Moving a WordPress site sounds simple. You copy the files. Move the database. Point the domain. Then something breaks, and it all gets complicated.
Most migration issues start before the move even begins. A missing backup. A plugin that fails to load. An upload that stops halfway. Small things like these can take your site offline in minutes.
A solid WordPress migration checklist helps you avoid that. It keeps everything organized and shows what needs attention before you start. You can see what’s ready and what still needs fixing.
The goal is clear. Move your site safely without losing data or uptime. Plan each step, and the process becomes easier to manage.
This WordPress website migration checklist covers every step before, during, and after the move.
Before we go through the checklist, let’s take a moment to understand what migration really means and when it’s worth doing.
Need a quick overview before diving in? Here’s the complete WordPress migration checklist at a glance:
✅ Back up your entire website (files + database)
✅ Gather all access credentials (hosting, FTP/SFTP, DNS, WordPress admin)
✅ Update WordPress core, themes, and plugins
✅ Disable caching and security plugins before the move
✅ Run SEO and performance checks on the current site
✅ Choose your migration method (plugin, manual, or managed)
✅ Create and test a staging site before launch
✅ Update DNS and SSL once migration is complete
✅ Verify redirects, links, and analytics tracking
✅ Set up automatic backups and ongoing maintenance
A WordPress migration moves your entire website to a new home. It could mean switching to another host. Changing domains. Or moving a local version of your site to a live server.
Many site owners migrate when things start to slow down. Some move for better uptime or support. Others upgrade to managed cloud hosting for speed and flexibility.
Everything that makes your site work moves with it. Files. The database. Themes. Plugins. Settings. Each part has to transfer correctly for the site to work the same way.
And a WordPress website migration checklist can help you keep it all in order. It protects SEO rankings and preserves redirects. It also helps you keep analytics tracking accurate after the move.
Migration isn’t just a technical task. It’s a chance to clean things up, improve security, and make your site faster before it scales.
But before migrating your WordPress site, you must follow some pre-migration checks to set you up for a smooth transfer.
Skipping preparation is one of the main reasons WordPress migrations fail. Follow this checklist to make sure everything is ready before you begin the transfer.
Short on time? Here’s the pre-migration checklist at a glance. It’s a quick summary before we dive into the detailed steps.
Task | Description |
Back up your site | Include all files, databases, and uploads |
Collect credentials | Hosting, FTP/SFTP, phpMyAdmin, DNS, and admin logins |
Update software | WordPress core, themes, and plugins |
Disable caching/security plugins | Prevents migration conflicts |
Run SEO and site audits | Fix broken links, meta issues, or redirect errors |
Test site health | Identify performance or server issues before migration |
Schedule migration time | Choose a low-traffic period for minimal downtime |
Create a staging site | Safely test the migration before going live |
Now let’s walk through each step in detail.
Start with a full backup before touching anything. It’s your safety net if something goes wrong.
Back up both parts of your site:
You can:
Alt text: UpdraftPlus dashboard with 'Backup Now' button and backup options.
If you’re on Cloudways, automatic offsite backups are already running. Still, take one manually before you start so you have the latest version ready.
Alt text: Cloudways dashboard with on-demand backup and restore options.
You’ll need several logins to complete the migration. Having them ready in one place saves time later.
Keep these handy:
Store everything securely, but make sure you can access it quickly when needed. This step alone prevents most migration delays.
Outdated software causes most migration errors. Update everything before you move the site.
Check these areas:
Next, turn off tools that can interrupt file transfers:
If your host includes built-in caching, disable it temporarily. You can turn it back on once your new site is stable.
Before moving your site, check that your SEO setup is healthy. You want your rankings and traffic to stay steady after migration.
Use tools like:
Look for:
Fix everything as it’s easier to clean up SEO issues before you move than after the new site goes live.
Make sure your current site runs smoothly before you move it. If it’s already having performance issues, those will carry over after migration.
Test with:
Fix any warnings or slow-loading pages.
A healthy site moves faster and performs better once it’s live on the new host.
Timing matters. Migration often causes short downtime, even with the best tools.
Here’s what to do:
If zero downtime is essential, you can activate a maintenance page so visitors see a friendly message instead of an error.
Plugins like SeedProd or WP Maintenance Mode make this easy.
A staging site lets you test everything before pushing the new site live. It’s the safest way to make sure nothing breaks during migration.
If your host supports staging, use it.
You can:
Hosts like Cloudways offer FREE staging and let you create a staging copy with just one click. You can test everything safely, then push changes to the live version once everything checks out.
Testing in a staging environment helps catch issues early and makes the final launch smooth.
Once your site is ready, it’s time to handle the migration itself. Keep this checklist nearby as you move your files and database.
✅ Pause content changes (posts, orders, comments) during the move
✅ Run one final backup before starting
✅ Use your chosen method (plugin/manual/managed) and document steps
✅ Transfer files and database, then update wp-config.php
✅ Block indexing on staging/temporary URLs (Search engine visibility OFF)
✅ Verify media, menus, and permalinks on the target site
✅ Test key flows (forms, login, checkout) on staging/temporary domain
✅ Keep old hosting active until DNS is fully propagated
Now that you’ve finished the prep, it’s time to move the site.
There’s more than one way to do it. You can use a plugin, move the files yourself, or let a migration team handle everything for you.
Choose the option that fits how comfortable you are with technical steps. Let’s briefly go through all these steps.
Most WordPress users start here. It’s quick and doesn’t ask for much technical work.
A plugin copies your files and database together, so there’s less chance of missing something important.
Some tools you can use:
To run a plugin migration, install it on your current site, create a package, then connect it to your new host.
Let it move everything, and when it’s done, sign in to the new dashboard.
Take a quick look around. Open pages, test forms, and check that images load properly.
This route gives you full control, but it’s a bit more hands-on. If you’ve used FTP or phpMyAdmin before, you’ll be fine.
Here’s a quick outline of what happens:
If your domain changes, fix the links with the Go Live Update Urls plugin so nothing breaks.
If you’d rather not handle files or settings, a managed service takes care of everything.
Cloudways offers one FREE migration where their team moves the site for you. They create backups, import your database, adjust DNS, and test the site before handing it over.
You still have control, but they handle the work. It’s a good choice for stores, agencies, or business sites that can’t risk downtime.
Open your migrated site on a temporary or staging link.
Browse like a visitor would. Click through pages, submit a form, check menus, and see if any images or styles are missing.
Keep an eye out for:
Once everything looks right, you’re ready for launch. The final step is updating your DNS to connect the domain to the new server.
When the new site checks out, point your domain to it.
Go to your registrar account and update the A record or CNAME so it connects to the new server.
If you’ve moved to Cloudways, you’ll find the IP address in the Application Management panel.
You can follow the update at dnschecker.org. It usually finishes within a few hours, but global updates can take longer.
When it’s done, your new site is live.
With the migration complete, it’s time to double-check everything and stabilize your new site.
Your site is live, but the job isn’t finished yet.
This stage is about checking that everything works, your SEO holds steady, and visitors see the same smooth experience they had before.
Once your new site is live, use this quick post-migration checklist to confirm everything is working as expected.
✅ Test every page, link, and form
✅ Run a full site crawl for 404s or redirect loops
✅ Confirm SSL certificate and security settings
✅ Update internal links and media paths
✅ Measure site performance and page speed
✅ Reconnect Google Search Console and resubmit sitemap
✅ Monitor analytics and traffic for drops
✅ Set up automatic backups and security scans
✅ Verify DNS propagation is complete
✅ Re-crawl after a few days to confirm stable indexing
Browse your site like a real visitor.
Click links, scroll pages, and test forms. You’ll spot layout issues or missing files faster this way.
Focus on:
If something looks broken, re-upload the affected files or re-save permalinks from Settings → Permalinks inside your dashboard.
A crawl shows you how search engines view your new site. Use Screaming Frog, Ahrefs Site Audit, or Sitebulb to scan everything.
Look for:
Compare the results with your pre-migration crawl. Fix anything that doesn’t match.
Open your site with https:// and confirm the padlock icon appears. If it doesn’t, re-issue your SSL certificate from the hosting panel.
If you’ve migrated to Cloudways, activate a free Let’s Encrypt SSL in one click. The platform also includes Cloudflare firewall for extra security.
If your domain or file path changed, some links may still point to the old address.
Run the Go Live Update Urls plugin once to fix them. It cleans up broken links, missing images, and style issues in a few minutes.
Migration should make your site faster, not slower.
Check speed using Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix and compare results.
If load times increase, try these quick fixes:
Cloudways users can turn on Cloudflare Enterprise or Redis object cache to boost performance instantly.
Follow the steps below:
Compare traffic before and after migration. A small dip is normal, but large drops might mean redirect or indexing issues.
Keep your old host active for about a week while DNS propagation finishes. If you’re on Cloudways, use the Monitoring panel to track uptime and performance during that period.
Now that the site is stable, automate your safety routines.
Schedule:
Cloudways includes offsite backups, one-click restore points, and SmartFix alerts that handle many server issues automatically.
DNS updates can take up to 48 hours worldwide. Check your domain using dnschecker.org to confirm the site resolves everywhere.
Avoid making major changes during this window so you don’t trigger caching issues.
Run one more crawl three to five days after the migration to ensure search engines are indexing your pages correctly and that no redirect chains have appeared.
Consistent testing and light maintenance keep your site stable long after the move.
Once everything looks good, you can start planning improvements or performance tweaks.
Still, even with careful planning, things can go wrong during or after a migration. If something doesn’t look right, start with these quick checks.
Even the smoothest migrations can run into a few bumps. Most problems are easy to fix once you know where to look.
Here are the most common issues and how to solve them:
Double-check your database name, username, and password in the wp-config.php file. Make sure the database user has the right permissions on your new host.
A white screen usually means a plugin or theme conflict. Disable all plugins through FTP by renaming the /plugins/ folder, then activate them one by one from the dashboard to find the cause.
If your site shows “Not Secure” messages, force HTTPS in your host panel and update image or script URLs. The Really Simple SSL plugin can help fix this automatically.
If pages load as 404s, go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes without editing anything. This refreshes the URL structure.
Images or CSS files may still point to your old domain. Run the Better Search Replace plugin to update old URLs in the database.
Clear your cache, re-enable any caching plugins you turned off, and check your CDN settings. Sometimes, local browser cache can make a fresh site appear sluggish.
Once everything is running smoothly again, you can focus on keeping future migrations simple and stress-free.
To make WordPress migrations simpler and safer, follow what we call the Smart 3-Step Framework. This best-practice process is built around three phases: Before, During, and After migration.
Each step helps you minimize risk, protect data, and maintain SEO performance.
Keeping these in order turns your WordPress migration checklist into a clear roadmap.
The setup you do now decides how smooth the move will be.
Taking time here prevents stress later. This is one of the most reliable website migration best practices.
Once you begin, stay focused. Check each step before moving on.
Rushing this stage is where most problems start, so go slowly and double-check.
When your site is live, make sure everything works as expected.
If you are hosting on Cloudways, turn on SmartFix alerts and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN.
These keep your new site fast and stable without extra plugins, an important step in any post WordPress migration checklist.
Migrating a WordPress site doesn’t have to be stressful.
With a solid WordPress website migration checklist, you can move safely, protect your data, and keep SEO performance steady. Here is a quick recap:
For the easiest move, try the Cloudways WordPress Migrator plugin. It is free and built for all WordPress users.
You can also let the Cloudways team handle the process through a managed migration. Once your site is live, Cloudways helps you stay ready for growth with:
Your site deserves a strong foundation and reliable performance. Start your migration today and move to hosting that keeps your WordPress site fast, safe, and stable.
A WordPress migration checklist is a step-by-step guide that helps you move your website safely to a new host or domain. It keeps you organized before, during, and after migration so nothing important gets missed.
Using a checklist prevents common migration errors like missing backups, broken links, or downtime. It helps you follow a clear process instead of guessing your way through the move.
Your checklist should cover backups, access credentials, plugin updates, staging setup, DNS changes, SSL checks, and post-migration testing. Each step ensures a smooth, error-free transfer.
Follow it phase by phase: pre-migration, during migration, and post-migration. Mark off each task as you go, and don’t skip backups or staging tests before going live.
You can, but it’s risky. Without a checklist, it’s easy to forget a database export, miss redirects, or break SEO tracking. A checklist saves time and avoids downtime.
Yes. A detailed checklist helps preserve your SEO by including redirects, sitemap updates, and link checks. Running a site crawl before and after migration keeps rankings steady.
Yes. The post-migration checklist focuses on testing pages, confirming SSL, fixing broken links, checking analytics, and ensuring redirects work correctly after your site goes live.
Use it every time you move or clone a WordPress site, even for staging or redesigns. Consistency reduces the chance of missing important steps or data.
