Answer · WordPress Web Design
How Do I Migrate WordPress to a New Host?
The short answer
Use the new host’s free migration service. Kinsta, WP Engine, and Cloudways all offer free WordPress migrations — fill a form, they handle it within 48 hours. Downtime during DNS swap: under 5 minutes. DIY migration takes 4-8 hours and has more failure modes.
№ 01The longer answer
Hands-off migration: sign up for the new host (Kinsta, WP Engine, Cloudways), submit their migration request form with your current host credentials and site URL, wait 24-48 hours, get an email when staging-on-new-host is ready. Test the staging URL. When ready, do the DNS cutover (change A record from old IP to new IP). Propagation takes 5-60 minutes. Real-world downtime is typically 0 minutes if you do it right (low TTL on DNS, both sites active during cutover).
DIY migration steps if you must: (1) Full backup of current site (BlogVault, UpdraftPlus, or Duplicator Pro). (2) Set up empty WordPress install on new host. (3) Restore backup to new host. (4) Test new-host URL via /etc/hosts override or temporary subdomain. (5) Update DNS to point at new host. (6) Wait for propagation. (7) Monitor for 48 hours.
Common DIY pitfalls: not updating wp-config.php for new database credentials, not updating siteurl and home options for new URL (if URL is changing), forgetting to copy the wp-content/uploads directory (most backup tools include it; some don’t by default), not setting up SSL on new host before cutover, not lowering DNS TTL 24 hours before cutover.
Free migration via the new host is faster, cleaner, and lower-risk. We’ve seen DIY migrations consume 8-12 hours of dev time when they fail; the free service consumes 30 minutes of your time and runs autonomously.
№ 02Will my SEO take a hit during migration?
No if the URL structure stays the same (which it should). Search Console may briefly report changes to indexing; rankings recover within 7-14 days. If the URL structure changes, you need a 301 redirect map — that’s a separate effort.
№ 03Can I migrate from WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress?
Yes. Export your WordPress.com content via Tools > Export. Set up self-hosted WordPress. Import via Tools > Import. Manually move media (uploads). This isn’t one-click but the path is well-documented.
№ 04What if my current host won’t give credentials?
Most hosts give you database and file access by default. If your current host is restricting access (some bargain hosts do this), submit a support request — they’re legally obligated to give you your data.
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