Knowledge Base

Overview

By the end of this article you will be able to migrate a WordPress website between hosts or servers using CodeGuard. It first covers the prerequisites, then walks through selecting the source website and database, choosing the destination, verifying your selections, and starting the migration. Each website is shown by its Uniform Resource Locator (URL) on your dashboard. 

Before you begin

Both the source and destination websites must already be added to your CodeGuard account. If you still need to add one, follow the CodeGuard articles on adding a website and adding a database.

Both sites must be WordPress sites with the WordPress installation in the root directory of the backup. To confirm, browse your website's backup; the wp-admin, wp-content, and wp-includes folders should appear on the first screen.

Migration steps

Step 1: Select a website from your dashboard

On your CodeGuard dashboard, click the URL of the website you want to migrate, then click the Migrate tab on the left.

Figure 1: Open your website from the dashboard and click the Migrate tab. 

Step 2: Read the migration information 

The Migrate page lists the requirements for migration and what to expect during the process. If you have not added the destination site yet, you can add it here. When you are ready, click Continue. 

Figure 2: Review the migration requirements on the Migrate page, then click Continue. 

Step 3: Choose your source website and backups 

The source selection page lists all your websites. Websites that meet the migration requirements have a Select button next to them. Click Select next to the website you want to migrate. 

Figure 3: On the source selection page, click Select next to the website to migrate. 

Figure 4: Select the source website that meets the migration requirements. 

Open the dropdown of website file backup dates, choose the backup you want to migrate, and click Next. 

Figure 5: Choose the website file backup date to migrate, then click Next. 

Choose the database associated with your WordPress installation. 

Figure 6: Select the database associated with your WordPress installation. 

Select the database backup date you want to migrate and click Next. 

Figure 7: Choose the database backup date to migrate, then click Next. 

Step 4: Choose your destination website 

On the destination selection page, websites that meet the migration requirements have a Select button. Click Select next to the website you want to use as the destination. 

Figure 8: On the destination page, click Select next to your destination website. 

Choose the database associated with the destination WordPress installation and click Next. 

Figure 9: Select the database associated with the destination WordPress installation. 

Step 5: Verify the information 

Review the source and destination details. Confirm that the correct backup dates are selected for both the website and the database. Choose backups that are as close together in time as possible to avoid inconsistencies. 

Figure 10: Verify the source and destination backup dates on the review page. 

Step 6: Begin your migration 

When all the information is correct, click Start Migration. Migration usually takes a few minutes, but large or complex sites can take an hour or more. You receive an email notification when it finishes. 

Figure 11: Confirm the details and click Start Migration to begin. 

Figure 12: The migration runs in the background; you receive an email when it finishes. 

When the migration finishes, open your destination site to confirm your newly migrated website.