How to easily move WordPress from one location to another

 

This guide will work if moving from one hosting provider to another or from one directory to another with the same provider.

 

You will perform these 3 basic steps:

1. Backup your old data, themes and plugins
2. Create a new WordPress installation
3. Import your old data, themes, and plugins and activate them

 

Now for the detailed version:

 

Step 1a: Backing up your old data:

 

1. Login to the Dashboard of your current installation of WordPress
2. Select Tools
3. Select Export
4. Select all for all categories listed
5. Select Download export file (this saves your content. Pages posts comments etc.) save the file to your computer in a location you will be able to easily find (such as your desktop etc.)

 

Step 1b: Backing up your themes, and plugins:

 

Next to save your themes and plugins you will need to download your wp-content folder of your old WordPress. This folder is located in the main directory for your existing WordPress installation. The best way to do this is thru a FTP connection. (We recommend using Filezilla. You can find instructions how to download and setup Filezilla from our knowledge base at: http://helpdesk.bluehost.com/index.php/kb/article/000264 )

 

NOTE: If you are moving from wordpress.com or wordpress.org you do not have FTP access to your files. As such you will need to simply install new versions of your themes and plugins)

 

Download your wp-content folder to your computer. (This will save your themes and plugins)

 

Step 2. Create a new WordPress installation:

 

From your CPanel go to Software/Services then select Simple Scripts then go to WordPress then select Install, then select the location you want your new WordPress to be located, agree to the license agreement and select Complete. Once the installation is completed you will be given a new username and password for your Dashboard for your new WordPress installation.

 

Step 3a. Import your old data:

 

Once you have installed your new WordPress, login to your new Dashboard

1. Then go to tools
2. Select import
3. Select WordPress (if prompted install the import plugin and then select run now)
4. Browse to your downloaded export file from your old WordPress
5. Select your saved file and then select upload file and import
6. Under assign authors choose to map to existing or select create user if user does not yet exist (by default only the admin user will exist in a new installation)
7. Select Downloaded and import file attachments
8. Select Submit (This will import all of your pages, posts, and comments)

 

Step 3b. Import your old themes, and plugins and activate them:

 

To get your themes and plugins back so you can use them you must upload the wp-content folder to the new WordPress installation directory. Again we recommend using Filezilla. You need to replace the existing folder with the one you saved from step 1b above. If you are prompted to overwrite any files select Yes.

 

Then finally, in your new WordPress Dashboard, activate your theme and plugins. Themes are activated under Appearance, then Themes. Your plugins are activated under Plugins and or Widgets.

 

Make any custom changes to your theme. (One common setting is to change the default site title and tagline. This is done under Settings > General> Site Title and Tagline) Once you are done your site should look just like it did on your old server. Once it matches feel free to delete WordPress from your old server or location or cancel your old WordPress service provider.