WordPress site migration refers to the process of transferring a website built on the WordPress platform from one hosting environment to another. This could be moving a site from a local development environment or sandbox environment to a live server, changing hosting providers, or even changing to a different domain name.
WordPress site migration is a critical aspect of website management and evolution, enabling businesses and individuals to adapt to changing needs, improve performance, and expand their online presence.
The WordPress site migration process usually involves transferring all aspects of the site, including its files, database, plugins, themes, and configurations, while ensuring minimal disruption to its functionality and appearance.
Several methods can be employed to migrate a WordPress site, ranging from manual methods involving FTP and database exports to automated solutions provided by hosting platforms or specialized migration plugins.
Regardless of the method chosen, meticulous planning, thorough testing, and backup procedures are essential to mitigate risks and ensure a seamless transition with minimal disruption to the website’s functionality and user experience.
In this post, you will learn how to effectively and seamlessly migrate WordPress sites using InstaWP.
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Migrate WordPress Anywhere with InstaWP
Migrating a WordPress site is challenging, but not when you use InstaWP.
InstaWP is a cloud-based WordPress development environment that allows you to build a full-fledged WordPress site or staging site in seconds and provides you with a safe sandbox environment to customize the site and push it to live hosting after development.
InstaWP also has a user-friendly work area and tools to easily perform various WordPress operations on WordPress sites without breaking a sweat. One of these tools is the InstaWP migration tool which allows you to migrate WordPress sites anywhere without the risk of data loss and other potential associated pitfalls.
This makes InstaWP stand out as the best solution for seamlessly migrating your WordPress site to any hosting.
How to Migrate from One Host to Another using InstaWP?
To migrate from one host to another using InstaWP, you need to first clone the site you want to migrate using the InstaWP staging environment.
For this, you should have a free or paid InstaWP account and be logged in. If you don’t have an account, then sign up now.
With InstaWP, pushing and migrating the staging site to the new hosting is a breeze. So, Follow the steps below to seamlessly migrate the WordPress site from one host to another using InstaWP.
Step 1: Connect the WordPress site you want to migrate to InstaWP
First, open your WordPress site that you want to migrate to another hosting and log into your WP Admin area.
- From the WP dashboard >> Plugins >> Add New Plugin >> search for the InstaWP Connect plugin >> Install and Activate it.
Step 2: Create a staging site with the InstaWP Connect plugin
- Next, go to Tools >> InstaWP >> click the Connect with InstaWP button.
You will be redirected to your InstaWP account to grant permission. You will be required to log in first if you are not already logged into your InstaWP account.
- Click Approve from the prompt on your InstaWP account.
- Simply click the Create Staging Site button.
After that, select the type of staging you want to perform. Since we are doing a full site migration so:
- Select the Full Staging option >> Enter Site Name >> Next Step button.
In the next step, select the information you want to stage.
- To make the process even faster, select the Active Plugins Only and Active Themes Only options >> click Next Step button.
From the Exclude Files & Table section, select the Files and Tables in the database you want to exclude from the installation.
- If there is none you wish to exclude, skip by clicking the Next Step button.
This is the last step showing the options you have made for a final check.
- If everything is as you want it to be, click the Create Staging button.
Finally, you can watch the InstaWP connect plugin perform its magic. Your site will be cloned into InstaWP in a few mins, depending on the file size. Then, you can migrate this staging site (copy of your live site) from InstaWP to the new hosting without affecting your live/production site
Once done, it’ll display the site details with credentials and the Magic Login button,
Step 3: Disconnect Your InstaWP Staging Site
Go back to your InstaWP account to see your created staging site. Open the site and verify that the staging was done perfectly.
From the InstaWP platform, click the rocket icon (Go Live) on the right side of the staging site options. After that, you will notice a prompt informing you that the site is already connected to a live site. Click Disconnect.
Step 4: Create a New Site on Your Preferred Hosting Provider
Go to your new hosting and install a fresh WordPress. Like InstaWP Live, if it provides a dummy or staging URL then no worries. Otherwise, you need to configure and point your domain name on that newly created site.
Step 5: Migrate Your WordPress Site to A New Host Via 3 Methods
Once your newly hosted site is ready then you need to go back to your InstaWP platform and again click on the rocket icon (Go Live). You will then see three options to migrate your WordPress site.
- InstaWP Live
- Choose From Our Supported providers (via SSH)
- Migrate Via URL
Please note that you can choose your preferred method to migrate your WordPress site to another host. The above five steps remain the same regardless of the method you choose.
Method 1: Migrate your site to InstaWP Live
When you want to migrate your WordPress site to another host, you also have the option to migrate your site to InstaWP Live, which offers fully managed WordPress hosting. Unlike shared hosting, you will have dedicated hosting servers specially designed to enhance your site performance.
- From the migration methods select the InstaWP Live option >> click the Next Step button.
Now, you have to select the InstaWP Live plan you want for your site. If you have not made any previous payments or already added your payment method before, you will need to do that before you can proceed.
To add a payment method, click on the “Add Card” link at the top of the plans and you will be redirected to a new tab to enter your payment information.
- Then return and choose your preferred hosting plan like Lite, depending on your site requirements.
- Next, select your Data Center location (nearest to your target audience), preferred PHP version, and enter a dummy name for your Domain Name.
Lastly, you still have the option to install the other WordPress plugins from the InstaWP plugin repo.
- If you don’t want any more, simply click Go Live.
It will take a few steps to make your site live on the InstaWP managed hosting plan.
To make it fully live, use the Map Domain option to connect your custom domain to your InstaWP hosted site.
- Go to the Hosting tab >> click the dropdown option >> select Map Domains.
From this intuitive platform, you can quickly point and configure the domain in no time.
Method 2: Migrate Your WordPress Site to the Supported Hosting Providers
If you want to migrate your site to a supported hosting provider, InstaWP currently offers two choices: RunCloud and Server Avatar. However, more hosting providers like Cloudways, WPEngine, and more, will be added soon.
- Now, select the second method i.e. Choose from supported providers >> click the Next Step button.
- Next, click + Connect New Account >> choose any supported hosting provider like RunCloud.
- Fill out the connection form by entering the RunCloud Alias, API Key, and Secret Key.
In my case, we have already connected to the RunCloud hosting provider. You can see in the screenshot below that we have filled out the required details like Hosting Account, Select Server, Domain Name, User, and the PHP version.
- Once you have filled out the website setting form, click the Next Step button.
Before moving the site files, you have the option to install the plugins from the InstaWP repo.
- If you don’t need any other plugin, just click Go Live.
Tada! It’s done
Method 3: Manually Migrate Your WordPress Site to Any Hosting Provider
With the third migration method, you can transfer your WordPress site to any hosting provider. It’s a manual process and has a success rate of over 90%.
Let’s get started!
- Select the third method i.e. Migrate via URL (works with any hosting panel) via Plugin and click the Next Step button.
- Enter your Site URL >> click the + Connect Website button.
We are migrating this site to a Cloudways server, and we have already created a new/fresh site there.
InstaWP will prompt you to authorize access to the fresh WordPress site in your new host and once you grant access, InstaWP will automatically connect to the site and install the InstaWP Connect plugin on the site.
Note: If the prompt doesn’t appear, then no worries, you can still manually install the InstaWP plugin on your fresh WordPress site and connect it to the InstaWP Dashboard.
- Once the website is connected, you can click Begin migration.
Migrating and pushing your files from the InstaWP site to any hosting provider will take a few minutes, depending on the size of your files and database.
Once your site has migrated, simply check and review it.
Alternative Method 4: All In One Migration Method From One Host to Another
InstaWP offers an alternative and easy way to move your website from one hosting provider to another. You just need the URLs of your source and destination websites, and you can move everything over in just a few clicks. You can find this migration option here: InstaWP Migrate.
Things to Keep in Mind While Choosing a Hosting Provider for WordPress
WordPress site migration can be complicated. So before initiating a site migration, here’s a list of things you need to keep in mind while choosing a hosting provider for WordPress:
- Performance and Speed: Look for a hosting provider that offers fast loading times and reliable uptime. Speed is crucial for user experience and SEO. Cloud-based hosting is a rave now, you should seek cloud-based hosting providers like InstaWP Live.
- Scalability: Choose a hosting provider that can accommodate your website’s growth. Scalability ensures that your website can handle increases in traffic without experiencing downtime or performance issues.
- Security: Opt for a hosting provider that prioritizes security measures such as firewalls, malware scanning, SSL certificates, and regular backups to protect your website from cyber threats.
- Customer Support: Check the availability and quality of customer support. Ensure that the hosting provider offers reliable support through various channels like live chat, email, or phone, especially if you encounter technical issues.
- WordPress Optimization: Look for hosting providers that offer WordPress-specific features and optimizations like one-click WordPress installation, automatic updates, and caching plugins to enhance performance.
- Control Panel: Consider the ease of use of the hosting provider’s control panel. A user-friendly interface can simplify website management tasks such as domain management, email setup, and database administration.
- Backup and Restore: Ensure that the hosting provider offers regular backups and easy restoration options in case of data loss or website issues.
- Cost and Value: Evaluate the pricing plans of hosting providers and compare them based on the features offered, performance, scalability, and support to determine the best value for your budget.
- Server Location: Choose a hosting provider with server locations that are geographically close to your target audience to minimize latency and improve website loading times.
- Reviews and Reputation: Research customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the hosting provider’s reputation for reliability, performance, and customer support.
- Resource Allocation: Check the allocated resources such as disk space, bandwidth, and CPU/RAM limits to ensure they meet the requirements of your WordPress website.
- Migration Assistance: If you’re transferring an existing WordPress site, consider whether the hosting provider offers migration assistance to streamline the process and minimize downtime.
By considering these factors, you can choose a hosting provider that best suits your WordPress website’s needs in terms of performance, security, scalability, and support.
If you can’t get a good hosting that meets all these requirements, you should consider InstaWP Live.
What Makes InstaWP Live Suitable for your WordPress website?
InstaWP Live is suitable for your WordPress site because it is a meticulously engineered managed WordPress hosting solution tailored for WordPress enthusiasts, and created by WordPress enthusiasts themselves willing to support you at any level.
InstaWP Live comes fully equipped with DDoS protection, Web Application Firewall (WAF), Automated Backup, Content Delivery Network (CDN), and Guaranteed uptime, ensuring the secure and seamless operation of hosted sites. Our server infrastructure, fueled by Automattic’s cloud, is optimized for superb WordPress performance.
More than just hosting, InstaWP provides your website with a new safe home, prioritizing speed, reliability, and effortless integration.
Conclusion
WordPress site migration is a critical process, but by following best practices and leveraging appropriate tools like InstaWP, site owners and WordPress developers can migrate WordPress sites without any hassles.
InstaWP comes with a migration tool that makes WordPress site migration a smooth transition for site owners and developers looking to move their WordPress site from one hosting provider to another. However, migrating to InstaWP Live hosting will give your website so much to boost its performance and user experience,
Are you ready to elevate your agency and migrate sites smoothly, Explore InstaWP today!
