The Ultimate WordPress Migration Checklist for 2026

Key Takeaways

• Ensure a complete backup of your site before migration.
• Update software and disable conflicting plugins for smooth migration.
• Test your site thoroughly in a staging environment first.
• Follow post-migration steps to monitor SEO and site performance.

Moving a WordPress site sounds simple. You copy the files. Move the database. Point the domain. Then something breaks, and it all gets complicated.

Most migration issues start before the move even begins. A missing backup. A plugin that fails to load. An upload that stops halfway. Small things like these can take your site offline in minutes.

A solid WordPress migration checklist helps you avoid that. It keeps everything organized and shows what needs attention before you start. You can see what’s ready and what still needs fixing.

The goal is clear. Move your site safely without losing data or uptime. Plan each step, and the process becomes easier to manage.

This WordPress website migration checklist covers every step before, during, and after the move. Before we go through the checklist, let’s take a moment to understand what migration really means and when it’s worth doing.

Need a quick overview before diving in? Here’s the complete WordPress migration checklist at a glance:

Quick WordPress Migration Checklist

Task	Completed
Back up your entire website (files + database)
Gather all access credentials (hosting, FTP/SFTP, DNS, WordPress admin)
Update WordPress core, themes, and plugins
Disable caching and security plugins before the move
Run SEO and performance checks on the current site
Choose your migration method (plugin, manual, or managed)
Create and test a staging site before launch
Update DNS and SSL once migration is complete
Verify redirects, links, and analytics tracking
Set up automatic backups and ongoing maintenance

 

What a WordPress Migration Involves (and When You Might Need One)

A WordPress migration moves your entire website to a new home. It could mean switching to another host. Changing domains. Or moving a local version of your site to a live server.

Many site owners migrate when things start to slow down. Some move for better uptime or support. Others upgrade to managed cloud hosting for speed and flexibility.

Everything that makes your site work moves with it. Files. The database. Themes. Plugins. Settings. Each part has to transfer correctly for the site to work the same way.

And a WordPress website migration checklist can help you keep it all in order. It protects SEO rankings and preserves redirects. It also helps you keep analytics tracking accurate after the move.

Migration isn’t just a technical task. It’s a chance to clean things up, improve security, and make your site faster before it scales.

But before migrating your WordPress site, you must follow some pre-migration checks to set you up for a smooth transfer.

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Want to see how simple WordPress migration can be on Cloudways? Watch the video below for a quick walkthrough.

Pre-Migration Checklist: Prepare Your WordPress Site for a Smooth Migration

Skipping preparation is one of the main reasons WordPress migrations fail. Follow this checklist to make sure everything is ready before you begin the transfer.

Short on time? Here’s the pre-migration checklist at a glance. It’s a quick summary before we dive into the detailed steps.

Pre-Migration Checklist: At a Glance

Task	Description
Back up your site	Include all files, databases, and uploads.
Collect credentials	Hosting, FTP/SFTP, phpMyAdmin, DNS, and admin logins.
Update software	WordPress core, themes, and plugins.
Disable caching/security plugins	Prevents migration conflicts.
Run SEO and site audits	Fix broken links, meta issues, or redirect errors.
Test site health	Identify performance or server issues before migration.
Schedule migration time	Choose a low-traffic period for minimal downtime.
Create a staging site	Safely test the migration before going live.

Now let’s walk through each step in detail.

Step 1: Back Up Your Entire Website

Start with a full backup before touching anything. It’s your safety net if something goes wrong.

Back up both parts of your site:

• Files: WordPress core, themes, plugins, and media uploads
• Database: posts, pages, users, and settings

You can:

• Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault
• Or use your host’s backup tool

If you’re on Cloudways, automatic offsite backups are already running. Still, take one manually before you start so you have the latest version ready.

Step 2: Gather Your Access Details

You’ll need several logins to complete the migration. Having them ready in one place saves time later.

Keep these handy:

• Hosting control panel (like cPanel or Plesk)
• FTP/SFTP credentials
• phpMyAdmin or database access
• WordPress admin login
• Domain registrar account for DNS updates

Store everything securely, but make sure you can access it quickly when needed. This step alone prevents most migration delays.

Step 3: Update and Disable Conflicting Plugins

Outdated software causes most migration errors. Update everything before you move the site.

Check these areas:

• Update the WordPress core
• Update all themes and plugins
• Remove anything unused or inactive

Next, turn off tools that can interrupt file transfers:

• Caching plugins
• Firewalls or security plugins
• Redirection tools

If your host includes built-in caching, disable it temporarily. You can turn it back on once your new site is stable.

Step 4: Run a Quick SEO Audit

Before moving your site, check that your SEO setup is healthy. You want your rankings and traffic to stay steady after migration.

Use tools like:

• AIOSEO or Rank Math for on-site SEO checks
• Ahrefs Site Audit or Screaming Frog to scan your pages

Look for:

• Missing or duplicate meta titles and descriptions
• Broken internal links
• Images without alt text
• Redirect errors or 404 pages

Fix everything as it’s easier to clean up SEO issues before you move than after the new site goes live.

Step 5: Check Your Site’s Performance and Health

Make sure your current site runs smoothly before you move it. If it’s already having performance issues, those will carry over after migration.

Test with:

• PageSpeed Insights for speed and optimization

• Broken Link Checker for dead links

• WordPress → Tools → Site Health for overall status

Fix any warnings or slow-loading pages.

A healthy site moves faster and performs better once it’s live on the new host.

Step 6: Pick the Right Time to Migrate

Timing matters. Migration often causes short downtime, even with the best tools.

Here’s what to do:

• Check Google Analytics to find low-traffic hours or days
• Schedule the move during that time, often late at night or on weekends
• Notify your team or clients about possible downtime

If zero downtime is essential, you can activate a maintenance page so visitors see a friendly message instead of an error.

Plugins like SeedProd or WP Maintenance Mode make this easy.

Step 7: Create a Staging Site

A staging site lets you test everything before pushing the new site live. It’s the safest way to make sure nothing breaks during migration.

If your host supports staging, use it.

You can:

• Clone your site into a staging environment
• Test features, plugins, and links
• Fix any layout or functionality issues

Hosts like Cloudways offer FREE staging and let you create a staging copy with just one click. You can test everything safely, then push changes to the live version once everything checks out.

Testing in a staging environment helps catch issues early and makes the final launch smooth.

Once your site is ready, it’s time to handle the migration itself. Keep this checklist nearby as you move your files and database.

During Migration Checklist: At a Glance

Task	Completed
Pause content changes
Run one final backup
Choose migration method
Transfer files and database
Block indexing on staging URLs
Verify media, menus, and permalinks
Test key flows
Keep old hosting active

Migration Execution Checklist: Moving Your WordPress Site

Now that you’ve finished the prep, it’s time to move the site.

There’s more than one way to do it. You can use a plugin, move the files yourself, or let a migration team handle everything for you.

Choose the option that fits how comfortable you are with technical steps. Let’s briefly go through all these steps.

Option 1: Use a Migration Plugin

Most WordPress users start here. It’s quick and doesn’t ask for much technical work.

A plugin copies your files and database together, so there’s less chance of missing something important.

Some tools you can use:

• Cloudways WordPress Migrator
• Duplicator
• All-in-One WP Migration
• WPvivid Backup Plugin

To run a plugin migration, install it on your current site, create a package, then connect it to your new host.

Let it move everything, and when it’s done, sign in to the new dashboard.

Take a quick look around. Open pages, test forms, and check that images load properly.

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Option 2: Move the Site Manually

This route gives you full control, but it’s a bit more hands-on. If you’ve used FTP or phpMyAdmin before, you’ll be fine.

Here’s a quick outline of what happens:

• Download your files with FileZilla or another FTP client.
• Export the database from phpMyAdmin.
• Upload everything to your new server.
• Create a new database and import the old one.
• Edit wp-config.php to match the new details.
• When the site loads correctly, point your domain to the new server.

If your domain changes, fix the links with the Go Live Update Urls plugin so nothing breaks.

Option 3: Use a Managed Migration

If you’d rather not handle files or settings, a managed service takes care of everything.

Cloudways offers one FREE migration where their team moves the site for you. They create backups, import your database, adjust DNS, and test the site before handing it over.

You still have control, but they handle the work. It’s a good choice for stores, agencies, or business sites that can’t risk downtime.

Test Everything Before You Go Live

Open your migrated site on a temporary or staging link.

Browse like a visitor would. Click through pages, submit a form, check menus, and see if any images or styles are missing.

Keep an eye out for:

• Broken links
• Layout changes
• Slow pages
• Plugin or theme errors

Once everything looks right, you’re ready for launch. The final step is updating your DNS to connect the domain to the new server.

Update the DNS

When the new site checks out, point your domain to it.

Go to your registrar account and update the A record or CNAME so it connects to the new server.

If you’ve moved to Cloudways, you’ll find the IP address in the Application Management panel.

You can follow the update at dnschecker.org. It usually finishes within a few hours, but global updates can take longer.

When it’s done, your new site is live.

With the migration complete, it’s time to double-check everything and stabilize your new site.

Post WordPress Migration Checklist: Key Steps After the Move

Your site is live, but the job isn’t finished yet.

This stage is about checking that everything works, your SEO holds steady, and visitors see the same smooth experience they had before.

Once your new site is live, use this quick post-migration checklist to confirm everything is working as expected.

Post-Migration Checklist: At a Glance

Task	Completed
Test every page, link, and form
Run a full site crawl for 404s or redirect loops
Confirm SSL certificate and security settings
Update internal links and media paths
Measure site performance and page speed
Reconnect Google Search Console and resubmit sitemap
Monitor analytics and traffic for drops
Set up automatic backups and security scans
Verify DNS propagation is complete
Re-crawl after a few days to confirm stable indexing

 

Step 1: Test Every Page and Feature

Browse your site like a real visitor.

Click links, scroll pages, and test forms. You’ll spot layout issues or missing files faster this way.

Focus on:

• Homepage, blog, and service pages
• Menus, buttons, and internal links
• Forms, pop-ups, and logins
• Checkout or booking steps

If something looks broken, re-upload the affected files or re-save permalinks from Settings → Permalinks inside your dashboard.

Step 2: Run a Site Crawl

A crawl shows you how search engines view your new site. Use Screaming Frog, Ahrefs Site Audit, or Sitebulb to scan everything.

Look for:

• Missing pages (404s)
• Redirect loops
• Broken images or scripts
• Title and meta description errors

Compare the results with your pre-migration crawl. Fix anything that doesn’t match.

Step 3: Check SSL and Security

Open your site with https:// and confirm the padlock icon appears. If it doesn’t, re-issue your SSL certificate from the hosting panel.

If you’ve migrated to Cloudways, activate a free Let’s Encrypt SSL in one click. The platform also includes Cloudflare firewall for extra security.

Step 4: Update Old Links

If your domain or file path changed, some links may still point to the old address.

Run the Go Live Update Urls plugin once to fix them. It cleans up broken links, missing images, and style issues in a few minutes.

Step 5: Review Site Performance

Migration should make your site faster, not slower.

Check speed using Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix and compare results.

If load times increase, try these quick fixes:

• Clear cache and browser data
• Compress large images
• Enable a CDN

Cloudways users can turn on Cloudflare Enterprise or Redis object cache to boost performance instantly.

Step 6: Update Google Search Console

Follow the steps below:

• Open Google Search Console and verify the new domain if it changed.
• Use the Change of Address tool to tell Google about the move.
• Submit an updated sitemap so the new site gets indexed faster.
• Check again in a few days for crawl errors.

Step 7: Watch Analytics and Traffic

Compare traffic before and after migration. A small dip is normal, but large drops might mean redirect or indexing issues.

Keep your old host active for about a week while DNS propagation finishes. If you’re on Cloudways, use the Monitoring panel to track uptime and performance during that period.

Step 8: Set Up Backups and Maintenance

Now that the site is stable, automate your safety routines.]

Schedule:

• Daily or weekly backups
• Security scans
• Plugin and theme updates

Cloudways includes offsite backups, one-click restore points, and SmartFix alerts that handle many server issues automatically.

Step 9: Confirm DNS Propagation

DNS updates can take up to 48 hours worldwide. Check your domain using dnschecker.org to confirm the site resolves everywhere.

Avoid making major changes during this window so you don’t trigger caching issues.

Step 10: Crawl Again After a Few Days

Run one more crawl three to five days after the migration to ensure search engines are indexing your pages correctly and that no redirect chains have appeared.

Consistent testing and light maintenance keep your site stable long after the move.

Once everything looks good, you can start planning improvements or performance tweaks.

Still, even with careful planning, things can go wrong during or after a migration. If something doesn’t look right, start with these quick checks.

Read our detailed guides on Website Migration

• How Much Does It Cost to Migrate a Website in 2026?
• How to Migrate Your WordPress Site Without Downtime?
• Ecommerce Migration Checklist: How to Move Your Store Without Losing Sales

Troubleshooting Common WordPress Migration Issues

Even the smoothest migrations can run into a few bumps. Most problems are easy to fix once you know where to look.

Here are the most common issues and how to solve them:

1. Error Establishing a Database Connection

Double-check your database name, username, and password in the wp-config.php file. Make sure the database user has the right permissions on your new host.

2. White Screen or PHP Errors

A white screen usually means a plugin or theme conflict. Disable all plugins through FTP by renaming the /plugins/ folder, then activate them one by one from the dashboard to find the cause.

3. Mixed Content or HTTPS Warnings

If your site shows “Not Secure” messages, force HTTPS in your host panel and update image or script URLs. The Really Simple SSL plugin can help fix this automatically.

4. Broken Permalinks or 404 Errors

If pages load as 404s, go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes without editing anything. This refreshes the URL structure.

5. Missing Images or Styles

Images or CSS files may still point to your old domain. Run the Go Live Update Urls plugin to update old URLs in the database.

6. Site Looks Fine but Feels Slow

Clear your cache, re-enable any caching plugins you turned off, and check your CDN settings. Sometimes, local browser cache can make a fresh site appear sluggish.

Once everything is running smoothly again, you can focus on keeping future migrations simple and stress-free.

WordPress Migration Best Practices – The Smart 3-Step Framework

To make WordPress migrations simpler and safer, follow what we call the Smart 3-Step Framework. This best-practice process is built around three phases: Before, During, and After migration.

Each step helps you minimize risk, protect data, and maintain SEO performance.

Keeping these in order turns your WordPress migration checklist into a clear roadmap.

Before Migration: Prepare, Don’t Rush

The setup you do now decides how smooth the move will be.

• Back up your files and database.
• Run an SEO and site health audit to fix problems early.
• Create a staging site and test it first.
• Choose a low-traffic time for migration.
• Try a full migration on staging to find hidden issues.

Taking time here prevents stress later. This is one of the most reliable website migration best practices.

During Migration: Move Carefully

Once you begin, stay focused. Check each step before moving on.

• Use a trusted plugin or managed migration service.
• Pause new posts or updates while the transfer runs.
• Keep your old hosting active for at least two days.
• Test pages and confirm DNS changes before directing traffic.

Rushing this stage is where most problems start, so go slowly and double-check.

After Migration: Review and Secure

When your site is live, make sure everything works as expected.

• Crawl your site again to confirm links and redirects.
• Check performance, uptime, and load times.
• Reconnect Google Search Console and analytics.
• Set up daily backups and security monitoring.

If you are hosting on Cloudways, Copilot and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN will help keep your new site fast and stable without requiring extra plugins, which is an important step in any post-WordPress migration checklist.

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Wrapping Up: Keep Your Website Safe and Fast

Migrating a WordPress site doesn’t have to be stressful.

With a solid WordPress website migration checklist, you can move safely, protect your data, and keep SEO performance steady. Here is a quick recap:

• Prepare with backups, audits, and a staging site.
• Migrate using plugins or a managed service.
• Test everything after launch.
• Use the Smart 3-Step Framework to stay organized.

For the easiest move, try the Cloudways WordPress Migrator plugin. It is free and built for all WordPress users.

You can also let the Cloudways team handle the process through a managed migration. Once your site is live, Cloudways helps you stay ready for growth with:

• One-click staging and cloning
• Automatic offsite backups
• SmartFix monitoring and instant recovery
• Cloudflare Enterprise CDN for speed and security

Your site deserves a strong foundation and reliable performance. Start your migration today and move to hosting that keeps your WordPress site fast, safe, and stable.