WordPress Host Transfer Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure nothing is missed when moving your WordPress site to a new hosting provider.

Before you start

• ☐ Full backup of files and database completed and verified

• ☐ New hosting environment set up and configured (PHP version, server settings)

• ☐ SSL certificate installed on the new host

• ☐ Staging or temporary URL available to test the site before DNS cutover

During the transfer

• ☐ All WordPress files transferred to the new server

• ☐ Database exported from old host and imported to new host

• ☐ wp-config.php updated with new database credentials

• ☐ Site tested on the new server via temporary URL: pages load, links work, forms submit

• ☐ SSL working correctly on the new host — no mixed-content warnings

• ☐ Email configuration verified (MX records, SMTP settings)

• ☐ robots.txt confirmed — no noindex or crawl blocks left from testing

DNS cutover

• ☐ DNS TTL lowered in advance to reduce propagation time

• ☐ DNS records updated to point to new server

• ☐ Both old and new server remain accessible during propagation window

• ☐ Migration timed for low-traffic period

After going live

• ☐ Site loads correctly on the live domain with HTTPS

• ☐ Google Search Console checked for crawl errors

• ☐ Site speed verified — equal to or better than before migration

• ☐ Backup configured and running on the new host

• ☐ Old hosting kept active briefly as a fallback during propagation

Any boxes unchecked?

Skipped steps are where migrations go wrong. The most critical ones are: complete backup, SSL configuration, testing before DNS cutover, and post-launch monitoring.

If you would rather hand this off than manage it yourself, WP Clinic handles WordPress site transfers end to end. More in our migrations knowledge base.