The process of moving a WordPress site from the local server to a live hosting service is an important step to maintain the integrity and stability of the site. Therefore, this transition requires special attention and correctly following the steps to transfer site files and databases to ensure a smooth, efficient and error-free site transfer.
In this article, we will explain the best method you can rely on to move a WordPress site from the local server to the live server successfully, without experiencing any problems or data loss.
Transferring a WordPress website from the local server to hosting
There are several reliable ways to transfer a WordPress site from the local server to the live server. Among these methods are relying on manual migration options, or using add-ons such as the Duplicator add-on or the All-in-One WP Migration add-on .
All of these methods achieve the desired purpose, but the best among them is to rely on the All-in-One WP Migration plugin. This add-on features a simple interface that does not require advanced technical experience, nor does it require dealing with databases. Additionally, the plugin changes the URL of the entire site during the migration process, offering a reliable free option.
However, keep in mind that the All-in-One WP Migration plugin only migrates the site contents and database, not the WordPress system itself. So, you need to install WordPress on the new hosting server and install the plugin on both sites. We will explain the steps in detail in the following points.
1. Install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin
First of all, you should set up your WordPress site on your local server properly. This includes verifying the integrity of all plugins and templates , and ensuring that databases are working efficiently, whether in member registration or otherwise. Additionally, all dynamic options from comments system, posts, live chat , etc. should be checked. After that, you can start the transfer process.
The first step is to install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on your WordPress site on the local server. To do this, you must go to the main WordPress control panel, then choose “ Plugins ” from the side menu, and then “ Add New .” After that, you can search for the “ All-in-One WP Migration ” plugin and click on the “ Install Now ” button, as shown in the following image:
You wait until the plugin is installed on WordPress, then click “ Activate .” In this way, the All-in-One WP Migration plugin has been installed on the local server.
2. Export a WordPress site from the local server
We are now exporting the WordPress site files and databases from the local server to an external file that you can rely on on the new site. You enter the WordPress control panel from the local server, and choose from the side menu All-in-One WP Migration >> Export , as shown in the following image:
Next, click on the “ Advanced Options ” tab, where you can select the items you do not want to export from the old site. Among these elements, you can select spam comments and article reviews. You can leave it at default and manually delete it later from the new location. Then click “ Export to ” as shown in the following image:
You are asked to choose how to export the site’s files, where you will find a group of cloud options such as Google Drive or Dropbox, among others, but access to all of these options requires the paid version. However, you can rely on exporting the site files as a file saved on your computer in the free version, where you can click on the “File” option as shown in the following image:
The file is now being prepared, and this process may take a few minutes and may take a relatively longer time depending on the size of the site’s files, such as an online store or other. Once done, you can click on “Download LocalHost ” as shown in the following image:
After that, you will find the file in the backups list in the All-in-One WP Migration tool. You can access it by going to “ All-in-One WP Migration ” and then “ Backups ”. Next, click on the options next to the location file you want to download, then choose “ Download ” as shown in the following image:
3. Recover the WordPress site on the hosting server
At this stage, you need to install WordPress on the new site, and this method differs depending on the hosting company you rely on, for example Digitalocean , Cloudways , etc.
After successfully installing the WordPress system, you install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on the new site, as we did in the first step. From the side menu, choose All-in-One WP Migration >> Recover , as shown in the following image:
You will be directed to the Import Site page. Click on the “ Import from ” button and then choose “ File ”. Next, locate the location file on your computer that you downloaded in the previous step.
The website files will now be uploaded to the hosting company’s server. However, the “ Your file exceeds the maximum upload and upload size ” issue may appear if the site’s file size is larger than the WordPress upload limit, as shown in the following image:
You can easily overcome this problem by installing the Wp Maximum Upload File Size plugin on your new site. After that, go back to the main WordPress menu and choose “ Media ” from the side menu. From there, choose “ Increase Upload Limit ”.
Next, set the “ Choose Maximum Upload File Size ” option to a size that exceeds the size of your site files. For example, if the size of the site files is 360 MB as in the previous application, we adjust the maximum to 512 MB, then press “ Save changes ”, as shown in the following image:
You return again to the site recovery page in the Wp Maximum Upload File Size add-on, and you try to upload the site file again. You will find that the previous problem has been solved, and you wait until all the site files are uploaded and processed on the new hosting. This step takes a few minutes depending on The size of the site’s files, and the speed of your Internet connection.
You’ll then receive an alert message, explaining that your site’s files will be replaced, including the database, media, plugins, templates, and more. You click on “ Apply ” to agree and complete the site transfer steps.
After that, you must wait until all the files for your new site are processed. When the transfer of the WordPress site from the local server to the hosting server is completed, you will see a message, “ Your site has been imported successfully ,” as shown in the following image:
In this way, the transfer of the WordPress website from the local server to the hosting has been completed. You will automatically leave your WordPress dashboard, and you will be asked to log in again. Here, you will rely on the login data for the old site. Now you need to reset your permalink settings as All-in-One WP Migration plugin indicates.
4. Reset permalinks
After moving the site from the local server to hosting, you will notice that the page links do not work well. Here, you need to update the .htaccess file, so you return to the main WordPress control panel, then choose “ Settings ” from the side menu, and from there choose “ Permanent Links .”
After that, modify the “ permanent link format ” option and choose the appropriate format. The preferred format is “ article title .” After that, click on the “ Save changes ” button as shown in the image.
You can now test the links again, and you will find that the internal linking issue has been completely addressed. In this way, the WordPress site was transferred from the local server to the hosting successfully, without errors.
In the end, transferring a WordPress site from the local server to hosting may take a long time if the manual path is relied upon, and requires experience in dealing with databases, which may increase the rate of errors. For this reason, the All-in-One WP Migration plugin was relied upon to move the site simply, quickly, and with the least percentage of errors.
