance mode easily, displaying a clear message to visitors that the store is temporarily unavailable.
Backup Customer Data and Emails
Before migrating, take full backups of your WooCommerce database and files, including customer data, order history, and product information. It’s also important to back up any email accounts linked to the store. This ensures you have a restore point in case something goes wrong during the migration.
Ensure CRON Jobs and Email Delivery Are Working Post-Move
WooCommerce relies on scheduled tasks (CRON jobs) for activities like sending order notifications, updating stock, and clearing carts. After migration, verify that these CRON jobs are running properly on the new host. This might involve setting up server-side cron jobs or confirming your hosting provider supports WordPress’s built-in scheduling.
Email delivery is also critical for order confirmations and customer communication. Test that emails are sent correctly after migration and configure SMTP if needed to improve reliability.
Tips for Zero-Downtime Migration
Migrating your website without any downtime is ideal, especially for businesses that depend on constant online availability. Achieving a zero-downtime migration requires careful preparation and timing.
Clone Your Site on the New Host Before Changing DNS
Before pointing your domain to the new hosting provider, create an exact copy of your website on the new server. This cloning process includes all files, databases, plugins, and settings. By having the full site ready and tested on the new host, you minimize the time your website is unavailable to visitors during the switch.
Use Hosts File Override to Access the New Site
To preview and test the cloned site without affecting the live domain, use a hosts file override on your computer. This technique lets you access the new server by mapping your domain to the new IP address locally. This way, you can confirm that everything works perfectly before making the DNS changes public.
Do the Migration During Low Traffic Hours
Schedule your migration during times when your website experiences the least visitor traffic. For many sites, this might be late at night or early morning based on the majority of your audience’s time zone. Migrating during off-peak hours reduces the impact on users and helps ensure a smoother transition.
Double-Check Everything Before Going Live
Before updating your domain’s DNS settings, thoroughly review your new site on the new host. Check all pages, forms, plugins, and functionality to catch any errors or missing content. Verify backups are in place and that all necessary updates—such as permalinks, caches, and security settings—have been configured. This final quality check helps prevent surprises once your site is live.
Best Hosting Providers for WordPress in 2025
Choosing the right hosting provider is a critical step for running a successful WordPress website. The quality of your host affects site speed, security, uptime, and how easy it is to manage migrations and updates. In 2025, several hosting types and providers stand out for WordPress users.
Shared Hosting vs Cloud Hosting vs VPS for Migration
Shared hosting is the most affordable option where many websites share the same server resources. It’s suitable for small sites or blogs but can struggle with traffic spikes or resource-heavy plugins. Migrating to shared hosting is generally simple but might not offer the performance or flexibility needed for growing sites.
Cloud hosting uses a network of servers to provide scalable resources on demand. It offers better performance, uptime, and flexibility compared to shared hosting. Migration to cloud hosting can be more complex but is often worth it for sites expecting growth or variable traffic.
VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting gives you dedicated portions of server resources, combining the affordability of shared hosting with more control and reliability. It’s ideal for medium-sized sites and offers enhanced customization, making migration a bit more technical but beneficial in the long run.
Recommended Hosts
Several hosting providers have proven to be reliable and WordPress-friendly in 2025. Cloudways offers managed cloud hosting with easy migration tools and performance optimization. Rocket.net focuses on speed and security with a global CDN included by default.
Hostinger provides affordable plans with solid performance and beginner-friendly interfaces. SiteGround remains a popular choice due to its excellent customer support, daily backups, and staging environments.
Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress host known for high performance, scalability, and expert support. Its migration services and developer tools make it attractive for business-critical websites.
Why Some Hosts Make Migration Easier
Some hosting providers simplify migration with free professional migration services, automated migration plugins, or user-friendly dashboards. These features reduce the technical barriers and risks involved in moving your website, especially if you’re not a developer.
Additionally, hosts that support the latest PHP versions, offer staging environments, and provide robust backups help ensure a smooth transition with minimal downtime or data loss.
Migration Mistakes to Avoid
Migrating a website can be complex, and overlooking key st