How to MANUALLY Migrate Your WordPress Site

Simple Checklist:

1. Backup site files
2. Export database (SQL file)
3. Install WordPress for new site
4. Import database (SQL file)
5. Replace wp-content folder
6. Edit wp-config.php file with correct settings
7. Replace URLs
8. Delete old site

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Detailed Checklist:

Phase 1: Preparing the site for transfer

1. Login into development site Cpanel
2. Go into File Manager
3. Download wp-config.php file
4. Zip up wp-content folder
5. Download zip folder
6. Go into phpMyAdmin
7. Export site database (sql file)

Phase 2: Setting up the site on the new host

1. Login into new hosting cpanel
2. Install WordPress
3. Go into phpMyAdmin
4. Import sql file in new database
5. Replace old URL with new URL in “_options” table
6. Go into File Manager
7. Replace wp-content folder with zipped file
8. Extract zipped file
9. Edit wp-config.php file with new database, user, password and wp table prefix
10. Login into new site, find and replace all image/file paths with new URL 

Phase 3: Clean up

1. Double check permalinks and ALL image, link and file paths in new site
2. BACKUP new site files and database
3. Go to old hosting account
4. Delete old database
5. Delete wp files
6. Remove sub or addon domain