Move WordPress Site to Another Host Free: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Migrating your WordPress site to a new hosting provider can seem overwhelming, especially when you want to do it without spending extra money. Whether you’re looking for better performance, improved customer support, or more affordable plans, learning how to move WordPress site to another host free is a valuable skill. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of the process, offering practical tips, expert advice, and solutions to common challenges. By the end, you’ll be able to confidently transfer your website without downtime, data loss, or unexpected costs.

Why You Should Learn to Move WordPress Site to Another Host Free

  • Cost Efficiency: Moving your site without paying for premium migration services saves money, especially for startups and small businesses. You can avoid expensive fees charged by some hosts for migration.

  • Full Control: Doing the migration yourself means you understand every aspect of your site’s files and database, which can help with troubleshooting and future maintenance.

  • Learning Opportunity: The process deepens your technical knowledge about WordPress, FTP, databases, and hosting environments, empowering you for future projects.

  • Avoid Vendor Lock-in: By mastering free migration techniques, you’re not dependent on any hosting provider’s migration team and can switch hosts whenever you want.

  • No Downtime Risk: When done correctly, you can move your WordPress site to another host free with zero downtime, ensuring your visitors have uninterrupted access.

  • Customization: You can tailor the migration process to your site’s specific needs, such as excluding unnecessary files or optimizing the database.

  • Backup Creation: Migration inherently involves making backups, which protect your data and give peace of mind.

  • International Applicability: This method works regardless of your location or hosting provider, making it ideal for a global audience.

Understanding these benefits motivates you to take control and confidently move WordPress site to another host free.

Step 1: Prepare Your WordPress Site for Migration

  • Backup Your Website Completely: Before you start, create a full backup of your WordPress files and database. Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or manually download files via FTP. This ensures you have a restore point if anything goes wrong.

  • Deactivate Caching and Security Plugins: Temporarily disable caching plugins and security features such as two-factor authentication to avoid conflicts during migration.

  • Check Disk Space on New Host: Make sure your new hosting account has enough space to accommodate your website files and database. Insufficient space can cause migration failure.

  • Update WordPress and Plugins: Ensure your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are updated to their latest versions to avoid compatibility issues on the new server.

  • Take Note of Your Current Hosting Details: Gather FTP credentials, database access, and control panel login information to facilitate the migration process.

  • Inform Your Audience: If your site has high traffic, consider informing visitors about a possible brief maintenance window, even though the goal is zero downtime.

  • Choose the Right Migration Method: Decide whether to use a plugin like All-in-One WP Migration or manual migration via FTP and phpMyAdmin based on your comfort level.

  • Create a New Database on the New Host: Log into your new hosting control panel and create a new MySQL database and user with proper permissions to import your old database.

These preparations lay a solid foundation to move WordPress site to another host free smoothly and securely.

Step 2: Export Your WordPress Site Files and Database

  • Download WordPress Files via FTP: Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your current host. Navigate to the public_html or WordPress root directory and download all files and folders to your local computer. This includes themes, plugins, uploads, and core files.

  • Export the Database Using phpMyAdmin: Access phpMyAdmin through your hosting control panel, select your WordPress database, and export it as an SQL file. This file contains all your posts, pages, settings, and user data.

  • Compress Files for Easier Upload: Zip your downloaded WordPress files into a single archive to speed up the upload process to your new host.

  • Use a Migration Plugin (Optional): If you prefer a plugin, install All-in-One WP Migration on your old site, export the entire site to a .wpress file, and download it. This method simplifies the process by bundling files and database together.

  • Verify Export Integrity: Check that all files and the database export are complete and not corrupted to avoid issues during import.

  • Keep a Local Backup: Store a copy of your files and database safely on your computer or external drive as an additional backup.

  • Avoid Making Changes During Export: Don’t update or add content while exporting to prevent inconsistencies.

  • Document Your Site’s Configuration: Note your current permalink settings, theme customizations, and plugin configurations to replicate them if needed on the new host.

Exporting your site correctly is a critical step in the process to move WordPress site to another host free without data loss.

Step 3: Upload Your WordPress Site to the New Host

  • Connect to New Host via FTP: Use your FTP client to connect to the new hosting server using the credentials provided by your new host.

  • Upload WordPress Files: Transfer the zipped archive or extracted WordPress files into the public_html directory or the root folder designated for your website.

  • Extract Files on Server: If you uploaded a zipped file, use your hosting control panel’s file manager to extract the archive so all files are placed correctly.

  • Import the Database: Access phpMyAdmin on your new host, select the newly created database, and import the SQL file exported earlier. This restores your site’s content and settings.

  • Update wp-config.php File: Edit the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root folder to reflect the new database name, username, password, and host details. This connects WordPress to the new database.

  • Set Correct File Permissions: Ensure your files and folders have proper permissions (usually 755 for folders and 644 for files) to avoid access issues.

  • Clear Cache and Temporary Files: If your new host uses caching, clear any cache to ensure your site loads the latest content.

  • Test Your Site on the New Host: Before updating DNS, preview your site using a temporary URL or hosts file modification to confirm everything works correctly.

This step is essential to successfully move WordPress site to another host free and get your site running on the new server.

Step 4: Update Your Domain DNS Settings

  • Locate Your Domain Registrar: Log in to the account where your domain name is registered (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).

  • Find DNS Management Section: Access the DNS or Nameserver settings for your domain.

  • Change Nameservers: Replace the current nameservers with those provided by your new hosting provider. This points your domain to the new server.

  • Wait for DNS Propagation: DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to propagate globally, during which your site may resolve to either the old or new host temporarily.

  • Avoid Changing Content During Propagation: To prevent data loss, avoid making site changes until propagation completes.

  • Monitor Propagation Status: Use tools like WhatsMyDNS.net to check if your domain points to the new host worldwide.

  • Update Email Settings if Needed: If your email is linked to your domain, update MX records accordingly to avoid email disruption.

  • Inform Your Visitors: Communicate with your audience about the migration to manage expectations during the transition.

Updating DNS is the final step to move WordPress site to another host free and make your site accessible from the new server.

Step 5: Post-Migration Tasks and Troubleshooting

  • Test All Website Features: Check pages, posts, forms, plugins, and media to ensure everything works perfectly on the new host.

  • Reset Permalinks: Go to WordPress Settings > Permalinks and click “Save Changes” to refresh URL structure and avoid 404 errors.

  • Re-enable Security and Caching Plugins: Activate any plugins you disabled before migration and clear their caches.

  • Check SSL Certificate: Ensure your SSL certificate is installed and configured correctly on the new host for HTTPS security.

  • Monitor Site Performance: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to verify your site loads efficiently after migration.

  • Backup Your New Site: Create a fresh backup on the new host to safeguard your migrated site.

  • Fix Broken Links or Images: Use plugins like Broken Link Checker to identify and fix any broken URLs caused by migration.

  • Contact Support if Needed: Reach out to your new host’s support team for help with any unresolved issues.

Completing these tasks ensures your site runs smoothly after you move WordPress site to another host free.

FAQs About Moving WordPress Site to Another Host Free

Q1: Can I move my WordPress site to another host free without technical skills?
Yes, using plugins like All-in-One WP Migration simplifies the process, allowing beginners to migrate without coding. However, some basic understanding of FTP and hosting control panels helps.

Q2: How long does it take to move WordPress site to another host free?
The duration depends on your site size and internet speed but typically ranges from 30 minutes to a few hours, excluding DNS propagation time.

Q3: Will my website experience downtime during migration?
If you follow the steps carefully and test on the new host before switching DNS, you can avoid downtime entirely.

Q4: Are there any risks in moving WordPress site to another host free?
Risks include data loss or broken links if backups are not done properly. Following this guide minimizes those risks.

Q5: Can I move my site if it’s very large?
Large sites may require increasing upload limits or using manual FTP and database migration instead of plugins.

Q6: Do I need to change my domain registrar to move hosts?
No, you only need to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the new host; your domain registrar can remain the same.

Q7: Is it necessary to create a new database on the new host?
Yes, WordPress requires a database on the new host to store your site content and settings.

Q8: What if my site uses a custom domain email?
Update your email DNS records (MX, SPF) on the new host to ensure email continuity.

Conclusion: Take Charge and Move WordPress Site to Another Host Free Today

Moving your WordPress site to a new host doesn’t have to be costly or complicated. By following this detailed guide, you can confidently move WordPress site to another host free with no downtime, no data loss, and full control over the process. Whether you choose manual migration or a reliable plugin, the key is preparation, careful execution, and thorough testing.

Don’t let hosting issues hold your website back. Take action now—choose your new host, back up your site, and follow these steps to enjoy better performance, support, and peace of mind. Your website deserves the best home, and you have the power to move it there for free.

Ready to get started? Begin your migration journey today and unlock your website’s full potential!