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How to Migrate a WordPress Website: A Step-by-Step Guide Without Losing SEO (2026)

There are many reasons why you might need to migrate a WordPress website. You may be moving to a faster hosting provider, changing your domain name, redesigning your website, or transferring ownership to another business. Whatever the reason, it’s important to carry out the migration carefully to avoid downtime, broken pages, or losing valuable search engine rankings.

A successful WordPress migration involves more than simply copying files. You’ll need to back up your website, transfer the database, update configuration settings, test everything thoroughly, and ensure your SEO remains intact.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to migrate a WordPress website safely and minimise disruption to your visitors.

Quick Summary: How to Migrate a WordPress Website

1. Create a full website backup
2. Choose your new hosting provider
3. Export your WordPress database
4. Copy website files
5. Import the database
6. Update the wp-config.php file
7. Update URLs (if changing domains)
8. Test your website thoroughly
9. Set up redirects if needed
10. Monitor your website after migration

Why Migrate a WordPress Website?

Businesses migrate WordPress websites for several reasons, including:

Upgrading to faster hosting
Moving to a new domain name
Redesigning an existing website
Improving website performance
Changing hosting providers
Consolidating multiple websites

A properly planned migration helps ensure your website remains accessible and continues performing well.

Before You Start

Before migrating your website, prepare the following:

A complete website backup
Access to your current hosting account
Access to your new hosting account
WordPress admin login
FTP or File Manager access
Database credentials
Domain management access

Having everything ready will make the migration process smoother.

WordPress Migration Process

Step	Purpose
Backup website	Protect your data
Export database	Save website content
Copy files	Transfer themes, plugins and uploads
Import database	Restore website data
Update configuration	Connect WordPress to the new database
Test website	Ensure everything works correctly
Configure redirects	Preserve SEO (if changing domain)

Step 1: Create a Full Website Backup

Always begin by creating a complete backup.

Your backup should include:

If anything goes wrong, you’ll be able to restore your website quickly.

Step 2: Choose Your New Hosting

When selecting a new hosting provider, consider:

Speed and performance
SSD or NVMe storage
Automatic backups
SSL certificates
WordPress optimisation
Customer support
Uptime guarantees

Reliable hosting provides a strong foundation for your migrated website.

Step 3: Export the Database

Your WordPress database contains:

Export the database using your hosting control panel or a database management tool before moving your website.

Step 4: Copy Your Website Files

Transfer all WordPress files to the new hosting account.

This includes:

Ensure the file structure remains unchanged during the transfer.

Step 5: Import the Database

Create a new database on your new hosting account and import the exported database.

After importing, verify that all tables have been transferred successfully.

Step 6: Update the wp-config.php File

Your wp-config.php file stores your database connection details.

Update it with your new:

This allows WordPress to connect to the new database.

Step 7: Update Website URLs (If Required)

If you’re changing your domain name, you’ll need to update all website URLs.

This includes:

Using a reliable search-and-replace tool helps avoid broken links.

Step 8: Test Your Website

Before making your new website live, check:

Homepage
Navigation
Contact forms
Images
Blog posts
Service pages
Downloads
Mobile responsiveness
Login area
Online store (if applicable)

Testing ensures visitors won’t experience unexpected issues.

Step 9: Set Up 301 Redirects

If you’re changing domains or URL structures, create 301 redirects.

Redirects help:

Every important page should redirect to its new equivalent.

Step 10: Update DNS Settings

Once testing is complete, point your domain to the new hosting provider by updating its DNS settings.

DNS changes may take up to 48 hours to fully propagate, although many updates are completed much sooner.

Avoid making content changes during this period to prevent inconsistencies.

Step 11: Check Your SEO

After migration, review your website’s SEO.

Check:

Meta titles
Meta descriptions
XML sitemap
Robots.txt
Canonical URLs
Internal links
Structured data
Google Search Console

This helps ensure your website continues to perform well in search results.

Step 12: Monitor Your Website

For the first few weeks after migration, monitor:

Website uptime
Loading speed
Error logs
Contact forms
Search rankings
Traffic
User feedback

Early monitoring allows you to resolve any issues before they affect your business.

Common WordPress Migration Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes:

Migrating without a backup
Forgetting to update URLs
Not testing the website before going live
Ignoring redirects
Deleting the old hosting account too early
Missing media files
Incorrect database credentials
Forgetting to update DNS settings

Planning each step carefully reduces the risk of downtime.

WordPress Migration Checklist

Website backed up
Database exported
Files copied
Database imported
wp-config.php updated
URLs updated (if required)
Website tested
Forms checked
Images verified
301 redirects configured
DNS updated
SEO reviewed
Google Search Console checked
Website monitored after launch

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate a WordPress website without downtime?

Yes. By preparing the new hosting environment, testing the website before updating your DNS settings, and scheduling the migration during quieter periods, you can minimise or even avoid noticeable downtime.

Will migrating my website affect SEO?

If the migration is completed correctly, your SEO should remain largely unaffected. When changing domains or URLs, implementing proper 301 redirects and checking your SEO settings is essential.

How long does a WordPress migration take?

A simple website can often be migrated within a few hours, while larger websites with extensive content or eCommerce functionality may take longer depending on their complexity.

Do I need technical knowledge to migrate WordPress?

Basic migrations can often be completed using migration plugins. However, more complex websites, custom functionality, or server changes may require professional assistance.

What should I do after migrating my website?

After migration, test all key pages and features, review your SEO settings, monitor website performance, check for broken links, and ensure your backups are running on the new hosting environment.

Migrate Your WordPress Website with Confidence

A successful website migration requires careful planning, testing, and attention to detail. At GetWebsite.io, we provide professional WordPress migration services for UK businesses, helping you move your website to a new host or domain safely and efficiently. From backups and data transfers to SEO preservation and post-migration testing, our team ensures your website is ready to perform without unnecessary downtime or disruption.

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