How to Migrate a WordPress Website from One cPanel to Another (Step-by-Step)

Migrating a WordPress website from one cPanel to another is a common task when switching hosting providers. In this guide, you’ll learn the safe, manual method to transfer your entire website without losing data.

Video Tutorial

What You Need Before Starting

• Access to the old cPanel
• Access to the new cPanel
• FTP/File Manager access
• Basic understanding of files and databases

Step 1: Backup Website Files from Old cPanel

1. Log in to your old cPanel
2. Open File Manager
3. Go to the public_html folder
4. Select all files
5. Click Compress → Download the ZIP file

Step 2: Export WordPress Database

1. Go to phpMyAdmin in the old cPanel
2. Select your WordPress database
3. Click Export
4. Choose Quick → Format: SQL
5. Download the .sql file

Step 3: Upload Files to New cPanel

1. Log in to your new cPanel
2. Open File Manager
3. Go to public_html
4. Upload the ZIP file
5. Extract it

Step 4: Create a New Database

1. Open MySQL Databases in new cPanel
2. Create:

• New database
• Database user

1. Assign the user to the database with ALL PRIVILEGES

Step 5: Import Database

1. Open phpMyAdmin in a new cPanel
2. Select the newly created database
3. Click Import
4. Upload your .sql file
5. Click Go

Step 6: Update the wp-config.php File

1. Go to public_html → find wp-config.php
2. Edit the following details:

define('DB_NAME', 'new_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'new_database_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'new_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Step 7: Update Domain (If Changed)

If you are changing the domain:

1. Go to phpMyAdmin
2. Open wp_options table
3. Update:

• siteurl
• home

Step 8: Test Your Website

• Visit your domain
• Check pages, images, and login
• Clear browser cache if needed

Common Issues & Fixes

Website Not Loading

• Check wp-config.php credentials

Database Connection Error

• Recheck the database name, user, and password

Broken Links / Images

• Update URLs using the search & replace plugin

Pro Tips

• Always take a full backup before migration
• Use a temporary URL to test before pointing the domain
• Lower DNS TTL before migration for faster switching

Want Hassle-Free Migration?

Manual migration can be risky if not done correctly.

👉 Choose hosting that offers free WordPress migration + expert support

Conclusion

Migrating WordPress from one cPanel to another is straightforward if you follow the correct steps. With proper backups and configuration, you can move your site safely without downtime.