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Migrating a WordPress Installation

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Once you have backed up your database and made a copy of your WordPress files, transferring your blog to from another host to us is a quick and easy task to perform. The migration will be supported by us at every step of the way.


Step 1 – Backup your WordPress database in phpMyAdmin

1 Log into your current cPanel account where your WordPress site currently is.


2 Under the ‘Databases‘ title, click onto ‘phpMyAdmin‘.


3 Select ‘Export‘ from the top navigation menu.


4 Select ‘Quick‘.


5 Select ‘Go‘ button. This action will prompt the export to start downloading via your web browser – you may be prompted to save this file depending on your web browser type. Depending on the size of your database, this may take a few minutes to start.


Step 2 – Back up your WordPress files using your FTP program

1 Open your preferred FTP program and connect it to where your current WordPress site is.


2 Locate the directory for your WordPress installation – this could be either in the public_html folder or named in it’s own directory depending on how it was installed.

Once located, right mouse click on the holding folder and select ‘Download‘ – if you do not have a download option, mouse click and drag to a local folder on your computer.

Depending on the size of your directory, this may take a few minute to complete.


Step 3 – Create a new database for WordPress

1 Log into your cPanel with us. If you are unsure on how to do this, please view the following help article – ‘How to log into cPanel‘.


2 Under the ‘Databases‘ title, click onto ‘MySQL Database Wizard‘.


3 Write in a ‘Database Name‘.


4 Select ‘Next Step‘ button to continue.


5 Write in:

  • Username: – username for the database user.
  • Password: – password for the database user.
  • Password (Again): – repeat of the password.

Information At this stage it is recommended that you note down your database name, the database username and password because this will be needed later for the WordPress config.

Select ‘Create User’ button to proceed.


6 Select all privileges followed by ‘Next Step‘ to complete the process.


Step 4 – Import your WordPress database

2 Whilst still logged into your cPanel account with us, under the ‘Databases‘ title, click onto ‘phpMyAdmin‘.


3 Choose the new database that was created from the left hand side of phpMyAdmin.


4 Select ‘Import‘ from the top navigation menu.


5 Select the ‘Choose file‘ button and locate the database file that was downloaded earlier on your computer.


6 Select the ‘Go‘ button to import.


Step 5 – Upload your WordPress files via FTP

1 Open your FTP program and locate the quick connect option- this example uses FileZilla.


2 At this stage you will need to know your login details for the FTP – this information can be found in your welcome email from us titled ‘Your Hosting Info’.

  • Host – your domain name (without the www)
  • Username – your cPanel username
  • Password – your cPanel password
  • Port – by default this will be 21

Once your information has been entered, ‘Connect‘.


3 Once connected, your FTP program will provide on screen confirmation. You can now start exploring your hosting directory, by clicking ‘+’ and ‘-‘ to expand and collapse the folders.

Locate your WordPress files that were downloaded earlier (the files within the folder downloaded) and upload them into the ‘public_html’ directory. This process may take a few minutes depending on the size of the files.


Step 6 – Edit the WordPress config file

1 Whilst connected to your hosting via FTP, navigate to the directory where your WordPress files are. Browse through the files list and locate a filed called ‘wp-config.php‘.


2 Right mouse click on this file and select ‘Edit‘.


3 You will need to change the database connection details to the new database that we created in Step 3 – Create a new database for WordPress.

At the top of the document, you will see three important configuration settings listed under the heading ‘MySQL settings – You can get this info from your web host‘.

  • // ** MySQL settings – You can get this info from your web host ** //
  • /** The name of the database for WordPress */
  • define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘cPanelName_databaseName’);
  • /** MySQL database username */
  • define(‘DB_USER’, ‘cPanelName_databaseUserName’);
  • /** MySQL database password */
  • define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘databasePassword’);

Please replace the information with your respective account details / database name, username and password.


4 Select ‘File‘ followed by ‘Save‘.

Once the changes have been saved, you may disconnected from the FTP program.


After Step 6, your WordPress blog should now work. However if you are experiencing problems, please contact support. Log into your ‘Client Area‘ and select ‘Open Ticket’ from the navigation menu.


Using Wordpress? Get our lightening fast Wordpress Optimised Hosting.
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