A little preparation makes a WordPress move uneventful. Before the switch:
- Take a full backup — files and database — and keep a copy off the current server.
- Note your versions — WordPress, PHP, and MySQL/MariaDB — so the destination matches or exceeds them.
- List plugins and themes, especially any tied to the current host or to hard-coded URLs.
- Record your DNS — where the domain points today and the current TTL values.
- Lower DNS TTLs a day ahead so the cutover propagates in minutes, not hours.
- Freeze changes during the move — no new posts, orders, or comments until it is verified.
- Test on the new server first (via a temporary URL or hosts-file entry) before repointing DNS.
- Repoint DNS and verify — pages load, forms work, and email still flows.
See WordPress hosting and how DNS is handled during a cutover.
