How To Move WordPress to a New Host or Server Without Downtime

WordPress is very important nowadays. You will be surprised to know that WordPress powers around 43.1% of all websites. Moreover, since 2014, it has been the fastest-growing CMS. Thus, many companies prefer this option.

Now, if you need to move your WordPress site to a different server, then you must know that it is a big decision. Moving a website from one host to another is, no doubt, a very tough procedure. However, with the right steps, you can perform the task with ease. 

Just by implementing the right steps, you can run your site smoothly on a different host. However, you have to take care of situations like data loss and downtime. So, here is a complete guide that will tell you the easiest steps to move your WordPress website without any downtime.

Avoiding Downtime While Moving a WordPress Website: Why Is It Important?

Here are some vital things that will clarify why avoiding downtime is quite crucial while moving your WordPress website.

It will look quite unprofessional

There are many legitimate reasons why a website usually experiences downtime. However, if you are not there when they truly need you, then you will look quite unprofessional. 

• You might scare away visitors
• If your site is down, then users may look for some other alternatives.
• Downtime may cause confusion
• Downtime may cause confusion as every site must be up all the time, meaning 24X7. 

Things You Must Consider Before Moving Your WordPress Website

We all know that it is not possible to migrate a site without having a place to move it to. This means that finding a new web host needs a good amount of research. So, if you are looking for a platform that is WordPress-friendly, then you have to do some detailed research.

Hence, after finding and purchasing server space on your new host, you must choose a migration tool to perform the task. 

Steps To Move WordPress to a New Hosting Server without any Downtime

• Step 1: Choose The New Host

If you feel that you have been trapped in a slow host even after optimizing the speed and performance of your WordPress website, then you must move the site to a new host. This host must be the one that will handle your increasing traffic. 

When you try to search for a new WordPress hosting provider, you must select very carefully. This will make sure that you don’t have to switch again anytime soon. 

Now, after choosing and buying your new hosting, you must not install WordPress. You must do this task later. 

If you need faster-shared hosting, just go for WeWP. They are among the top WordPress hosting companies that can offer you some really exciting services.

Moreover, if you need reliable shared hosting, you can also choose to work with WeWP. In addition, you can rely on this company, if you are looking for location-specific or cloud hosting providers.

WeWP can also help you out if you are looking for managed WordPress hosting. So, after choosing the best option you can proceed to perform the next step.

Now, after buying your new hosting, you should not install WordPress immediately. For now, your web hosting account has to be empty, and your home directory must not have any folders or files.

• Configure Duplicator For Migration

Now, the most important thing you must do is to install and then activate the Duplicator plugin. You must install and activate it on the particular site that you plan to move. For a detailed idea, check the stepwise guide regarding how to install a WordPress plug-in below:

Nowadays, Duplicator is one of the best WordPress migration plugins that is available in the market. Moreover, it comes with cloud storage support, automated scheduled backups, smart migrations, one-click restore, etc.

Moreover, Duplicator has a free version that is known as Duplicator Lite. Though it has limited features compared to the pro version, you still can use it to move your site.

So, after installing and activating Duplicator, just go to the option Duplicator> Backups page. You will see this option in the admin area of your WordPress.

Then, just click on the option ‘Add New’ button. It is in the top left corner. Now, it will launch the Duplicator Backup Wizard. 

After that, on the next screen, you can either type a name for the backup or even use dynamic tags. In this way, you can automatically create a name format, like the site title and date.

Next, you can easily expand the ‘Storage’ section and choose the correct location for storage. In this tutorial, you will work with the default location. However, if you want to add a new location, you can do it with ease. For a new location, you can choose Google Drive or Dropbox, just by clicking on the option “Add Storage” link.

Now, to continue the task, you must click on the button showing ‘Next.’

After that, Duplicator will scan your system and make sure that all things are in order and ready for preparing the package. 

Next, you must ensure that all the scan results are correct. Only after this part, just click on the button ‘Create Backup.’

This entire procedure may need a few minutes to complete. Hence, you must not forget to leave the tab open while this work is in progress.

After the completion of this procedure, you will get the download options for both the Archive and Installer package. Now, click on the ‘Download’ button. Next, just choose the option showing ‘Both Files.’

Now, you will get the zipped file which is a copy of your complete website. After this, the installer file will start automating the installation procedure.

• Step 3: Import Your WordPress

Next, to upload those files and installer to your new host, you must use FTP. 

Here, you have to enter the domain name of your website as the host. However, you need to connect it with your FTP client; you must enter the IP address of the server.

You will get this information in your new hosting account’s control panel.

Now, just upload the installer.php file and also the .zip file to your website’s root directory.

To do this, you must check that your root directory is empty. Now, you can upload your zip file and the installer.php to your site’s root directory.

• Step 4: Change The Hosts File

In this step, you must access the installer.php file in a browser. You may access it by using a URL like,

http://www.example.com/installer.php

However, this will take you to a page with 404 errors. The reason is your domain name still shows your old web host.

Now, you should access the new site on your device with your computer’s host’s file. 

These host files can be utilized to map domain names to certain IP addresses. This means that it will allow you to trick your computer into thinking the site has moved. However, that is not true.

With these changes, you can access the new files on the new host while using your own domain name. However, others will still be checking out your site from the old host. This will make sure that you enjoy 100% uptime. 

First of all, you must find the IP address of the new web hosting server. To get it, you must log in to the cPanel dashboard, and then click on the link to expand stats. This option in the left sidebar. You will see that your server address is mentioned as ‘Shared IP Address.’

Now, if you are using Windows PC, you must open the Notepad with administrator options. 

Next, just click on the option ‘Start’ and look for the Notepad application. Now, right-click on the Notepad icon and choose “Run as administrator.”

A Windows UAC prompt will appear before you, and you must click on ‘Yes’ option. This will activate Notepad with administrator privileges.

Now, go to File and then Open option and navigate to the . folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. In this folder, select the hosts file and then open it. 

Next, just replace the IP address with the address you copied from cPanel. Then, save the changes.

• Step 5: Creation Of MySQL Database on the New Host

First, you need to go to the cPanel dashboard of your new account and then scroll down to the section called Database. Now, click on the icon ‘MySQL Databases.’

Then, you will see a field where you must enter a name of your database. Next, click on the option ‘Create Database.’

After that, scroll down to the section MySQL users. Then, offer a username and password. Next, click on the button ‘Create User.’

Now, just add this user to your database, so that you will get the permission to work on that database.

Next, go to the section ‘Add user to a database.’ Then, choose the user you created from the drop-down menu, next, choose the database, and click on ‘Add’ button. Your database is ready.

• Step 6: Start Duplicator Migration

Here, you need to run the installer. Go to the following address in your browser window; replace example.com with the name of your domain.

http://www.example.com/installer.php

Your installer will run a few tests and show ‘Pass’ option.

Next, just check the terms and conditions and continue after clicking on ‘Next’ option.

Now, you have to enter your database name, MySQL host, username, and password.

Next, give the database details that you have created previously.

Then, Duplicator will verify that it can connect to the database, and then installation will start.

Click on ‘Validate’ to continue. You will see the results as Pass, so now, click on ‘Next.’

Then, Duplicator will import the WordPress database from your zip file into the new database.

If it asks you to update your website’s URL, just don’t change, and click on ‘Next.’

Duplicator will perform the steps and show you the login button. So, just log in to your WordPress site.

• Step 7: Update Your DNS

To update your domain, just change your DNS nameservers. This will make sure that users will be taken to the new location of your site, when they type your domain into browsers.

You will need all the DNS nameserver information from the new web host. Now, let’s see how to update the DNS.

If you used a registrar, just find the nameserver’s of your web host and update them according to the given instructions. 

Another way is that, just log into your old web hosting account and check out the part that lists your domains. Though, each web deals with this procedure a little bit differently, the basic concept and result is same. So, just find out your domain and update its nameservers.

Finally, just save the changes and wait for them to propagate.

Conclusion

So, though moving your website from the old host to a new one feels like a tough job, you can just follow these steps and perform the task with ease. However, if you are not sure if you can perform it correctly, then just don’t worry and choose WeWP. It is a highly efficient website hosting-company that can offer you quite scalable, secure, and reliable hosting solutions. 

Hence, just choose them as your partner and move your WordPress to a New Host without downtime in the easiest way.