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How to migrate a WordPress site to a new host

Moving a WordPress site to a new host can feel daunting, but with a bit of preparation it’s a straightforward process. This guide covers the manual method for those who want to do it themselves, plus the easy way if you’d rather leave it to us.

Before you start

Gather the following before you begin:

  • Access to your current host – FTP/SFTP or File Manager access, and your database credentials (name, username, password, host).
  • Access to your new host – your new cPanel login details.
  • Domain and DNS access – you’ll need to update DNS once the new site is ready.
  • A full backup – always keep a copy of your files and database before making changes, in case you need to start again.

The manual method

  1. Back up your files and database. In cPanel, use File Manager to compress your WordPress folder (usually public_html) into a zip, then download it. In phpMyAdmin, select your WordPress database and use Export to download a .sql file.
  2. Create a new database on the new host. In your new cPanel account, use MySQL Databases to create a database and a database user, and add that user to the database with All Privileges.
  3. Import the database. Open phpMyAdmin on the new host, select the new database, and use Import to upload the .sql file you exported earlier.
  4. Upload your website files. Use File Manager or an FTP client to upload and extract your zipped WordPress files into public_html on the new host.
  5. Update wp-config.php. Edit the wp-config.php file in your uploaded files and update DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD and DB_HOST to match the new database you created in step 2.
  6. Search and replace URLs. If your domain or URL structure is changing, use a plugin such as Better Search Replace, or run the update directly in phpMyAdmin, to replace old URLs with the new ones throughout the database.
  7. Test before going live. Point your computer at the new site using a local hosts file entry (or your new host’s temporary URL) so you can check pages, menus and plugins before switching DNS.
  8. Update your DNS. Once you’re happy with the test, update your domain’s DNS records to point to the new host. Propagation can take a little time, so keep the old host active until you’ve confirmed the new one is fully live.

This approach gives you full control, but it does take some technical know-how, and a mistake in any step (like a mismatched database credential) can leave your site inaccessible until it’s fixed.

The easy way: Skyrack’s free migration

If that all sounds like more than you want to deal with, we do it for you at no cost. Skyrack includes a free migration of cPanel accounts and WordPress sites with our hosting plans, so you don’t have to touch the technical steps above at all.

To request a migration:

  1. Sign up for a Skyrack hosting plan.
  2. Log in to the client area and submit a migration request, or get in touch via our contact page.
  3. Provide access details for your current host, and our team will handle the rest, including moving your files, database and email accounts where applicable.

This is generally the safer option if you’re not comfortable working with databases and file permissions directly, since it removes the risk of a step going wrong partway through.

Next steps

Ready to move your WordPress site? Check out our WordPress hosting plans, or head straight to our free migration page to get started.

Last updated: 9 September 2026