How to Move WordPress Website to New Host Without the Stress

At some point, many small businesses and nonprofits find themselves needing to move their WordPress website to a new host. Maybe the current hosting service isn’t fast enough, maybe support is difficult to reach, or maybe it’s simply time for a fresh start with a more secure, reliable provider. Whatever the reason, learning how to move WordPress website to new host can feel daunting—especially if you’re worried about downtime or breaking your site.

The good news? With a clear process, moving your website doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Let’s walk through the main steps of how it works.

Step 1: Back Up Your Website Files and Database

The very first step is to create a complete backup of your site. This includes both your site’s files (themes, plugins, images, uploads) and your MySQL database (the engine that holds your content and settings).

Why is this important? If anything goes wrong in the move, you’ll always have a copy of your website ready to restore.

At Full Scope Creative, we take this a step further by storing secure, off-site backups for clients—so even in the worst case scenario, you won’t lose valuable data.

Step 2: Upload to the New Host

Once the backup is complete, the next step is to move your files and database over to the new hosting provider. This usually involves uploading the files via FTP or the host’s file manager and importing the database.

From there, you’ll connect everything in the wp-config.php file so WordPress knows how to talk to the new database.

For many business owners, this is the part that feels most intimidating, but when you work with a team like ours, we handle all the technical work behind the scenes so you can keep focusing on your business.

Step 3: Reconnect and Test Plugins

If your site uses premium or pro plugins (SEO tools, form builders, e-commerce systems, etc.), you may need to reconnect their licenses or re-activate them once the site is on the new server.

This isn’t always difficult, but it’s an important step to make sure everything keeps working exactly as it did before. At Full Scope, we confirm all plugins are active and running smoothly so you don’t get any unpleasant surprises after launch.

Step 4: Update DNS and IP Address

When you move to a new host, your website will almost always be assigned a new dedicated IP address. Updating your DNS records tells the internet where your new site lives.

This change needs time to propagate across the web. In plain English, that means it can take a few hours (sometimes up to 24–48) before everyone sees your site on the new server. During this window, some users may see your old site while others see the new one.

The key is to minimize downtime and make sure that switch happens as smoothly as possible. Our team carefully times DNS changes and monitors propagation so your visitors and customers hardly notice.

Step 5: Test, Test, Test

Every hosting company is different. Some servers might not support certain scripts or features your old host did, which could cause parts of your site not to work correctly.

That’s why thorough testing after the move is critical. This includes:

• Checking all forms
• Testing shopping carts or donation pages
• Making sure logins, memberships, or directories function properly
• Reviewing the site on desktop and mobile

At Full Scope Creative, we go through a detailed launch checklist to confirm everything is working correctly, and if something doesn’t function right away, we troubleshoot until it does.

How Full Scope Creative Makes It Easy

For many small businesses and nonprofits, learning how to move WordPress website to new host is like being handed a toolbox and asked to build a house. Yes, it’s technically possible—but it can also lead to stress, downtime, and lost opportunities if something goes wrong.

That’s where Full Scope Creative comes in. We:

• Handle the full migration process from start to finish
• Minimize downtime so your business stays online
• Confirm all plugins and features work properly
• Provide hosting that includes security monitoring, backups, and direct access to local support here in Green Bay, WI

In short, we make the process smooth and worry-free. You’ll know your website is in good hands, and you won’t have to spend nights Googling error messages or waiting on hold with overseas support.

Moving your website doesn’t have to be scary

Moving your website doesn’t have to be scary. If you follow the right steps—back up, migrate, reconnect, update, and test—you’ll be in good shape. But if you’d rather focus on running your business instead of learning server commands, the team at Full Scope Creative is here to help.

We know exactly how to move WordPress website to a new host while keeping things secure, fast, and stress-free. Ready to make the move? Contact us today for a free consultation