Before we go in detail of how to do so, make sure you make all the available backups of both the files (home directory) and your databases at your host. You should have the files now and exported SQL database say old.sql.  Follow the next paragraph if you’ve done so: it is divided into new to old domain, new to old host, through one click install (like Fantastico De Luxe).

Note: I have specified safe methods for you. After following the steps you may need to reconfigure (chmod) file permissions of certain files or folders. You may also have to reactivate plug-ins for the site to function once you’ve followed the steps. You may also need a FTP file transferring program.

Alright, let’s start with moving wordpress domains, from old domain to a new domain. I will be using cpanel’s phpmyadmin and you should follow with the appropriate database manager provided by you which also gives editing permissions.

Option 1: If you are going to keep the old domain and your host allow addon domains, follow this.

1. Register your new domain, point the nameservers to those of your hosting account.: nsx.host.com, nsxx.host.com.
2. Go to your hosting account control panel.
3. Find Addon Domains and add the new registered domain. (Wait for propagation if necessary; usually takes up to 72 hours).
4. Log into FTP or file manager and upload ALL the backed up wordpress files to the addon domain folder (usually as a folder with the added domain name for folder name).
5. Now access the database manager; for cpanel users it will be phpmyadmin or mysql databases > phpmyadmin.
6. Choose the wordpress database.
7. Go to wp_options on left panel > Browse on center panel.
8. You have to find 2 main locations and 1 other location with your old domain name as stated in step 8.
9. Under option_name (you may have to go to all pages), find siteurl > edit > change domain to new one > save. Likewise, do the same with home and mailserver_url
10. You are done but let’s do one final touch up. Now go back to control panel home. Find Redirect > add New Domain as redirected to > Permanent > Add.
11. Note: If you’re given domain zone files access, you can change zone file to new the domain name, and no need for addon domain creation but you may need professional help to do so. Above steps are for DIY safer use.

Option 2: If you are not going to keep the old domain, follow this.

1. Create a hosting account associated with the new domain name.
2. Upload all the backedup wordpress files to the home directory via FTP.
3. Log into your hosting account control panel.
4. Go to mysql databases or any database creation panel.
5. (Follow the steps as if all are new values).  Create new database, user and password (note it down somewhere; paste onto notepad)
6. Open wp-config.php either from your PC or through file manager of your hosting.
7. Edit the database, user, and password values with the new ones > Save or Save AND upload if it’s from your PC.
8. Access the database manager; for cpanel users it will be phpmyadmin or mysql databases > phpmyadmin.
9. Choose the wordpress database. (Optional: In center panel, check all and drop tables)
10. Click import > choose backedup old.sql file > Go
11. If you can’t do step 10, click on SQL instead > open the old.sql file on your PC (right click, choose notepad to open with) > copy all values (CTRL + A) > paste (CTRL + V) into database’s SQL box > Go
12. Go to wp_options on left panel > Browse on center panel.
13. You have to find 2 main locations and 1 other location with your old domain name as stated in step 8.
14. Under option_name (you may have to go to all pages), find siteurl > edit > change domain to new one > save. Likewise, do the same with home and mailserver_url
15. Log into your Wordpress Admin through your browser > Settings > Writing > Configure email password there with your new account password if it’s changed.

Now let’s move on to moving Wordpress from old to new host. It is basically the same as option 2 above but I’ve reposted for you below.

1. Create a hosting account associated with the new domain name.
2. Upload all the backedup wordpress files to the home directory via FTP.
3. Log into your hosting account control panel.
4. Go to mysql databases or any database creation panel.
5. (Follow the steps as if all are new values).  Create new database, user and password (note it down somewhere; paste onto notepad)
6. Open wp-config.php either from your PC or through file manager of your hosting.
7. Edit the database, user, and password values with the new ones > Save or Save AND upload if it’s from your PC.
8. Access the database manager; for cpanel users it will be phpmyadmin or mysql databases > phpmyadmin.
9. Choose the wordpress database. (Optional: In center panel, check all and drop tables)
10. Click import > choose backedup old.sql file > Go
11. If you can’t do step 10, click on SQL instead > open the old.sql file on your PC (right click, choose notepad to open with) > copy all values (CTRL + A) > paste (CTRL + V) into database’s SQL box > Go
12. Go to wp_options on left panel > Browse on center panel.
13. You have to find 2 main locations and 1 other location with your old domain name as stated in step 8.
14. Under option_name (you may have to go to all pages), find siteurl > edit > change domain to new one > save. Likewise, do the same with home and mailserver_url
15. Log into your Wordpress Admin through your browser > Settings > Writing > Configure email password there with your new account password if it’s changed.

“What if you are using one click install like Fantastico to install wordpress”?

In this case, you can skip database, user, username creation parts (but make sure you note them down the auto created values). For cpanel users the database values can be found at phpmyadmin or mysql databases. And if you’ve forgotten the password simply recreate new user > add user to the auto created wordpress database.

You have to still follow the steps provided above and this time you will be importing or running SQL in the auto created wordpress database (Step 10 or 11). Don’t forget the editing of the table values (step 12). If you changed password and user, you have to follow the editing of wp-config.php file (step 6) as well.

Alternatively, you can still follow all steps provided before along with creating your own new database, as long as you edit wp-config.php under home directory  (step 6) and wp_options values in SQL (step 12).

Enjoy Wordpressing!

By: Kaung

Tagged in: moving Wordpress | Wordpress | Wordpress changing domain | Wordpress changing host | Wordpress help