Most of the users who host their own WordPress website or blog have to transfer it at some time or the other. One may either need to move the blog to a new web host or may have to move their website in case they are transferring to a new domain or a new directory or simply creating a distinct version of the site on a local server. Here are the steps that you need to follow when moving your WordPress blog to another web host or to a new domain.

Move WordPress Blog to New Webhost

Method 1: WordPress’s Built In Import System

WordPress comprises of a built-in import feature that facilitates the entire process of transferring the content from one website / blog to the other. Not only this, you need to follow just 3 simple steps to get your new website up and running.

1. Create the export file: To do this, go to ‘Export’ on the existing blog and create a WordPress export file. An XML file is create that contains all the pages, posts, comment, categories, tags and custom fields.

2. Next, install WordPress on the new host and create a working installation. After this, upload the entire wp-content directory on the new installation.

3. Finally, import the created WordPress Export file by navigating to ‘import’ and uploading the export file. That’s all! The new website will now be working in full force.

Method 2: Work With the Database

In some cases, either due to extremely large size of the export file or due to restrictions posed by different web hosts, the first method mentioned above may not work very well. In that case, you can use the below mentioned method to transfer your WordPress blog to a new host or domain. To do this, you need to have database access (phpMyAdmin in many cases) as well as certain amount of technical knowledge.
1. Develop a database export file or database dump. To do this, you need to access your database and then download all of its content. Some of the web hosts also have special utilities that help to create ‘backups’ of your database without the need to access the database directly.

2. After this, transfer all the files present in the database. Use the FTP feature and download all the files from the existing web host on to your computer. After this, upload these files to the new web host. Make sure that you update the required settings in the wp-config.php file that holds the information used to access the database.

3. Finally, you would be required to access the new database in order to get your website up and running. Simply import the database that you created in Step 1 to the new web host.

The best part is that the entire process can be completed without any downtime within just 2 to 3 hours. Just follow the above mentioned steps to transfer your WordPress site to the new web host.