WordPress Hosting Migration Checklist: Before, During & After the Move

A WordPress hosting migration is easier when the work is divided into three phases: prepare, move, verify. This checklist is designed for site owners moving an existing WordPress website to another hosting provider while keeping disruption low.

If you prefer someone else to handle the technical work, see the Start My Web WordPress migration service.

Before the migration

• Confirm access to the current WordPress admin and hosting account.
• Confirm access to the new hosting account.
• Create a full files-and-database backup.
• Check approximate site size and database size.
• List any ecommerce, membership, booking or LMS features.
• Identify whether business email is hosted with the current provider.
• Record current DNS and important third-party records.
• Check the PHP version and important server requirements.
• Choose a low-traffic window for the final switch if the site changes frequently.

During the migration

• Transfer WordPress files and uploads.
• Export and import the database.
• Update database credentials if needed.
• Check the destination copy before changing DNS.
• Verify the homepage and key landing pages.
• Test WordPress login and admin access.
• Check forms, checkout, search and account features.
• Confirm HTTPS can be enabled at the new host.

Before changing DNS

Do not point the domain at the new server just because the file transfer finished. The destination copy should be checked first. If you run WooCommerce or another frequently changing site, plan how you will handle new orders, comments, bookings or form submissions during the cutover window.

After changing DNS

• Confirm the domain resolves to the new server.
• Check HTTPS and certificate coverage.
• Re-save permalinks if necessary.
• Test several internal pages for 404 errors.
• Send a real form test.
• Place a test order if ecommerce is in scope.
• Check admin email delivery.
• Review browser console errors on important pages.
• Check analytics and tracking scripts.
• Keep the old hosting available temporarily as a fallback.

SEO checks after a hosting migration

For a host-only move, aim to keep the domain, URL structure, content and internal links unchanged. Confirm that the site remains indexable, canonical URLs point to the correct live URLs and the XML sitemap is accessible.

If the move also changes the domain or URL paths, the work becomes a site migration rather than only a hosting migration. That requires redirects and additional search-engine checks.

Migration checklist for WooCommerce

Online stores need extra care because orders and customer data can change while you are moving the database. Consider a short maintenance or low-activity window for the final database sync, and test cart, checkout, payment, shipping, emails and customer account access immediately after the switch.

When should you use a professional migration service?

Consider professional help when the site is large, the source host is unstable, you are changing domains, the store receives regular orders, you have business email on the same provider, or the migration plugin keeps failing.

Start My Web can handle the WordPress hosting migration and verify the site after cutover. Send your current URL and destination hosting provider on WhatsApp for a quote.