How to manually migrate WordPress server –

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Migrating a WordPress website is often seen as a complicated task, but nothing is further from the truth, since if you follow the steps to the letter it can be quite simple.

For migrate a WordPress website We have different options such as manual migration, migration with a plugin or with a specific tool such as supermigrator in if the website is in another provider.

In the event that you migrate to we recommend that you use the following

Migrate WordPress manually

1. Export files.
2. Export the database.
3. Create domain in the new hosting
4. Create a database in your new hosting
5. Import the database
6. Upload your website files
7. Configure WP-Config.php.

export files

One of the first steps we have to take will be to export the files from our website. In the case of using CPanel we can use the CPanel File Manager.

The export is quite simple, we must go to the CPanel File Manager.

After entering the file manager we must go to the /public_html/ folder which is located on the left side.

The next step is quite important since we will have to choose the folder where the web files that we want to migrate are located.

If you have several installations, it will appear as in the previous screenshot, in which you will have a folder for each web that you have hosted in your CPanel.

In case you only have one installation when accessing /public_html/ you all files will appear without having to select the folder correspondent.

For this example, we will migrate the web of webamigrar.es, so we will have to enter the webamigrar.es folder.

1. We select all the files.
2. Right click > compress all files in .zip format.

Next, we download the compressed file (.zip)

export database

Continuing with the example, inside CPanel we must export the databasealthough for this first we should know the name of the database that we have to download.

Note: If you only have one installation you will not have a problem since you should only have one database.

To know the wordpress database name to migrate, we will go to WP-Config.php file > right click > view.

A new window will open in which we can check the name of the database.

You can use Cntrl + F and search for DB_NAME.

Once we know the name of the database of our WordPress to migrate we we will go to PhpMyadmin in our CPanel.

Now we select the database that we have seen before thanks to the WP-Config file and we export all your content.

It will open a new window and we will have to click continue to export the database.

Exported the database and the files of our WordPress we will go to the administration panel of the new server where we want to migrate.

Create domain in the new Hosting

To do this we will go to our new CPanel > Complement domains (or additional domain)

We will have to fill in the first field of new domain name with the domain name that we are going to migrate, and the other fields are automatically filled in.

Keep in mind that when you do this step, a new folder will be created in the file manager /public_html/

create database

For Create a database in the new hosting we will have to go back to CPanel of the new hosting > MySQL databases.

We create a new database with the name we want.

Note: Save the database name and prefix for later use, for example: miweb_gkGuBIVI

We will add a new MySQL user, for this we will only have to scroll within the MySQL Databases screen itself within CPanel.

Note: As in the previous step you will need to write down the prefix next to the name of the database, the username and password that you indicate in this step, because you will need them later.

The next step will be add the user we just created to the created database.

Finally, grant all privileges to this user for the linked database.

We already have everything ready to start moving the content from one hosting to another.

Import files from the web

To import the files to the new hosting we’ll have to go to file manager of the new hosting.

We will go to the corresponding folder of the domain to migrate within the new hosting.

Once inside the folder we will have to upload the .zip of the files that we previously downloaded in step 1 of exporting files.

Note: If you have the files in .rar format, you must first unzip and re-compress the files locally in .zip format.

Once the file is uploaded we will have to unzip it.

import database

Now we must upload the database that we previously downloaded from the original hosting to the new database that we have created in the new hosting.

If we use CPanel you will find yourself in the same place as in the previous hosting, in PHPMyAdmin.

The database we created earlier will be empty, so we’ll need to import the database we exported in step 2.

Once the import button is given, the following screen will appear where we will have to upload the corresponding database.

Note: In the event that you have the database in .rar format, you must previously uncompress and re-compress the database in .zip format locally.

Edit wp-config file

Once these steps are completed we will have our database uploaded along with our files, now we will have to connect the database and the files through the WP-Config file.

This is done because on the one hand we have the database and on the other the web files, so we must connect these two elements through the wp-config.php file, indicating in this file which database corresponds to it .

The operation is quite simple, we will only have to go to the file manager of the new hosting and enter the wp-config.php file editing it.>

Located the WP-Config.php file we will have to edit it to changer the following fields:

• Database name: ‘DB_NAME’, ‘database name’
• Database user:‘DB_USER’, ‘user’
• Database password: ‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password’

Note: This Database name, username and password information will be taken from step 4 where we create a new database (database name), a new user (database user) and a new password (database password).

One time After completing the previous steps, we would already have our website migrated to the new server.now it is recommended review the migrated website in the new hosting before changing the DNSin this way we will make sure that the migration has been carried out correctly.

For this we will have to make a post host noteto be able to see from our computer the status of the migrated website without the need to change the DNS, For this I leave you a tutorial

Check the next:

• The web is seen as in origin
• All pages are displayed correctly
• We do not have internal 404 errors
• Orders can be placed.

If you have already checked that your website works perfectly, now tap .

Most common problems after a WordPress migration

Migrate with little lead time

The main mistake is almost always to make a migration with very tight times, which can cause us to not check the migration well after doing it.

This implies that we make a mistake that is difficult to correct if we are not careful.

I make changes in the migrated web but they are not seen

A fairly common mistake is having migrated the website but not having changed the DNS.

If we have a note by host on our computer, we can see the new website or migrated website, even being able to make changes to it and being able to see these changes.

On the other hand, when we access from another computer or device, these changes are not seen.

Solution

The problem can come for two reasons:

1. We have not made the DNS change correctly, so other users continue to access the old version.
2. We have made the DNS change, but the DNS have not propagated yet, remember that the DNS can take up to 24 hours to take effect once changed.

Error importing database or files

It is possible that when importing the database, the new hosting gives us an error in the process. This error can be due to the new hosting or the previous hosting.

Solution

We will have to identify the origin of the problem since it may be due to the fact that the previous hosting had a configuration of parameters in PHP or MySQL times that does not allow us to download all the files, so we would have to contact the hosting of origin.

Or that we have the limitation when uploading due to the same times of PHP or .

In both cases, I recommend talking to the different hosts explaining the problem so that they expand their resources and be able to carry out the migration correctly.

In addition, it may be the case that we have permission problems when downloading the files, so we will have to adjust them.

The website does not register orders

In the case of having a WooCommerce or online store, you must be careful when migrating hosting, since the following situation may occur:

The orders that are made begin to be registered randomly in the original WordPress and in the migrated one, having different new orders in one and in the other.

This is because DNS is being propagated, some users will access the new server and others the old one.

In this case, it is always best before changing the DNS to stop all enabled advertising campaigns, put both WordPress in maintenance and make the DNS change at the time of least activity, such as on the weekend and during business hours. night.

To check DNS propagation you can use the tool or

SSL certificate

If the website loads you without an HTTPS certificate, it is possible that you do not have the SSL certificate enabled in that domain in the new hosting, so to have your website with HTTPS we will have to.

conclusion

In the case of having to migrate a WordPress website, you must take into account the details that I mentioned above, although you may need help from the technical service.

Therefore, choosing a quality and technical service is vital for this process to be as smooth as possible.

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