Whether you’re a creative entrepreneur or a growing online boutique, you know your website is more than just pixels—it’s your brand’s digital storefront. But what happens when it’s time to move your WordPress site—say, from staging to live, or from one host to another?
At Visually Vogue, we get it—techy tasks like site migration can feel intimidating. That’s why we’ve created this simple, no-nonsense guide to show you exactly how to move a WordPress site, even if you’re not a developer.
Let’s dive in.
Why Move a WordPress Site?
You might need to move your WordPress site if:
- You’re switching to a faster, more reliable host.
- You’ve redesigned your site in a staging environment and are ready to go live.
- You’re launching a duplicate version of your site for a new region or market.
- You want to test updates or redesigns in a safe space before pushing them live.
Whatever your reason, the process doesn’t have to be painful. In fact, with the right tools, it’s easier than ever.
Tools You’ll Need
For this tutorial, we’ll be using the All-in-One WP Migration plugin. It’s free, beginner-friendly, and perfect for small to medium sites.
⚠️ Pro tip: If your site is larger than 300MB, consider upgrading to the premium version or using another plugin like Duplicator or UpdraftPlus.
How to Move a WordPress Site in 4 Easy Steps
Step 1: Install the Migration Plugin
Start by logging into your staging site (or the version of your site you want to move).
- Head to Plugins > Add New in your dashboard.
- Search for All-in-One WP Migration, click Install Now, then Activate.
- Repeat the same steps on your live site or the site you want to move your content to.
Step 2: Export Your Site Content
Now it’s time to package your site.
- Go to All-in-One WP Migration > Export.
- Click on Advanced options if you want to exclude items like spam comments or plugins.
- Click Export To > File to download your site as a
.wpressfile.
Once it’s done, save that file somewhere safe on your computer. This is your full site backup.
Step 3: Import the Site to Your New Location
Log into your destination site (the one you want to move the content to).
- Go to All-in-One WP Migration > Import.
- Click Import From > File, and upload the
.wpressfile you downloaded earlier.
💡 A warning will pop up: the import will overwrite your current site. That’s okay—just be sure you’ve backed everything up before proceeding.
After the import finishes:
- You’ll be prompted to save your permalinks. Just go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes.
Step 4: Test Everything
Before you announce your new site to the world, give it a good once-over:
- Are all your images showing?
- Are menus and buttons working?
- Do plugins function properly?
- Is your site mobile-friendly?
We recommend viewing your site on multiple devices and browsers to catch anything weird before your visitors do.
Bonus: What If You Have User-Generated Content?
If your live site has active comments, customer orders, or user posts after your staging copy was made, you may need a more advanced migration approach (like using WP Migrate DB Pro or manual FTP migration).
Final Thoughts
Migrating your WordPress site doesn’t have to be scary. With tools like All-in-One WP Migration, you can move your site confidently—whether it’s from staging to live, or from one server to another.
But if the idea of doing this still makes you want to run for your favorite iced latte, no worries—we’ve got you.
Let Visually Vogue Handle It for You
We specialize in beautiful, conversion-focused WordPress websites—and yes, that includes stress-free migrations. If you’d rather spend time building your brand than troubleshooting plugins, we’re here to help.
👉 Get a custom quote with our WordPress experts today.
Ready to elevate your online presence?
We move WordPress sites seamlessly, so you can focus on what you do best—creating, designing, and thriving.