How to move WordPress site to another server with zero downtime

The Hunchback of Notre Bresil

Here is step-by-step tutorial on how to move your WordPress site with zero downtime.

  1. Backup the database from the old site and import it to the new site. Pay attention to database names.
  2. Change your wp-config.php in the old site to point to the database on the new site. Your old site will now run using database based on the new site and once you change the names ervers new site will have the up to date database. (You may want to check with your new hosting if they allow outside database access first. If not, you can skip this step and transfer the database at the end, when the nameserver change propagated)
  3. Backup your entire WordPress installation from the old site (this will include all your uploads, themes, plugins)
  4. Unpack your WordPress installation to the new site
  5. Change wp-config.php on the new site with new database details
  6. Change the nameservers to point to the new site
  7. That's all now you only need to wait :)

Since nameserver propagation can take up to one day, step 2 allows you to have up to date database at the moment it happens. Downside to this is slower site response in the meantime because site still runs from the old server and the database is on the new. But if you do this over the night or periods of low traffic it won't be that noticeable and you will not lose any comments or other activity on your site.

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31 Comments

  1. Andy
    4 weeks ago

    Very useful info on here as this process is full of pitfalls for the unwary. Just be sure to trace your steps so that you can always return.

  2. bisnis internet
    Sep 25th, 2009

    Thanks for sharing good information, i learn how to move wordpress here.

    Keep posting.

  3. Delton
    Aug 9th, 2009

    I have changed servers and I've changed the wp_config.php but I still can open my blog nor can I get admin
    to open. All I get is a blank page. Anybody have any suggestions

  4. Seth Goldstein
    Aug 3rd, 2009

    So will this work if I want all the widgets and plugins and settings to remain the same? I want to be able to just move it over to another server and have it be the same as it was on the previous server. Is this possible.

  5. Thorsten Albrecht
    Jul 16th, 2009

    Before I could activate my migrated wordpress installation (I just duplicated my installation on the same server) I had to change the value 'siteurl' in the database table "wp-options" by hand. Otherwise I would have been redirected to the old wordpress installation.

    Thorsten

  6. Make Money Easy Online
    Jun 30th, 2009

    Hi Guys.

    I am just wondering. Will it be possible to install a fresh copy of Wordpress and over write the new database with old database?

    Care must ensure that both copies of the Wordpress MUST be of the same version to prevent conflicts?

    I am going to change server soon and it is getting me paranoid with so many suggestions and ways to move a Wordpress blog.

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