What you need
Two things from your current host. You can usually get both from the control panel, or ask their support for a full backup.
- A dump of your database, as a .sql or .sql.gz file. phpMyAdmin and most control panels export one in a couple of clicks.
- The wp-content folder, with your themes, plugins and uploads. Or simply the whole WordPress folder.
- Put them in one zip or tar archive. It has to fit within your plan's site and database space.
What the import does
The archive is unpacked in a closed space, and nothing in it is executed while we copy the files.
- Your database is loaded and its table prefix detected, whatever it is.
- Every old address in the database is rewritten to the new one, including the ones inside serialized settings.
- Safe settings from your old wp-config.php are kept. Credentials, keys and addresses are replaced with the new ones.
- We add the plugins that run the platform: Redis object cache, Cache Enabler, Wordfence and the single sign-on login. Your own plugins stay as they were.
Check the site on a temporary address
When the import finishes, the site is online on its own wordxpress address. Log in, open the pages that matter, place a test order if you run a shop. Your visitors still go to your old host, so you can take your time.
Switch the domain
When you are ready, change your domain's DNS records to point to wordxpress. Only the website records change: email stays where it is. Keep your old hosting for a few days after the switch, in case you want to compare something, then cancel it.