How to Migrate WordPress to Cloudways with Free Migration Plugin

If you have a website hosted on a platform like a2 Hosting or HostGator and want to migrate it to the Cloudways platform, this step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the process. Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that offers additional support and allows you to host your website on popular cloud providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, Google Cloud, or Vultr.

Step 1: Create a Cloudways Account

1. Visit the Cloudways website (use the link in the description for a discount) and create an account.
2. Once logged in, go to “Servers” and click on “Add Server.”
3. Select your desired application version (e.g., latest WordPress version) and name your server and app according to your website.
4. Choose your preferred cloud infrastructure provider, such as DigitalOcean.
5. Select the server specifications (e.g., RAM size) and location (e.g., London).
6. Click on “Launch” to create the server and install WordPress. This process may take up to 7 minutes.

Step 2: Install the Cloudways WordPress Migrator Plugin

1. Log in to your website’s WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to “Plugins” > “Add New” and search for “Cloudways WordPress Migrator.”
3. Install and activate the plugin.
4. A new option called “Cloudways Migrator” will appear in the admin panel.

Step 3: Configure Cloudways Migrator

1. Once your Cloudways server is created, click on your server under “Servers” and navigate to the “WWW” section.
2. Copy the application URL and the public IP address from this section.
3. Paste the application URL and IP address into the Cloudways Migrator plugin settings in your WordPress admin dashboard.
4. Create a username and password for SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol).
5. Paste the database name (from the Cloudways server details) into the appropriate field.
6. Click on “Migrate” and wait for the migration process to complete. A progress bar will indicate the status.

Step 4: Update DNS and Point to Cloudways Server

1. Log in to your domain name registrar (e.g., Namecheap) and locate the DNS settings for your domain.
2. Change your name servers from your old hosting provider to “Namecheap Basic DNS.”
3. Click on “Advanced DNS” and create a new A record using “@” as the host and the Cloudways server IP address.
4. Set the TTL (Time to Live) to 1 minute and save the changes.
5. Delete any old and unnecessary A records associated with your previous hosting provider.
6. In your Cloudways account, click on “Domain Management” and add your domain name as the primary domain.
7. Save the changes.

Step 5: Verify and Access Your Website on Cloudways

1. Wait for the DNS propagation to complete. This may take up to 24 hours, but it usually happens much faster.
2. Clear your browser cache and try accessing your website in a new browser.
3. Log in to your Cloudways account, go to “Access Details,” and copy the updated domain name.
4. Paste the domain name into your browser’s address bar and check if your website loads properly.
5. If you encounter any issues, try restarting your computer or turning off your router/modem and then restarting them.
6. Install an SSL certificate (if required) in your Cloudways account by entering your email address and the URL. Follow the provided instructions to complete the installation.

Conclusion

There you have it. You have successfully migrated your website to the Cloudways platform.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can now take advantage of Cloudways’ managed cloud hosting and benefit from their support and various features. If you encounter any issues, Cloudways’ customer support team is just a chat away.

Enjoy your new hosting experience with Cloudways!

Photo credit Pixabay