Migration
Quick Definition
Migration in WordPress means moving your entire site — files, database, and settings — from one location to another, such as a new hosting provider, a new domain name, or from a local development environment to a live server.
What Is Migration?
Migration is the process of moving a WordPress site from one place to another. Your site consists of two main parts: files (WordPress core, themes, plugins, uploads) and a database (posts, pages, settings, users, comments). A migration copies both to a new location and makes sure everything still works.
Common migration scenarios include:
- New hosting provider — Moving from one host to another (e.g., shared hosting to managed WordPress hosting) while keeping the same domain
- New domain name — Changing your site's URL (e.g., from
old-site.comtonew-brand.com) - Local to live — Moving a site built on your computer (using LocalWP or DevKinsta) to a live production server
- Staging to production — Pushing tested changes from a staging environment to the live site
The basic migration process involves four steps:
- Export your database — Create a backup of the MySQL database using phpMyAdmin, WP-CLI (
wp db export), or a backup plugin - Copy your files — Transfer all WordPress files to the new server via FTP/SFTP or your host's file manager
- Update wp-config.php — Change the database name, username, password, and host in wp-config.php to match the new server
- Search-replace URLs — Update your old domain to the new one throughout the database. The recommended tool is WP-CLI:
wp search-replace 'old-domain.com' 'new-domain.com' --skip-columns=guid
The --skip-columns=guid flag is important: WordPress GUIDs are permanent identifiers used by RSS feed readers and should never be changed.
If you are changing hosts but keeping the same domain, the last step is updating your DNS records to point to the new server. DNS propagation takes 1–48 hours, during which some visitors see the old server and some see the new one.
Migration in Practice
Most people use a migration plugin instead of doing it manually. All-in-One WP Migration is the simplest — export from the old site, import on the new one, done. WPvivid offers one-click migration with more control. For large sites, Duplicator creates a complete site package that you install on the new server like a fresh WordPress installation.
Many managed hosts also offer free migration services. Kinsta, SiteGround, Cloudways, and WP Engine will migrate your site for you — just provide your old host's credentials and they handle the rest. This is the safest option if you are not comfortable with the technical steps.
Why It Matters
Every WordPress site owner eventually needs to migrate — whether it is upgrading to better hosting, rebranding with a new domain, or deploying from a local development environment. Understanding migration protects you from data loss, broken URLs, and downtime. Even if you use a plugin or let your host do it, knowing what happens behind the scenes helps you troubleshoot when something goes wrong.