A WordPress migration means moving your entire site — files, database, domain configuration — from one hosting environment to another. Done correctly, your visitors notice nothing. Done poorly, they notice downtime, broken pages, or a site that simply does not load.
What a WordPress migration involves
- Backing up the current site — Before anything else. A complete backup of both files and database is the safety net for the entire process
- Transferring files — All WordPress core files, theme files, plugin files, and media uploads move to the new server
- Transferring the database — The database contains all content, settings, and user data. It needs to be exported, imported to the new server, and verified
- Configuring the new environment — PHP version, server settings, SSL certificate, caching configuration — all need to be set up correctly on the new host
- Testing before going live — The site should be fully tested on the new server before the domain is pointed at it. This is where staging environments matter
- DNS cutover — Changing the domain to point at the new server. This is the critical moment: DNS changes propagate gradually, so there is a short window where some visitors may still hit the old server
- Post-migration checks — Verify forms, links, SSL, email configurations, and any third-party integrations still work correctly
What commonly goes wrong
The most frequent problems are broken links or redirects, database import errors, SSL misconfiguration on the new host, and email settings that do not carry over. These are all avoidable with proper preparation — but they are common when migrations are rushed or done without experience.
If you are planning a migration, WP Clinic handles WordPress site transfers as a dedicated service. More in our migrations knowledge base.