How to Migrate WordPress Using All-in-One WP Migration

All-in-One WP Migration turns a website move into an export-and-import job. No separate database dump. No manual wp-content transfer. But both sites still need preparation.

This guide follows the plugin's current export and import workflow for moving to a new host or domain using a .wpress file.

Before You Begin

Make sure you can access both WordPress dashboards and both hosting accounts. Then:

• Back up the source site independently
• Back up anything already at the destination
• Check the source site's total size
• Confirm the destination has enough free storage
• Note the source admin username and password
• Pause new orders or form submissions if the site changes often

The import replaces the destination database, media, themes, and plugins. Treat the destination as empty unless you've backed it up.

Step 1: Install the Plugin on the Source Site

In the source dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New. Search for All-in-One WP Migration. Install and activate it.

Open All-in-One WP Migration → Export. Expand Advanced Options only if you want to exclude something specific. For a full migration, don't exclude the database, media, themes, or plugins.

You don't need the find-and-replace fields for a normal move. The plugin handles the destination URL during import. An unnecessary database replacement creates new problems.

Step 2: Export the Website

Select Export To → File. The plugin builds a .wpress archive. Download it to your computer.

Keep the file until the destination is fully tested. The plugin also stores exports in wp-content/ai1wm-backups if the browser download fails.

Step 3: Prepare the Destination

Install a fresh WordPress at the destination. Confirm you can sign in. Match the PHP version to the source if the site uses an older theme or custom plugin.

Install and activate All-in-One WP Migration on the new site. Don't configure the temporary content—the import overwrites it.

Step 4: Import the .wpress File

Go to All-in-One WP Migration → Import. Choose Import From → File and select the archive.

If the file is larger than the import limit shown, check the host's upload and request limits. The plugin isn't the bottleneck—PHP and hosting settings are.

When the plugin warns that the existing site will be replaced, verify the domain one more time. Don't close the browser tab during import.

Step 5: Sign In With Source Credentials

The imported database includes users from the source site. The temporary destination login may stop working. Sign in with the original admin credentials.

Visit Settings → Permalinks and save the current structure twice. WordPress rebuilds its rewrite rules.

Step 6: Test the Migrated Site

Clear plugin, hosting, CDN, object, and browser caches. Then check:

• Homepage and several inner pages
• Images, downloads, and navigation
• Admin login
• Contact forms and outgoing email
• Mobile layout
• Search and scheduled tasks
• Cart, checkout, payments, and order emails (if WooCommerce)

If the domain changed, search for old URLs in page-builder content and settings. Use a serialization-aware tool. Don't run a raw database find-and-replace.

If the Import Stops

Don't re-upload the archive without checking the cause. Confirm free disk space, file permissions, PHP compatibility, and security-plugin conflicts. The plugin's error log is at:

wp-content/plugins/all-in-one-wp-migration/storage/error.log

If the site looks wrong after the move, follow the WordPress migration troubleshooting guide.

Before You Delete Anything

Keep the original site and the downloaded archive until the new site has been stable for several days. A "migration complete" message doesn't mean the migration is finished. It's finished when real pages, forms, logins, and transactions work at the destination.