## How to Move WordPress From Local Server to Live Site (2 Ways)
**By Naveed Ahmed, WordPress Expert with 15 Years of Experience**
As a seasoned WordPress professional with over 15 years of experience, I’ve witnessed countless migrations from local servers to live environments. This process is vital for making your website accessible to the world, and it requires careful planning and execution to avoid common pitfalls.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, understanding how to move WordPress from a local server to a live site is crucial. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, offering expert advice and insights to ensure a smooth transition.
**Why Move WordPress From a Local Server to a Live Site?**
Developing your WordPress website on a local server offers numerous benefits:
* **Privacy:** Work on your website without making it publicly accessible.
* **Testing:** Experiment with changes and new features without affecting live visitors.
* **Control:** Work offline, giving you complete control over your development environment.
However, your website needs to be on a live server to reach your target audience. Moving from a local server to a live site is crucial for:
* **Publishing:** Making your website accessible to online visitors.
* **SEO:** Enabling search engines to discover and index your content.
* **Growth:** Scaling your website to accommodate increased traffic.
**Two Methods for Transferring Your WordPress Site**
We’ll explore two methods to move your WordPress site from a local server to a live site:
1. **Method 1: Using a Migration Plugin (Recommended)**
* This method is ideal for beginners, streamlining the migration process with a user-friendly interface.
2. **Method 2: Manually Transferring WordPress (Advanced)**
* This method gives you more control over each step, but it requires more technical expertise.
**Before You Migrate Your WordPress Site**
Before embarking on the migration process, ensure you have the following:
* **Local WordPress Site:** A fully functioning WordPress site running on your local server.
* **Domain Name:** A registered domain name that points to your chosen web hosting.
* **Web Hosting:** A web hosting account that supports WordPress.
* **FTP Client:** A software application for transferring files between your computer and your web server.
**Method 1: Transfer WordPress From The Local Server to Live Site Using a Migration Plugin (Recommended)**
**Step 1: Install and Set Up the Duplicator Plugin**
* **Install Duplicator:** Install and activate the Duplicator plugin on your local WordPress site. (See our guide on installing a WordPress plugin for detailed instructions.)
* **Create a New Backup:** Go to **Duplicator » Backups** and click **Create New**.
* **Configure Backup:** Name your backup and click **Next**. Duplicator will run tests to ensure everything is in order.
* **Build the Backup:** Click **Build** if all tests pass. This process may take a few minutes.
* **Download Files:** Once the backup is complete, click **Download Both Files** to download the **Installer** and **Archive** files.
**Step 2: Create a Database for Your Live WordPress Website**
* **Access cPanel:** Log in to your hosting account’s cPanel dashboard.
* **MySQL Database Wizard:** Locate the **Databases** section and click **MySQL Database Wizard**.
* **Create Database:** Provide a name for your database and click **Create Database**.
* **Create User:** Enter a username and password for your new user and click **Create User**.
* **Add User to Database:** Check the **All Privileges** checkbox and click **Make Changes**.
* **Record Details:** Note down the database name, username, and password. You’ll need them in the next step.
**Step 3: Upload Files from the Local Server to the Live WordPress Website**
* **Connect via FTP:** Connect to your live site using an FTP client.
* **Empty Root Directory:** Ensure the root directory of your website is empty. (Typically, this is the `/home/public_html/` folder.)
* **Upload Files:** Upload the **archive.zip** and **installer.php** files from Duplicator to the empty root directory.
**Step 4: Running the Migration Script**
* **Access Installer:** In your browser, visit the URL `http://example.com/installer.php`, replacing ‘example.com’ with your domain name.
* **Duplicator Migration Wizard:** The Duplicator Migration Wizard will launch.
* **Database Details:** Enter your MySQL host (likely ‘localhost’), database name, username, and password.
* **Validate Details:** Click **Validate** to verify the details.
* **Next:** Click **Next** to proceed.
* **Database Import:** Duplicator will import your database backup into your new database.
* **URL Updates:** It will also update URLs pointing to your local site and your new live site.
* **Admin Login:** Click **Admin Login** to access your live site’s WordPress admin area.
* **Cleanup:** Duplicator will automatically clean up installation files.
**Method 2: Manually Transfer WordPress From the Local Server to the Live Site**
**Step 1: Export Local WordPress Database**
* **phpMyAdmin:** Access phpMyAdmin at `http://localhost/phpmyadmin/`.
* **Select Database:** Click on your WordPress database.
* **Export:** Click the **Export** button from the top menu bar.
* **Quick Export:** Choose **Quick** export method and click **Go** to download your database backup.
**Step 2: Upload WordPress Files to Live Site**
* **Connect via FTP:** Open your FTP client and connect to your web hosting account.
* **Upload Files:** Upload the files from your local WordPress installation to your live site’s root directory (usually `/home/public_html/`).
**Step 3: Create a MySQL Database on Your Live Site**
* **Access cPanel:** Log in to your cPanel dashboard.
* **MySQL Database Wizard:** Click **MySQL Database Wizard** in the **Databases** section.
* **Create Database:** Provide a database name and click **Create Database**.
* **Create User:** Enter a username and password for the user and click **Create User**.
* **Add User to Database:** Check **All Privileges** and click **Make Changes**.
**Step 4: Import WordPress Database to Live Site**
* **phpMyAdmin:** Access phpMyAdmin in cPanel.
* **Select Database:** Click on the database you created in the previous step.
* **Import:** Click the **Import** tab in the top menu.
* **Choose File:** Select the database backup file you downloaded earlier.
* **Import Database:** Click **Go** to import the database.
**Step 5: Change the Site URL**
* **phpMyAdmin:** Access phpMyAdmin.
* **wp_options Table:** Locate the **wp_options** table in your database.
* **Browse:** Click **Browse** next to **wp_options**.
* **Site URL:** Find the **siteurl** option in the **options_name** column.
* **Edit:** Click the **Edit** icon.
* **Update URL:** Replace the local URL with your new live site URL in the **option_value** field.
* **Save:** Click **Go**.
* **Home URL:** Repeat these steps for the **home** option name.
* **Save:** Click **Go**.
**Step 6: Set Up Your Live Site**
* **Database Connection:** Edit the **wp-config.php** file in your root directory using an FTP client.
* **Database Details:** Update the **DB_NAME**, **DB_USER**, **DB_PASSWORD**, and **DB_HOST** settings with the details you created earlier.
* **Save Changes:** Save the **wp-config.php** file.
* **WordPress Admin Login:** Access your WordPress admin area at `http://example.com/wp-admin`.
* **Settings:** Go to **Settings » General**.
* **Save Changes:** Click **Save Changes** without making any modifications.
* **Permalinks:** Go to **Settings » Permalinks** and click **Save Changes**.
**Step 7: Fix Images and Broken Links by Updating Paths**
* **Option 1: Search & Replace Everything Plugin**
* **Install:** Install and activate the **Search & Replace Everything** plugin.
* **Search & Replace:** Go to **Tools » WP Search & Replace**.
* **Enter URLs:** Input your local site URL in **Search for** and your live site URL in **Replace with**.
* **Select All:** Check **Select All** under tables.
* **Preview:** Click **Preview Search & Replace**.
* **Replace All:** Click **Replace All** to confirm and update your database.
* **Option 2: Manually Update URLs (Advanced)**
* **phpMyAdmin:** Access phpMyAdmin.
* **SQL:** Click the **SQL** tab.
* **Query:** Run the following SQL query, replacing the URLs with your specific local and live site URLs:
“`sql
UPDATE wp_posts SET post_content = REPLACE(post_content, ‘localhost/test/’, ‘www.yourlivesite.com/’);
“`
* **Execute:** Click **Go** to execute the query.
**Conclusion**
Moving WordPress from a local server to a live site is a crucial step in making your website accessible to the world. By following these steps and choosing the right migration method, you can ensure a seamless transition. Remember to back up your local site before starting, and don’t hesitate to seek assistance if you encounter any difficulties.
**FAQs**
**
What is a local server, and why should I use one?
**
A local server is a software program that runs on your computer and allows you to develop and test websites offline. This is a great way to experiment with changes without affecting your live site.
**
How do I create a local server?
**
You can set up a local server using software like XAMPP, MAMP, or WAMP. These packages include Apache, MySQL, and PHP, which are the essential components for running WordPress.
**
What is FTP, and why do I need it for migration?
**
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a way to transfer files between your computer and a remote server. You’ll need an FTP client (like FileZilla) to upload your WordPress files to your live site.
**
How often should I backup my WordPress site?
**
It’s crucial to back up your WordPress site regularly to protect your data. Aim for daily backups, especially if you make frequent changes to your website.
**
What if I get a “Error Establishing a Database Connection” after migration?
**
This error usually occurs when the database details in your **wp-config.php** file are incorrect. Ensure that you’ve entered the correct database name, username, and password.
**
How do I fix broken links and missing images after migration?
**
Use the Search & Replace Everything plugin or manual SQL queries to update URLs in your database. This ensures that all links point to the correct locations on your live site.
**
Can I move a live WordPress site to a local server?
**
Yes, you can move a live site to a local server. This is helpful for testing changes without affecting visitors. You can use the same migration methods, but you’ll need to reverse the steps.
**
What are some good WordPress hosting providers?
**
Some recommended WordPress hosting providers include Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger. These companies offer reliable services and support for WordPress websites.
**
What happens to my local WordPress site after I move it to a live server?
**
You can keep your local site or delete it after the migration. It’s entirely up to you. If you have any more development work to do, it’s beneficial to keep the local site.
**If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.**