How to MANUALLY Migrate Your Wordpress Site (still works in 2024)

In this tutorial I'll show you how to manually migrate your WordPress website from one host to another. There are a plethora of duplicator, migration and cloning tools and plugins out there, but often they timeout, fail or don't work between hosts.

*** Update May 2024 - this method still works like a charm today! ***

I've used many a cloning tool in my day only to have the migration timeout, take the site down and leave me in a complete panic. It's for this reason that knowing how to do it manually is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL. And luckily, it's not rocket science. With a basic understanding of what's going on behind the scenes and the most important files you need to worry about, you can do it often just as fast as it would take a migration tool.

View my FREE simple and advanced checklists for migrating a Wordpress website manually here:

Video timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and overview

*** Phase 1 - Backup site on old domain ***

01:12 - Backup site files via File Manager
03:47 - Export the site database via phpMyAdmin

*** Phase 2 - Transfer site to new domain ***

06:14 - Install Wordpress at new domain
09:12 - Import site database via phpMyAdmin
10:52 - Upload/replace wp-content folder in File Manager
17:48 - Find and replace all image/file paths to new URL

*** Phase 3 - Clean up ***

19:06 - Delete old files and backup new site

Again, you can view the FREE simple or advanced checklists for this method of migrating a Wordpress website manually here:

If you want to learn more about domains, WordPress file structure, email settings and more in cPanel, join my cPanel Course today!

P.S. Use code "cpanel17" to get $17 OFF!

[quietdeluxe]

Wow, after many years of relying on migration plugins with one problem after another, I've learned how to move a site manually with your video. I really can't thank you enough!

[edwardhacklbain]

I have used many plugins and methods out there (such as, all-in-one wp migration, Duplicator, Cloning ... etc) to migrate my websites, large ones as well as small, from different hosts and within the same host but never they gave intended results. All those plugins have been created for few specific cases and can not be used for other general scenarios. This manual method as Josh explains is the best and trouble free method that can be used in general. I recommend this method to be used if you don't want to waste time and disappointment. Thank you Josh.

[JunFausto]

very helpful. been awake for 12 hours finding the right tutorial to transfer my old website to the new one. thank you for this. this is amazing!

[TheSearchSherpa]

This was an excellent and comprehensive instructions. And NOT ONE sales pitch for a masterclass. Am I still in Youtube? Have I travelled back in time to a world before everyone was a guru?

[neelamsingh]

This manual method Worked for me very well, Wordpress transfer plugins were not working for me... A big thank you to you...👍

[pipoplays]

Thank you so much. All the other tutorials which used plugins either didn't work or just wanted money.

[juliajl]

Thank you veeery much !!! You saved my life. It worked and i could transfer my websites after following your guideline . When thinking, i have known a reliable way to transfer sites without relying on other plugins, I am sooo happy. I m sooo glad that I could find your this tutorial youtube video accidentally and finally . Plzzz load more tutorials!!!

[cameronvibbert]

I'm just going to go ahead and leave what I think is my FIRST Youtube comment ever while my WP-Content is uploading and say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for this video and saving me time, money, and headache learning this elsewhere. Videos like this on the public domain are what make me believe in the internet. God bless.

[PeterPapayiannis]

After trying the All-in-one-Migration and hitting the wall because of the file size upload limit.. I tried your method and it worked! Excellent presentation of step by step for dummies.
Thank You!

[malayswain]

After 5 years, successfully migrated a website without usng any plugin after watching this video, you have earned a subscriber. God bless.:)

[DavidElstob]

This is one of the most valuable tutorials for WordPress ever. It's saved me heaps of cash and made me feel comfortable with databases.

[MarnikBradt]

Nice & works like a charm!

I did ran into an issue due to WordPress versions being different: the old site still was 4.8.21 while the new had already 6.0.3.
The problem's root cause is that with different WP version, the database structure might be different as well.
Solved it by reinstalling WP on the new site but with a WP version that was close (4.8.3) to the version of the orginal site.

I did not choose to upgrade the WP version on the old site as it also contained a lot of out-dated plugins. Kinda bad management of the previous administrator.
After migration, I took a full backup of the site (I recommend the BACKWPUP plugin) for safety and then updated WP and the outdated plugins.
New fresh and up2dated and secure site and a happy customer as a result.

[TheAtheriel]

I'm a complete noob to Wordpress and was absolutely dreading my site migration, but this was a walk in the park! Thanks so much, Josh! Amazingly detailed and valuable tut 🙌🙌🙌

[gnolmikable]

Hi Josh,
Just letting you know I tried to migrate my site and watched 4 diff youtube videos before I found yours! None of the others worked but yours did! You're amazing!

[shahabhussain]

Josh your tutorial has helped me on a whole new level. The level of clarity I have achieved through your easy-to-follow steps is unbelievable. Kudos to you!!

[gayateknation]

Finally, this video is the best answer to a huge issue concerning website migration

[souljabroable]

It worked great, I migrated my 1.4GB site from a shared hosting plan to a VPS and everything works perfectly!

[joeyperera]

Tried many videos on the internet and only through your video I could do the successful transfer. Thanks a billion.

[ebonychild]

I was having so much trouble with upload limits from my web host, and this manual upload just totally bypassed all of that. All I needed was to upload only the essentials. Absolute godsend Josh, thank you so much!

[TheAlisaMae]

Thank you so very much for your help, I have been back and forth with my hosting account for a month trying to get my websites back up and you showed me how in 20 mins. You are the best!!!!