How-to Transfer WordPress

In this guide we’ll show you how-to transfer WordPress to Ecenica. We’ll describe the steps required to transfer your content from WordPress.com as well as how-to transfer your WordPress files and database from another web host.

How-to Transfer WordPress Quicklinks:

Export your website from WordPress.com
Migrate WordPress from another web host

Export your website from WordPress.com

If you’re using wordpress.com then it’s possible to migrate your website to your own self-hosted WordPress. Use the steps below to export your website content and transfer to a new WordPress install.

1. Login to your wordpress.com Dashboard by opening yourdomain.co.uk/wp-admin in your web browser.
2. From the left menu, click Tools > Export
   
3. Click Start Export
   
4. Select All Content. Click Download Export File
   
5. An XML file will download to your PC or Mac named after your website. In our example; mysite.wordpress.2015-09-08.xml – Keep this safe for later.
   
6. Open your new Ecenica self-hosted WordPress Dashboard. If you haven’t already installed WordPress then check out our One-click WordPress install guide.
7. From the left menu, click Tools > Import
   
8. Click WordPress
   
9. A new window will appear asking you to install WordPress Importer. Click Install Now
   
10. Click Activate Plugin & Run Importer
    
11. Click Choose File and select the XML file you downloaded earlier.
    
12. Click Upload file and import
13. WordPress will now ask who you’d like to use as the author of the posts and pages you’re importing. The easiest option is to select assign posts to an existing user and choose your WordPress admin user.
    
14. Check the Download and import file attachments box.
15. Click Submit
16. Wait for WordPress to import your content. This may take a few minutes depending on how many images you are importing. When it’s complete you’ll see the All done screen.
    
17. Check your posts, pages and images have been imported by viewing your website.
    

Please note, only your WordPress website content will be migrated. Plugins, themes and widgets are not part of the wordpress.com export file. You can choose a new theme and install alternative plugins on your new self-hosted WordPress website.

Migrate WordPress from another web host

If your WordPress site is hosted with another host then it’s possible to transfer your WordPress site. Use the steps below to migrate your WordPress files and database to your new Ecenica WordPress hosting.

Transfer your WordPress Files

1. Use your old web host’s control panel to create a .ZIP archive of all your website files. Download the .zip file to your PC or Mac.
2. Login to your Ecenica web hosting control panel and open File Manager.
3. Upload your .zip file to your public_html folder.
4. After it has upload, select your .zip file and click Extract

WordPress Database

1. Login to your old web host’s control panel
2. Look for a link to a database management tool phpMyAdmin
3. Use phpMyAdmin to export your database into a file you can download.
4. Login to your Ecenica web hosting control panel.
5. Create a new database and database user using our MySQL Database Wizard. Take a note of the database name, database user and database password you have created for later.
6. Open phpMyAdmin
7. Import your WordPress database file you saved earlier.

Update wp-config.php

1. Login to your Ecenica web hosting control panel.
2. Click File Manager
3. Open public_html
4. Select wp-config.php and click Edit
5. Find the following:

   define('DB_NAME', 'myuser_database');
   define('DB_USER', 'myuser_dbuser');
   define('DB_PASSWORD', 'bR6}*xh36^cre86g');
   

6. Change these entries to use your new database name, database user and database password you created earlier.
7. Click Save.

Note: If you do not have access to your WordPress files or database then you will need to contact your previous hosting company for support.