How To: Moving WordPress to Another Server

By Kyle Eslick on June 24th, 2008 | Filed Under WordPress
Tag(s): Moving WordPress, WordPress Database, WordPress Database Backup, WordPress Hacks, WordPress How-To

Yesterday I wrote a post explaining how to move your WordPress install within your website/server. Today I wanted to cover how to move your WordPress install to a completely different server.

Again, the flexibility of WordPress shines, making this not overly difficult to accomplish. If you aren’t changing your domain name, all you need to do is update your wp-config.php file and upload all of your files to their new server.

If you are changing your domain name with your move, here is the information you’ll need:

Backup your WordPress database.
Download the complete WordPress install to your hard drive and identify the folder as your OLD installation.
Login into your old blogs dashboard and update the Settings to reflect the website and blogs new location (both fields should be the same).
Now, download the complete WordPress install to your hard drive, but this time identify the folder as your NEW installation. This will include the settings change you just made.
Download a copy of your WordPress database (keeping the old one) and then upload it to the new server. You’ll want to keep the same database name and recreate the user login information (you can use your same user name and password). If you change the database name, you’ll need to update your wp-config.php file to reflect the change.
Upload your NEW installation folder so that your blog is now working in its new location!

If you want to keep your old blog, you’ll need to upload the OLD folder to the OLD location of your blog and readjust the General Settings tab.

Another way to accomplish all of this is to simply make a fresh WordPress install and export/import your posts to the new location. This isn’t the most ideal method, but it is much easier and will get the job done.

For additional information, you’ll want to consult the WordPress Codex.

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There Are 7 Responses So Far. »

1 km
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 at 6:59 am

if you’re using CPanel web panel, it’s much easily using cpanel copy features move to another web server. which save a lot of time.
2 Nicole
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

I recommend strongly to disable ALL plugins via the admin panel before making the copy of the database! Many plugins refer to temporary files or absolute server pathes etc and that can really break down your new installation. After having finished all the copy stuff just log in to your admin panel and activate your plugins.
3 John Hoff - eVentureBiz
Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

Just remember if you use the import/export that you are only transferring your pages and posts, not your template. So be sure you know which template you are using and upload that to your new templates directory as well.
4 doug
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

I agree about using cpanel if available. I moved about 10 sites in about an hour that way. Pretty amazing.
5 Mike
Thursday, April 9th, 2009 at 11:59 am

I created an easy / bullet proof wordpress migration tutorial. The longest part will be downloading/uploading your files.

http://youaskme.ca/how-to-move-wordpress-to-a-new-server/

Nice blog you have here!
6 Ovidiu
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 at 7:12 am

hey there.
I have often moved wordpress without a glitch, but now, I have a problem. I am sure I did everything by the book, but still, when I access the newly moved site, wordpress greets me with the famous 5 minute installation

What could have gone wrong so that wordpress doesn’t notice it is actually installed?