WordPress manual migration can seem challenging, but with Get Fast Host’s support, you’ll be able to transfer your website with ease. This guide will help you navigate the entire process of moving your WordPress website to Get Fast Host’s platform using cPanel, covering each step in detail to make the process smooth and straightforward. By following this guide, you’ll also optimize your site to rank well on Google for search queries related to WordPress migration.

Step-by-Step Checklist for Manual Migration to Get Fast Host

Preparing Files and Database on Your Old Host

1. Download the wp-content Folder
   • Log in to your current hosting provider’s cPanel.
   • Open File Manager and navigate to the public_html (or root) folder where your WordPress files are stored.
   • Locate the wp-content folder, right-click, and select Compress to create a ZIP file for faster download.
   • After compressing, click on the ZIP file and select Download to save it to your computer.
2. Copy Database Name and Table Prefix from wp-config.php
   • In the public_html folder, locate and open the wp-config.php file.
   • Find these lines and take note:phpCopy codedefine('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name'); $table_prefix = 'your_prefix_';
   • This information will be useful when setting up the database on Get Fast Host.
3. Download the Database
   • Go to phpMyAdmin in cPanel and select the database listed in your wp-config.php file.
   • Click on Export, choose Quick Export for simplicity, and select SQL format.
   • Click Go to download the SQL file to your computer.

Setting Up Your WordPress Site on Get Fast Host

1. Install a Fresh WordPress Instance
   • Log in to Get Fast Host’s cPanel.
   • Use Softaculous or any WordPress installer provided by Get Fast Host to install a fresh WordPress setup.
   • Make sure to set up the new installation with the exact URL you plan to use.
2. Delete the New wp-content Folder
   • Once the new installation is complete, go to File Manager and locate the public_html folder.
   • Delete the new wp-content folder created during the setup.
3. Upload the Old wp-content Folder
   • Click on Upload in File Manager, and select the wp-content ZIP file downloaded from your previous host.
   • After uploading, right-click on the ZIP file and select Extract to replace all plugins, themes, and uploads with those from your old site.
4. Clear the New Database
   • Open phpMyAdmin in cPanel.
   • Select the new WordPress database and Drop all tables to make space for tables from your old database.
5. Import the Old Database
   • Go to Import with the new database still selected, and choose the SQL file you downloaded.
   • Click Go to start the import. You should now see the tables from your old site in the new database.

Additional Steps for Finalizing the Migration

1. Update Domain URL in Database (If Necessary)
   • If your site is moving to a new domain, go to the wp_options table in phpMyAdmin.
   • Update both siteurl and home values to match your new domain.
2. Update Table Prefix in wp-config.php
   • Go to File Manager, open the wp-config.php file in the new site’s root folder.
   • Update $table_prefix to match the prefix from your old site.
3. Update Old URLs to the New Domain (Optional)
   • Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
   • Install a plugin like Better Search Replace or WP Migrate DB to update URLs if you’ve changed domains.

Important Considerations for Migration to Get Fast Host

• Testing: Once your migration is complete, thoroughly test your website on Get Fast Host. Check that all links, images, and pages load correctly.
• Permalinks: In WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks and re-save the permalink structure to ensure it’s preserved correctly.
• Backup: Always create backups of your files and databases before any significant changes, especially during migration.

By following these steps, you’ll successfully migrate your WordPress website to Get Fast Host, ensuring fast, secure, and reliable hosting for your business. Get Fast Host also offers support to help make your migration as seamless as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions