How To Migrate a WordPress Site to cPanel

Migration plugins on WordPress are conveniently used to transfer a WordPress website from one hosting to another but errors might occur if the size of the website files are bigger than what the plugin can handle. If this happens, you can manually upload the website instead. The steps herein are applicable to cPanel users.

If the website to be transferred is still live and is on the same cPanel account, you can clone the WordPress site via Softaculous Apps Installer or import the WordPress site if it is from a different hosting server.

Migrating a WordPress website to cPanel

1. Back up your website files from your previous hosting account. Check the related articles below to be guided on how to back up your website files based on your previous hosting platform.
    
   • Download website files from cPanel’s File Manager
   • Download website files via JetBackup
   • Download Website Files from Vodien WordPress Hosting
      
2. Export the database from phpMyAdmin for you to have a copy.
   NOTE. If ever the backup was just being handed over to you, verify if the files are for a WordPress website by checking the files’ names. A WordPress website are mostly comprised of files and folders that start with wp. The database file ends in .SQL.
3. Upload the files via FTP or File Manager.
    
   • How to upload files via FTP
   • How to upload files via File Manager
      
   Once all files and folders are uploaded, the first column should be similar as what is shown in the screenshot below.
   
    
    
   NOTE. Make sure the files and folders are uploaded to the correct directory:

   • Upload the backup in public_html if the website is for the main domain.
   • Upload the backup in the correct directory for your addon domain.
   • Upload the backup in the correct directory for your subdomain.
   
    
4. Create a new database and take note of the following:
    
   • Database name
   • Database username
   • Database password
      
5. Import the database to phpmyadmin.
6. Edit the wp-config.php file with the database details you have set up from Step 4. This can be done via FTP or your cPanel’s File Manager. Follow this link on how to change database configuration in a WordPress site.
   • Replace the database name in between the single quotes (‘) on line 23
   • Replace the database username in between the single quotes (‘) on line 26
   • Replace the database password in between the single quotes (‘) on line 29 
     
     
      
7. Update the WordPress site URL in phpMyAdmin if needed. The URL does not automatically update in the database even if the website is uploaded in the new directory or new hosting.