How to Migrate WordPress Site For Free: Step By Step Guide

If you're currently running your Website and not satisfied with your hosting provider and want to change your Hosting provider for your WordPress site.

Then you have to Migrate WordPress site to your new host. If you probably don't know and worried about How to Migrate WordPress site.

Then follow this Step By Step Guide to simply migrate your WordPress site without any downtime.

So in this Guide we are going to see Two most common case for migration.

1. Migrate WordPress site with Same Domain
2. Migrate WordPress site with New Domain

So Let's take a look at each the steps

A. Migrate WordPress site with Same Domain

1. Choose a New Host

Before we start migrating WordPress site you need a New Webhosting that is reliable and Powerful so you don't need to change your host overtime.

We specially recommend you SiteGround and BlueHost. You can select one of theme of you want. Both of the Hosting provider is Recommended by WordPress itself and come with great reputation in the industry. So you don't need worry a much.

So now probably you have chosen a new host for your WordPress site.

2. Backup you WordPress site

So before we start actually migrating site, I personally recommend you to first take a Backup of your site. It will help you to recover from site in some worst case scenarios.

So in case you don't know how to take Backup of Wordpress site then check out this article.

3. Install Duplicator Plugin for migration

For this this step you need to simply Install and Active Duplicator Plugin on your Website that you want to migrate.

4. Import WordPress site Files to new host

So before importing WordPress site file you need to create it.

For that go to your WordPress dashboard and goto Packages from Duplicator section for left hand side slide bar.

Then Click on Create New button on Top right corner.

Then after click on Next button and follow steps to create a new package.

In Second step make sure that everything thing is showing Good in green boxes. Then click on Build button.

After that wait for some time to create your files so leave your tab open.

After the process has completed it will give you options for downloading the installer and Archive files.

Now you have to download both the files.

Now Finally you have your WordPress site files to upload.

To Upload both file to New host simply go to cPanel account of new host.

Click on File Manager under File section.

Now from Top Right corner click on settings button.

Now choose Your new domain as Document Root for option.

Your Root directory Path usually look this: /username/public_html/

Then click on Upload icon on Top bar of File Manager to upload both files.

Also make sure that your Root Directory will be empty before uploading the both files. Because sometimes hosting provider automatically Install WordPress after login.

So in this case you have Delete WordPress for your Root Directory.

So now after uploading both files. Let's get to next steps.

5. Edit hosts file to prevent Downtime

So to make sure that our website doesn't face any downtime we haven't changed our Domain Name server. It means it still Points to old server.

We also recommend you that keep all your website data live on older host till the migration process has complete. So during this migration process your user does not face any downtime.

Now to we have to access Installer.php in our browser window.

For that we typically use
http://your domain.com/installer.php

However this will lead to an 404 error Because your domain still points to old server as stated earlier.

For this you can also update your Domain Name server to access Installer.php file but it will lead to an downtime to your site.

So tackle down this you can modify hosts file in local machine and access file temporarily.

To modify hosts file you first need your server IP address of your new Webhost.

To find IP address you can go to cPanel dashboard and on left side slide bar click on expand stats and you will find your IP address as shared IP address.

In some Webhosting you find this information in Accounts Information.

Now if you're using windows machine then find Notepad and Right click on it choose Run as administrator.

In Notepad goto File > Open and then navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc Folder.

From this folder select hosts file and open it

But if you're using Mac machine then open terminal and enter this command to edit hosts file:
sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

Now for the both Windows and Mac user, Go to bottom of the file and enter IP address followed by your domain name.
192.168.1.22 www.yourdomain.com

Now save your changes.

Also undo this edit after we finish migration process(Step 7).

6. Make MySQL database on new host

So before we start installer in new host. We will have to create a new database for it.

If you have already created a database then you can skip this step and goto next step.

To create a new database

Go to cPanel dashboard and go to MySQL database under Database section of cPanel.

Now enter the Name of your database in Create database section and click on create database button.

Now scroll and go to MySQL User section and Create new user by entering Username and Password.

Also make the note of username and password so we can use it later.

Now add your created user to your database.

For that go to Add user to database section by scrolling and select Database and user from Drop down list and click Add button.

Finally your database has been created so, let go to the next step.

7. Start Duplicator Migration process

Finally we are all ready to start with Migration process.

So to start process goto
http://www.yourdomain.com/installer.php

Now Installer Check validation and archive status and show you Pass in green boxes.

Then check on Terms and conditions box and click on Next button.

Now you have to enter Host, database, username and password.

Normally Host will be localhost on most cases and enter name of database that we have created earlier in database field.

Now you can click on Test database button to Validate your information and show you Pass or Error massage.

If you show Pass massage Click on Next button.

Now Duplicator Plugin will now transfer WordPress database from archive.zip to New database.

In Next step it will ask you to Update Path or Site URL.

Since we are going to use the same domain don't change anything and click on continue.

Now Duplicator start final step and show you Site Login button.

So now you can login to your WordPress site of new host.

Now once check your that everything working fine.

If everything thing OK, don't forget to undo changes made in hosts file of your local machine.

8. Change your Domain Name server

Now in a final step we are going to change our Domain Name Server. So all traffic comes to our new hosting.

So to do this first we need DNS nameservers of your new host.

After getting this you have to go to your domain name provider's account.

Now go to Domain section.

Click on Manage button next to your Domain Name.

Then Click on Manage DNS under Additional Settings.

Now go to Nameservers section and click on Change button.

Select Nameservers type as Custom
And now put your new host DNS Nameservers into the fields.

And click on Save.

This DNS changes take 4-48 hours to completely updated for everyone.

Note: The procedure to update DNS Nameservers be little bit different from provider to provider, but process will be mostly similar.

We also recommend you to don't cancel your old host till week after migration.

B. Migrate WordPress site with New Domain

If you're Rebranding your old WordPress
 and also want move your WordPress site to new host. Then follow this simple guide.

1. Get a New Domain Name and Web hosting

Now a day there are many Web hosting provider a offers Free Domain Name to their new customer at a free of cost.

So if you're planning to move your WordPress site to new host with new domain. Then probably this save your some money.

For this we are again going recommend you SiteGround and BlueHost that will provide you free Domain Name with their hosting.

But that's not a case and you're going to buy it differently. Then probably you have to connect your Domain Name with your new Hosting.

For that you can follow above mentioned Step#8 to connect your domain name with hosting with Domain Name Server.

2.Take a Backup, Create package with Duplicator and Upload it on New host.

For this Step, Firstly you have to create a Backup of your site. To take backup check out this article.

Now you have to Install Duplicator Plugin on Your WordPress site that you want move.

Next, you have to create a New Package file for migration and Upload it to New host Root directory. For that follow above mentioned Step#4

3. Create database

In this you have to create database on your new Host.

To create MySQL database follow above mentioned Step#6.

4. Start Duplicator migration process

In order start this process you have to go http://newdomain.com/installer.php

If on that screen if you see Green box with Pass massage. Then click on Next.

After that Enter Host, database, username, password that we have created in above mentioned Step#6.

Generally Host is localhost.

Then click on Next.

In next Screen They will ask URL, Path and Title. Mostly Duplicator automatically detect your domain name but if not Enter your New domain name.

Then click on Next.

Now on final screen click on Save Permalink.

So Duplicator Change your All the URL to the Domain name.

Now Click on Test site to check out that works fine on WordPress site.

5. Let's Google know that you change your address.

If you're Rebranding your site then it's necessary to let us know that we have changed are site address.

For Google has form to be submit.

For that Go to your Google Search Console account. If You don't have Google Search Console account then create one with Gmail account.

Then on Setting icon Top right corner or from slide bar.

click on Change of Address.

Then Fill out the and press submit.

Conclusion

After reading this Guide now you definitely know how to Migrate your WordPress site with few simple steps.

If you're Rebranding your site. Then you have to probably setup 301 Redirects on your old domain so you don't loose SEO values.

But I know for that you to pay for that domain. So I just you suggest that firstly setup 301 Redirects on your old domain for sale of time and in that time email all of them who link to you and ask them replaced it with your New link.

In this way somehow you can retain your SEO to your Domain Name.

Finally if you feel this article was helpful, Then Share it with your friends and also let me know by Comment down below.
Also if you think I was missing some things then let me know via Comments section.