Comprehensive WordPress Migration Checklist 2025: From Start to Finish

Migrating a WordPress website can feel like a big challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how you’ll do it:

1. Start with this WordPress migration checklist—this ensures no step is overlooked.
2. Prepare your site: back it up, plan the move, and test thoroughly.
3. Migrate with confidence: transfer your data, update your URLs, and secure your site.
4. Wrap it up: test functionality, preserve SEO, and monitor performance.

With this guide, you’ll move your WordPress site seamlessly, keeping your data safe, SEO rankings intact, and downtime to a minimum.

Let’s get started with LitExtension!

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What Is WordPress Migration?

WordPress migration is the process of transferring a WordPress website from one hosting environment to another. This could involve moving to a new hosting provider, changing domain names, or even merging websites.

The migration process is highly technical because WordPress sites rely on two main components: a database (which stores all your content, users, and configurations) and a set of core files (which define your site’s appearance and functionality). Each part must be carefully transferred and reconfigured to work in the new environment.

Common types of WordPress migrations include:

• Hosting provider migration: Moving your site to a faster, more reliable host.
• Domain change: Changing your website’s URL for branding or business purposes.
• Website restructuring: Consolidating multiple WordPress installations into one unified site.

Without careful preparation, you risk losing data, breaking your website, or damaging your SEO rankings.

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WordPress Pre-Migration Checklist

1. Choose a reliable web host

The foundation of a successful migration begins with selecting the right hosting provider. A reliable host ensures better site performance, faster load times, and responsive technical support.

What to consider when choosing a host? You should:

• Look for providers offering high-speed servers and scalable resources.
• Ensure 24/7 support via multiple channels (live chat, email, phone).
• Look for features like automatic backups, SSL certificates, and one-click WordPress installation.
• Compare pricing plans and choose one that fits your budget without compromising quality.

Some popular WordPress hosting providers are SiteGround, Bluehost, Kinsta, and Cloudways.

2. Plan your migration carefully

A solid plan helps reduce the chances of unexpected downtime or errors during the migration, and here are the key considerations for planning:

• Schedule the migration during off-peak hours to minimize disruptions for users.
• If applicable, coordinate with your team to ensure everyone is aligned on responsibilities.
• Break down the migration into smaller tasks and set clear deadlines for each stage.

As you plan ahead, you’ll not only avoid technical hiccups but also ensure that the entire process runs smoothly.

3. Perform a pre-migration audit

Before migrating your WordPress site, you must perform a thorough audit to identify potential issues and understand the scope of the migration. Here are some key steps I believe are essential for conducting an effective audit:

• Identify outdated or unnecessary content that can be cleaned up.
• Check compatibility with your new hosting environment and remove unused or incompatible plugins.
• Use tools like Screaming Frog to identify broken links, redirect chains, and orphaned pages.

This audit ensures that you’re only migrating what’s necessary and reduces the risk of errors during the process.

4. Backup your WordPress website

You shouldn’t ignore the importance of backup. If anything goes wrong, a backup allows you to restore your website to its original state.

Here are the methods to backup your website:

• Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy to make the backup process simple and efficient.
• Access your hosting account’s cPanel or FileZilla to download your files and database manually.
• Store your backups in secure locations like Google Drive or Dropbox.

But let’s remember to ensure your backup includes both your WordPress files (themes, plugins, uploads) and your database (posts, users, settings).

Relevant reading: How to backup WordPress site | 3 methods.

5. Enable maintenance mode

Switching your website to maintenance mode prevents users from accessing it during the migration process. This ensures a seamless experience for visitors and avoids exposing them to incomplete or broken content.

You can use plugins like SeedProd to activate a custom maintenance page. After that, notify your audience with a message about the expected downtime and when the site will be back online.

6. Disable caching, security, and redirect plugins

Caching, security, and redirect plugins can interfere with the migration process by adding unnecessary complexity to the transfer.

But why this is important?

• Caching plugins may save outdated versions of your site that conflict with the new environment.
• Security plugins can block legitimate attempts to access files or databases during migration.
• Redirect plugins are used if existing redirects may conflict with new URLs or structures.

You should disable these plugins temporarily and remember to reactivate them after the migration is complete.

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Setting Up the New Environment

7. Install WordPress on the new domain

Before migrating your site, you’ll need to install WordPress on your new hosting account or domain. Many hosting providers, such as SiteGround or Bluehost, offer one-click WordPress installation through their dashboards.

If your host doesn’t provide one-click tools, download the WordPress package from wordpress.org, upload it to your server via FTP, and run the installation script.

You may want to read: WordPress tutorial | Learning how to set up WordPress.

8. Create a new database

Your WordPress site’s content and configuration are stored in its database. That’s why setting up a new database on your new hosting account is essential for the migration process.

Here are the steps to create a new database:

• Log in to your hosting account’s control panel (e.g., cPanel or Plesk).
• Navigate to the MySQL Databases or Database Manager section.
• Create a new database and note down its name.
• Add a new database user, assign a strong password, and grant the user full privileges to the database.

Note: Keep the database credentials handy, as you’ll need them when importing your old database later in the process.

9. Export your existing WordPress database

Exporting your current database will ensure all your content, settings, and configurations are transferred to the new hosting environment.

Here are the steps to export your database:

• Access your hosting account’s control panel and open phpMyAdmin.
• Select your WordPress database from the list on the left-hand side.
• Click on the Export tab.

• Choose the Quick Export option and select the SQL format.
• Download the database file and store it in a secure location.

Read more: How to export WordPress database | 4 methods.

10. Migrate website files and database

With your new database ready and your old database exported, it’s time to transfer your website files and data to the new environment.

To transfer website files:

• Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your old server and download your WordPress files (wp-content, themes, plugins, etc.).
• Upload these files to the root directory of your new hosting account.

To import the database:

• Open phpMyAdmin on your new host.
• Select your new database and click on the Import tab.
• Upload the SQL file you exported earlier and click Go to import it.

To update the WordPress configuration file:

• Open the wp-config.php file on your new hosting account.
• Update the database name, username, and password to match your new database credentials.

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WordPress Post-Migration Checklist

11. Update permalinks and URLs

After migrating, you’ll need to update your site’s permalinks and URLs to match the new environment. Here are the steps to update permalinks:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard on the new host.
• Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes to regenerate the .htaccess file and ensure proper URL structures.

You may need to update hardcoded URLs on your site. Tools like Better Search Replace can scan your database for old URLs and replace them with your new domain name. This will help prevent broken links and ensure that your media files display correctly.

12. Assign SSL certificates

An SSL certificate ensures your site is secure and displays the HTTPS prefix in the browser. Here is how to assign an SSL certificate:

• Check if your hosting provider offers free SSL certificates (e.g., Let’s Encrypt).
• Install the SSL certificate through your hosting dashboard.
• Use plugins like Really Simple SSL to automatically configure your WordPress site to use HTTPS.

13. Test redirects and URL structure

Maintaining a consistent URL structure is vital to preserve your site’s SEO and ensure users can access your content without encountering broken links. But how to test and configure redirects?

• Use a tool like Redirection to set up 301 redirects for old URLs pointing to new ones.
• Test redirects using your browser.
• Ensure that all internal links are updated to reflect the new URL structure.

14. Crawl your new website

Crawling your new website helps identify any issues that might have occurred during migration, such as broken links, missing images, or unindexed pages.

There are many tools that can help you with that but I will recommend Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMRush to perform a site crawl. When using those tools, you can check for:

• Broken links (404 errors).
• Missing metadata (titles and descriptions).
• Orphaned pages (pages with no internal links pointing to them).

Then, fix any issues identified during the crawl to ensure your site’s functionality and SEO health.

15. Test website functionality

When testing your website, it's essential to focus on two key areas: frontend and backend functionality.

For frontend functionality:

• Forms, buttons, and navigation menus.
• Embedded media like videos and images.

For backend functionality:

• Plugins and theme settings.
• Admin dashboard features, such as post and page creation.

If you encounter any issues during your testing, it's advisable to troubleshoot by examining plugin settings or reaching out to your hosting provider for assistance.

16. Verify site speed and performance

Site speed is a truly critical factor for user experience and SEO. After migration, it’s a must to test and optimize your site’s performance.

You ca use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom to measure load times. With those tools, you can identify and fix performance bottlenecks such as large images, unnecessary plugins, or unoptimized code.

17. Update DNS records

Your site won’t go live on the new host until you update your DNS records to point to the new server. Here are the steps to update DNS:

• Log in to your domain registrar account (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).
• Navigate to the DNS Management section.
• To point your domain name to the new host, replace the existing nameservers with the ones provided by your new hosting provider (e.g., ns1.newhost.com and ns2.newhost.com).
• Save the changes and allow up to 24 – 48 hours for DNS propagation.

Tip: Use tools like WhatsMyDNS.net to monitor propagation progress.

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WordPress SEO and Analytics Post-Migration

18. Benchmark Google Analytics and Search Console

Reconfiguring Google Analytics and Search Console is essential to monitor your site’s performance on the new host or domain.

Steps to update Google Analytics:

• Log in to your Google Analytics account.
• Update the property settings to reflect your new domain (if applicable).
• Verify that tracking scripts are correctly installed on your migrated site using the Tag Assistant browser extension.

Steps to update Google Search Console:

• Log in to your Search Console account.
• Add the new domain as a separate property.
• Submit your updated sitemap under Sitemaps.
• Use the URL Inspection Tool to request indexing for key pages.

These updates ensure Google recognizes your site’s new setup and continues tracking traffic and performance accurately.

19. Add 301 redirects to preserve SEO

Setting up 301 redirects is a critical step during a WordPress migration. Redirects ensure that both users and search engines are seamlessly directed to the correct pages on your new site. This not only prevents broken links but also helps preserve your SEO rankings by transferring link equity from your old URLs to new ones.

Let’s break down how to set up 301 redirects effectively:

• Create a redirect map by listing all old URLs and their corresponding new URLs.
• Use a plugin like Redirection or manually add redirects to your .htaccess file if you’re comfortable with the code. Example syntax: Redirect 301 /old-page-url /new-page-url
• Test the redirects using tools like Redirect Checker or manually visiting old URLs in your browser.

Tip: Avoid redirect chains (multiple redirects leading to the final URL) as they can slow down your site and harm SEO.

20. Monitor search rankings and traffic

It’s normal to see slight fluctuations in your rankings immediately after migration, but you should monitor these metrics to ensure stability over time. Since this is inevitable, let's go through the steps to monitor rankings and traffic:

• Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMRush, or Google Search Console to monitor changes in keyword positions.
• Compare pre- and post-migration traffic data in Google Analytics to identify any significant drops.
• Ensure that key conversion metrics, such as form submissions or purchases, remain consistent.

If you notice significant drops in traffic or rankings, review your redirects, sitemap, and on-page SEO to identify potential issues.

21. Resubmit your sitemap

To ensure search engines index your migrated site correctly, you’ll need to submit your sitemap. Here are to core steps to submit your sitemap:

• Generate a new sitemap using an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
• Log in to Google Search Console and navigate to the Sitemaps section.
• Enter the URL of your sitemap (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml) and click Submit.

This step helps Google and other search engines discover your pages faster, improving your site’s visibility.

22. Run an SEO audit

After migration, run an SEO audit to identify and fix any remaining issues that could harm your site’s performance. But what are the key areas to focus on?

Key areas to check during the audit:

• Broken links
• Metadata
• Duplicate content
• Structured data

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Troubleshooting Common WordPress Migration Issues

23. Scan for broken links and orphan pages

Broken links and orphan pages can negatively impact user experience and SEO. After migration, it’s crucial to identify and fix these issues.

You can use tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Broken Link Checker to scan your site for 404 errors. For each broken link, either:

• Update the link to point to the correct URL.
• Create a 301 redirect to the appropriate page.

For orphan pages, you can identify orphan pages (pages not linked to from anywhere on your site) using crawling tools. After that, let’s add internal links from relevant pages to connect orphan pages back into your site’s structure.

24. Re-enable caching and security plugins

Once you’ve completed the migration and verified your site’s functionality, it’s time to re-enable caching and security plugins. Let’s reactivate caching plugins to improve site speed and reconfigure security plugins to protect your site from potential threats.

After re-enabling these plugins, remember to test your site to ensure they don’t interfere with any functionalities. This will help keep your WordPress site performing well and secure in the new environment.

25. Close your old hosting account

Once you’ve verified that your migrated site is functioning perfectly, you can safely close your old hosting account.

But before you close your account, remember to:

• Double-check that all files and databases have been successfully transferred to the new host.
• Keep a final backup of your old site for safekeeping.
• Test the old site’s URL to confirm that all traffic is being redirected to the new host.

When everything is in place, you can now contact your old hosting provider to cancel your account and avoid unnecessary charges.

27. Monitor your website post-migration

Even after completing the migration, it’s essential to keep an eye on your website’s performance and SEO over the next few weeks. Proactively monitoring your site allows you to address any problems quickly and ensures a smooth transition for your visitors.

This troubleshooting and final steps checklist ensures your migration process is fully complete, with all technical issues resolved and your website running smoothly. Once you’ve finished this phase, your WordPress migration is officially a success.

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WordPress Migration Checklist: FAQs

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Conclusion

Migrating a WordPress website may seem daunting, but with the right preparation, tools, and a systematic approach, it can be a seamless process. Here’s a quick recap of the key steps in our WordPress migration checklist:

1. Start by planning your migration carefully and backing up your existing website.
2. Set up your new hosting environment, transfer your files and database, and configure your new site properly.
3. Perform post-migration checks, including testing redirects, verifying site speed, and updating SEO settings.
4. Monitor your site’s performance and address any issues that arise in the weeks following the migration.

Migrating your WordPress site doesn’t have to be a hassle. With the right plan and a partner like us at LitExtension, you can ensure your migration is smooth, your data is safe, and your SEO remains intact. Let us help you with your next migration!

We hope you found this article insightful and now understand the WordPress migration checklist clearly. For more content like this, be sure to visit the LitExtension WordPress section and join our eCommerce community to gain further insights and connect with fellow business owners.