The Complete 2025 Guide to Switching Your WordPress Website to a New Hosting Provider

Why You Might Need to Change Hosting Providers

Your hosting provider is where your website “lives” on the internet. But not all web hosts are the same. Some give you fast speed, great security, and helpful support — while others can slow you down or make your site crash often.

Here are common reasons to switch to a better host:

Slow website loading: If your pages take too long to open, visitors may leave before seeing your content. A better host can improve speed.
Too much downtime: If your site keeps going offline, people won’t be able to visit. That can hurt your business.
Poor customer support: If your current host doesn’t help you quickly or clearly when problems happen, it’s time for a new one.
Limited features: Some hosting plans don’t let you grow or add new tools (like extra storage, SSL, or backups).
Better pricing elsewhere: You might find a hosting company that gives you more features for a lower monthly price.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s probably time to move your WordPress site to a new hosting provider.

How to Prepare Before You Start the Migration

Moving your WordPress site is like moving into a new home — it’s easier if you pack and plan before the big day. Here’s how to get ready:

Pick your new hosting company: Choose a reliable host known for speed, safety, and support. Good choices in 2025 include SiteGround, WP Engine, Cloudways, or Nexcess.
Gather your login details: Make sure you can access your current hosting account, your WordPress admin dashboard, and your new hosting account.
Check your domain setup: If you own a custom domain (like mysite.com), check if your domain is managed by your current host or a third party (like GoDaddy or Namecheap). You’ll need to update DNS settings later.
Turn off caching and firewall plugins: Plugins like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or Wordfence can sometimes block migration tools. Disable them to avoid issues.
Let others know: If you have a team, tell them about the upcoming migration. This prevents surprises if there’s a short website downtime.

Preparing these things ahead of time can save you from headaches later.

Backup Everything on Your Current WordPress Site

Before you move your site, you must back it up. A backup is a full copy of your website — like making a safety copy in case something goes wrong during the move. It includes two parts: files and database.

Manual Backup (Files + Database)

Step 1: Backup Your Website Files

Log into your hosting control panel or connect with an FTP client like FileZilla.
Go to the folder called public_html (or sometimes /htdocs or /www).
Download all files and folders, including your themes, plugins, uploads, and the core WordPress files.

Step 2: Backup Your Database

Log into phpMyAdmin from your hosting dashboard.
Select your WordPress database from the left menu.
Click Export, choose the Quick option, and download the .sql file to your computer.

Using Backup Plugins

Not comfortable doing it by hand? Use a plugin. Here are the best options in 2025:

UpdraftPlus – Easy to use, lets you store backups on Google Drive or Dropbox.
All-in-One WP Migration – Great for both backing up and moving your site.
Duplicator – Creates a full backup and a simple installer to move your site.

These plugins can save time, especially if you're new to WordPress.

How to Migrate or Move a WordPress Website to a New Host in 2025

Now it’s time to move! If you're doing it manually, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you transfer your WordPress website safely:

Step-by-Step Manual Migration

Download all your website files from your old host using FTP (like FileZilla) or File Manager. Save them to your computer in a folder.
Export your WordPress database from phpMyAdmin. This file will contain all your posts, pages, users, and settings.
Log in to your new host and upload your website files using File Manager or FTP into the new public_html folder.
Create a new MySQL database in your new hosting control panel. Add a new database user and give it full permissions.
Import the database using phpMyAdmin. Click “Import,” then upload your .sql file from your backup.
Update wp-config.php: This is a file in your website’s folder. Open it and change the following lines to match your new database:
- DB_NAME – Your new database name
- DB_USER – Your new username
- DB_PASSWORD – Your new password
Test your website using a preview domain (some hosts provide one), or temporarily change your local hosts file to view it before DNS updates.
Update your DNS: Go to your domain registrar (like GoDaddy or Namecheap) and change the nameservers or A record to point to your new hosting provider.

Things to Watch Out For

Missing images or broken links – Check your pages and blog posts to make sure everything looks right.
Plugin errors – Some plugins may need to be reactivated or updated after the move.
Old URLs – Use a plugin like Better Search Replace to fix old links if your domain name or folder structure has changed.
Caching issues – Clear your browser and WordPress cache after migration.

Or you can check this "Migrate or move WordPress website to a new host in 2025" article.

Create a New Database on Your New Web Host

Before your WordPress website can work on the new host, it needs a new database. This is where all your posts, pages, and settings are stored.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Log in to your new hosting account (like SiteGround, Hostinger, or Bluehost).
Step 2: Find the section called MySQL Databases or Database Management in your control panel (usually in cPanel or a similar dashboard).
Step 3: Create a new database. Give it a simple name (like mywpdb).
Step 4: Create a new database user. Set a strong password.
Step 5: Link the user to the database. Make sure to give all privileges (read, write, edit, delete).

Write down your database name, username, and password. You’ll need them in the next step.

Upload Your Website Files to the New Hosting Server

Now that your database is ready, it’s time to move your actual WordPress files to the new host.

There are two ways to upload your files:

Option A: Using File Manager

Go to your hosting dashboard and open File Manager.
Open the public_html folder (or the root folder of your website).
Click Upload and select all your WordPress files and folders from your backup.

Option B: Using FTP (like FileZilla)

Open FileZilla and connect to your new hosting account.
Go to the public_html folder on the right side.
On the left side, find the folder on your computer with your WordPress backup.
Drag and drop all the files to the public_html folder.

This might take a few minutes. Be patient — your site is moving!

Update wp-config.php with Your New Database Info

The wp-config.php file connects your website to your database. You need to update this file with the new database details from Step 5.

Here’s how:

Open the wp-config.php file in your website’s root folder (in public_html).
Find the lines that look like this:

define('DB_NAME', 'your_old_database_name'); define('DB_USER', 'your_old_username'); define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_old_password'); define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
Replace them with your new database name, username, and password. The DB_HOST usually stays as localhost (unless your host tells you otherwise).

Save the file.

This connects your WordPress site to the new database so it can work properly.

Import Your Old WordPress Database to the New Server

Now you’ll move your old database (the .sql file you exported earlier) into the new database you just created.

Here’s how:

Go to your new hosting account and open phpMyAdmin.
Select the new database name from the left menu.
Click the Import tab at the top.
Click Choose File and select the .sql backup file from your computer.
Click Go to start the import.

It may take a few seconds or minutes, depending on your database size.

Once it's done, your WordPress content — posts, pages, settings, and users — will now live on your new server.

Update Your DNS to Point to the New Host

After your website is moved, you need to point your domain name to the new hosting server.

Change Nameservers:

Log in to the place where you bought your domain (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).
Find the DNS settings or Nameservers section.
Replace the old nameservers with the new ones from your new hosting provider.
Example:
Old: ns1.oldhost.com, ns2.oldhost.com
New: ns1.newhost.com, ns2.newhost.com

Allow Time for DNS Propagation:

It can take up to 48 hours for the new settings to spread worldwide.
During this time, some people may see the old site and some may see the new one.
Don’t make big changes while it's updating.

Test Your Website After Migration

Now it’s time to check everything to make sure your site works well.

Functionality Check:

Visit different pages to see if they load correctly.
Test buttons, links, contact forms, and search boxes.

Plugin and Theme Check:

Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Make sure all plugins and your theme are working.
Update them if needed.

How to Use a Migration Plugin (Easier Option)

If manual steps feel hard, you can use a migration plugin instead.

All-in-One WP Migration:

Easy for beginners.
Just install the plugin, export your site, and import it on the new host.

Duplicator:

Good for moving both files and database together.
Creates a full backup with an installer script.

UpdraftPlus:

Mostly used for backups, but has a premium feature for migration.

These plugins do most of the heavy work for you. Just follow the on-screen instructions.

Fix Broken Links, Images, and Path Issues

After moving, some links or images may not work if they point to the old URL.

Use a plugin like Better Search Replace to update old links to your new domain.
Check for 404 errors (broken pages).
Make sure all images are loading properly.

Secure Your New Hosting Setup with SSL and Firewall

Keep your new site safe right from the start.

Get a free SSL certificate from your host or use Let's Encrypt.
Install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri.
Turn on firewall protection if your host offers it.
Use strong passwords and two-factor login for admin access.

Optimize Website Performance Post-Migration

Make sure your new site loads fast.

Use a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache.
Optimize images using a tool like Smush or ShortPixel.
Turn on lazy loading for images and videos.
Check your speed with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.

Final Checklist Before Saying Goodbye to Your Old Host

Before you cancel your old hosting plan:

Make sure your new website works fully.
Double-check your emails (if they were linked to your old host).
Save a final backup — just in case.

Once everything is okay, you can cancel your old plan to save money.

Troubleshooting Common Migration Errors

Some things might go wrong. Here’s what to look for:

White screen or error messages: Check wp-config.php or enable debug mode.
Database connection error: Make sure your database name, username, and password are correct.
Broken design or layout: Clear your cache or re-save your permalinks.
Mixed content (HTTP/HTTPS) issues: Install Really Simple SSL to fix it.

If it feels too tricky, don’t panic — help is out there.

Should You Hire an Expert to Handle the Move?

If all this feels confusing, it’s okay to ask for help.

A web expert can do the migration for you — quickly and safely.
This saves you time and reduces risk of downtime.
If you have an eCommerce, LMS, or big website, hiring help is a smart move.

At Creation Wave LLC, we offer worry-free WordPress migration, including backups, speed optimization, and full support.