How to Migrate a WordPress Site Using FTP?

General
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I need help moving my WordPress site to a new server via FTP. My hosting service changed, but I’m unsure about the correct process to ensure everything, including my content and settings, transfers smoothly. Can anyone guide me through this?

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Alright, moving a WordPress site via FTP isn’t too hard, but you gotta be careful. Here’s the no-nonsense breakdown:

  1. Backup Everything: Yup, don’t skip this! Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus to back up your site, or manually download your database and files in case something blows up.

  2. Retrieve Website Files: Use an FTP program like FileZilla. Connect to your current server using the credentials from your hosting account. Locate the folder where WordPress is installed (usually public_html or www) and download everything to your computer.

  3. Export the Database: Access phpMyAdmin from your hosting account, find your WordPress database, and export it as a .sql file.

  4. Set Up the New Server: Log in to your new hosting account. Create a new WordPress database using their control panel and take note of the database name, username, and password.

  5. Upload Website Files: Using FTP again, upload the website files you downloaded to the public_html folder on your new server.

  6. Import the Database: Go to phpMyAdmin on the new server and import the .sql file you exported earlier into the newly created database.

  7. Update wp-config.php: On your new server, find the wp-config.php file in the WordPress directory. Edit it to point to your new database by updating the database name, username, password, and host (usually localhost).

  8. Handle DNS Changes: Update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the new server’s IP address. Note, DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours, but it’s usually faster.

  9. Test Your Site: Once DNS updates complete, visit your site and make sure everything’s working smoothly. Broken links or missing files? Clear your browser cache or the site cache if you use one. Issues? Restore from your backup or re-check your file uploads.

That’s it. But honestly, using FTP is kinda old-school and prone to errors. If you wanna keep things simple and less messy, consider a migration plugin like Duplicator or All-in-One Migration—they skip a lot of the manual labor.

Now, if you’re juggling between this migration process and some cloud file management nightmares, I’ll admit, @mikeappsreviewer had a point about making life easier with tools like CloudMounter. Check out the CloudMounter app for streamlined storage. While it won’t specifically help with WordPress migration, it could simplify managing those backups in Google Drive, Dropbox, or wherever you store them.

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Alright, cool, you’re asking how to migrate a WordPress site using FTP. Honestly, this process can feel a bit old-fashioned—I mean, FTP? Really? But I get it, not everyone’s into fancy plugins or automation tools. Here’s another perspective to throw into the mix:

  1. Backup isn’t optional, it’s law. Not trying to sound like a broken record, but it’s annoying how many folks skip this step and end up crying over lost data. Don’t be that person. Backup everything—files, database, your sanity. I’ve used BackWPup before; it’s solid.

  2. Compress Your Files: Instead of wrestling with FTP one file at a time (especially if your site’s beefy), zip up your WordPress directory before downloading it. This makes things a LOT faster. You can unzip it on the new server post-upload.

  3. Database Extraction, But Make It Quick: Let’s not pretend that phpMyAdmin doesn’t suck a little sometimes. If you’re exporting your database, double-check the charset (UTF-8 usually) so no funky characters break your site later. Might even wanna name the SQL file something like mystagedb.sql so you don’t confuse it.

  4. Don’t Sleep on .htaccess and Other Hiders: Ever get everything migrated and lose permalinks or see goofy errors? That’s ‘cause files like .htaccess and .user.ini (hidden by default) didn’t make it in the transfer. Unhide those ninjas in your FTP client before downloading.

  5. File Transfer Protocol Drama: FTP is slow, bro. Switch to SFTP for a bit more security in the process. You’ll thank me later when hackers aren’t snooping around your connection.

  6. New Database Setup with a Twist: Instead of just creating a blank database, check if your host allows cloning an existing one. Saves time if you already have stuff configured. But yeah, if not, go manual and jot down those credentials.

  7. Tweaking wp-config is Like Surgery: Change the database details, sure—but consider bumping up PHP memory limits if your new server allows. Sites tend to outgrow the defaults real fast.

  8. DNS, But Faster: Props for mentioning propagation can take up to 48hrs, but let’s not overlook the wonder of TTL settings. Lower the TTL on your old server before migration to speed up propagation after the switch.

  9. Cleanup Time: Once your site is live and confirmed, kill off those DNS records or email signatures tied to the old server. You don’t wanna confuse visitors or, worse, bots.

  10. Post-Migration Scan: Run tools like Better Search Replace if your site links are still pointing to old URLs. Fix those internal links and media paths stat, or your site will feel and behave… broken.

If you’re like “that’s way too much work!”, then yeah, plugins like Duplicator can save time (most of the time). But if FTP’s your only option, you’ll get through it—just breathe, hydrate, and pray to the WordPress gods.

Also, mentioning backups reminds me—you know what’s a hidden gem for cloud storage? This tool for mapping your cloud accounts. Store those backups efficiently in Google Drive or OneDrive and stop cluttering up your desktop. Thanks to @mikeappsreviewer for putting that on the radar.

FTP is far from dead but trust me, there are smoother migration avenues out there. Use it if you must, but maybe consider updating your tech arsenal next time!