How to Transfer a WordPress Website to a New Hosting Provider

Moving your WordPress website to a new host can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. The process comes down to a handful of clear steps: back up your site, set it up on the new server, manage your domain and DNS, test everything, then close out your old account. This guide walks you through each one, with a free downloadable checklist to help you migrate your site. And it works no matter which hosting provider you're moving from or to..

Prerequisites

Before you start moving your hosting over to a new provider, make sure you have:

• Admin access to WordPress on your current hosting provider
• The ability to manage or update DNS records for your domain

These two things matter more than they might seem. Without WordPress admin access, you won't be able to install the backup plugin or pull the files you need to move your site. And without access to your DNS records, you won't be able to point your domain to your new host once your site is ready, which means visitors would keep landing on your old server even after the migration is done. Most site owners already have both, but it's worth confirming before you begin so you're not stuck mid-move waiting on a login reset or a support ticket.

Step 1: Back Up and Copy Your Data

The easiest way to move a WordPress site is with a backup plugin. We like UpdraftPlus, and the free version handles most standard site backups well. A plugin like this does the heavy lifting for you. Instead of manually tracking down every file and database table your site depends on, it packages everything up in one place and gets it ready to move.

Here's what that looks like in practice:

1. Run a full backup on your old host using UpdraftPlus. This captures your entire site, your database, themes, plugins, images, and all the content in between, in one backup file.
2. Download the backup files to your computer. Once the backup finishes, save the files somewhere you can easily find them. You'll need to upload these to your new host in the next step, so keep them handy.

If you're comfortable with a more hands-on approach, you can also transfer your site manually. At its core, a WordPress site is just a database and a set of files, so if you have access to both, you can copy them directly to a new server yourself. This gives you more control, but it also means handling the database, files, and reconnections all on your own, which leaves more room for small missteps like a missed file or a database connection that needs reconfiguring. For most site owners, the plugin route above is the more straightforward path.

Step 2: Set Up Your New Hosting Provider and Restore the Site

Once you've got your backup files ready, it's time to set up shop on the new host.

1. Purchase or create your new hosting plan. This gets your account and server space ready to go.
2. Set up WordPress, which often comes pre-installed with your new hosting plan, saving you a manual install.
3. Log into WordPress on your new host using the admin credentials you set up during that installation.
4. Install UpdraftPlus on the new site, just like you did on the old one. This is what will let you bring your backup files back in.
5. Upload your backup files that you saved from Step 1.
6. Run the restore. This is where UpdraftPlus does its work, rebuilding your site on the new server using the files you just uploaded.

This is really where using a plugin pays off. UpdraftPlus walks you through the restore step by step, and it handles your database, themes, plugins, images and all other site data in one pass, rather than you having to move each piece individually.

Step 3: Manage Your Domain and DNS

This is the part people forget about, and it matters just as much as the migration itself. At some point, you'll need to reconnect your domain name to your new hosting provider. That means updating your DNS records to point to the new server. Your new host will typically hand you the exact records you need to plug in.

If your domain or DNS is currently managed through your old hosting provider, you'll need to move over any relevant records, not just the ones for your website. That includes:

• MX records for email services like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
• Any subdomains or records tied to other connected services

Before you flip the switch on DNS, test your site on the new host first. Many hosting providers offer a preview URL, a temporary web address that lets you access WordPress on the new server before your domain is connected. Use it to run your restore and confirm everything works before your domain points to the new server.

If your host doesn't offer a preview URL, you'll need to switch over your domain name first and then copy everything over. Your site may be briefly offline while the restore finishes, so plan for that.

One more thing to know: DNS changes aren't always instant. Depending on your domain provider, updates can take up to 24 hours to fully take effect due to caching. Some providers process changes almost immediately, others take longer, so build in a buffer and avoid scheduling anything time-sensitive right around your cutover.

Step 4: Check for Other Hosting-Adjacent Dependencies

Your hosting account may be doing more than hosting your website, so it's worth checking what else is riding along with it. If you have email accounts bundled with your old plan, move those too, either to your new host or to a service like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. And if your old server has any non-WordPress software or files outside your website, make sure those have a new home before you let go of it.

Step 5: Test Everything Before You Cut Off the Old Host

Don't cancel your old hosting plan until you've confirmed everything works on the new one. Walk through your site the way a visitor would:

• Spot-check pages across your site to make sure they load and display correctly.
• Confirm you can log into WordPress on the new host.
• Submit a test entry through your contact forms and confirm you receive the email notification.
• Test any special features on your site, like search or account login functionality.

If something doesn't look right, this is the time to catch it, while your old site is still live and available as a backup. A few extra minutes of testing now can save you from a much bigger headache later, like a broken contact form you don't discover until a customer mentions they never heard back.

Step 6: Cancel Your Old Hosting Plan

Once everything checks out, cancel your old hosting subscription. Providers don't cancel these automatically, so you'll need to reach out and request it directly. Skipping this step means you could keep getting billed for a service you no longer need.

If You're Moving to Stratiom

The steps above apply to any WordPress migration, no matter where you're headed. If you're still looking for a new hosting provider, Stratiom is independently owned, U.S.-operated, and built specifically for WordPress. And if you decide to make the move, our team can help you migrate your site. 

If your old host used cPanel or Plesk, we can often use a backup file to restore your site directly into our system, carrying over your website along with any email accounts and DNS configured there. We can also help transfer your domain registration to Stratiom, so your hosting and domain live in one place.

Ready to make the move? Download our migration checklist below to walk through the process, or reach out to us if you'd like help transferring your site to Stratiom.