Migrate your site with Jetpack VaultPress Backup

Use Jetpack VaultPress Backup to clone your WordPress site from one server to another when moving to a new hosting provider.

This feature requires a paid Jetpack VaultPress Backup plan. The plan must be active on the site you’re migrating from (the original source site).

Jetpack VaultPress Backup can’t be used to migrate sites hosted on WordPress.com.

What should I do before migrating my site?

Make sure the site you’re copying has an active Jetpack VaultPress Backup plan before starting the migration.

When preparing to move your site to a new host, please check the following:

1. Your source site (the current live site) should be online and accessible.
2. Do not make any DNS changes yet.
3. Your destination site (the site at your new host) should not yet be using the original site’s domain or have the DNS records changed yet. The destination site should use a temporary staging URL for now. The domain will be pointed to the new site later, after the migration is done.

You will not need to manually update any URLs in your WordPress database after cloning the site. The cloning process automatically updates all your site’s URLs.

What information do I need before migrating?

Choose and set up your new hosting plan by following these steps:

1. Ensure your new host plan meets the minimum WordPress requirements.
2. Ensure that your new host has adequate resources for your specific site, including disk space, bandwidth, memory, and CPU. Not sure what you need? Check with your hosting provider.
3. You need a working WordPress installation at the new host. A fresh WordPress installation is highly recommended, as the migration process will not delete any files currently on the destination WordPress site.

Before you start cloning, there are a few things you’ll need on hand:

1. SSH/SFTP/FTP credentials for your site at your new web host.
2. Your login credentials for your DNS host. This will usually be your domain registrar but could also be a standalone DNS provider such as Cloudflare.
3. The DNS records for your new server. You can obtain this from your new hosting provider.

What happens to my email accounts?

Jetpack’s clone feature transfers your WordPress site and its data to a new server but will not transfer other services, such as email accounts. If you have email set up with your old hosting provider, now might be a good time to migrate this to a dedicated email host (like G Suite or Microsoft 365), which typically offers more features than standard hosting email. At the very least, make sure you have a plan for any email accounts you have set up.

When is the best time to migrate my site?

Plan to migrate your website when:

• You aren’t going to be publishing any new content.
• Your site isn’t too busy, so there’s minimal interruption to visitors.

If you use Jetpack Stats, check the Insights Dashboard for information that can help you decide when to migrate.

How do I start the migration process?

To start the site migration process, visit Cloud.Jetpack.com.

1. Click VaultPress Backup in the left menu.
2. Click on the button that says Copy this site.
3. Click Enter credentials for a new destination site.
4. Enter your destination site URL. This is the new host you’re cloning to — in most cases, you’ll need to enter your temporary/staging URL rather than your original site’s domain name. 
5. Enter your new server credentials. Jetpack will use these to clone your site from your current host to your new host. If you’re unsure, check with your new host for the right information.
6. Enter the destination WordPress path. If you’re unsure of this, your new host can provide this information.
7. Click Confirm credentials.
8. Jetpack will test the credentials to confirm they work to connect to your new site. If there are any errors, you’ll see them on the next screen with some troubleshooting suggestions. If all tests pass, click Continue.
9. Select Clone from the latest point to clone using the most recent backup. To clone from an earlier backup, scroll down and find the backup in your Activity Log, then click Clone from here.
10. You will see a confirmation screen where you can choose the content in the backup you want to clone. If you’re migrating your site to a new host, you will usually want to leave all the boxes checked. Select the items you wish to clone and click Confirm configuration.
11. A final confirmation message will appear to confirm that you want to overwrite all content on the destination site with the content from your backup. Click Yes, Continue to begin the cloning process.
12. You can follow the cloning progress from the Jetpack Cloud dashboard or click Go to Activity Log to return to your site’s Activity Log.

If the clone fails before finishing, or if you experience other problems, get in touch with our support team to help you troubleshoot the issue.

How can I check if the cloned site works properly?

Once the site move is finished and before pointing your domain name to the new host, check the new website. Ensure that your content is loading as expected and that all functionality works properly. Don’t rush this step. Be thorough and take your time. 

What should I do after the site is migrated?

To complete the migration, you’ll need to point your domain to your new host. Once satisfied that the migration was successful, you’ll need to change your DNS settings to point your domain name to your new server. The specific process for this depends on your provider, but here are the typical steps:

1. Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider and locate the area to update your DNS settings. The exact steps will vary based on your provider, but they should supply clear documentation. You can also ask your provider to make this change for you. Important: Don’t remove, edit, or delete any other DNS settings unless you are certain you no longer need them. 
2. Once you’ve saved your settings, you must wait for the DNS changes to propagate. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to update around the world. For this reason, it’s important not to cancel your old hosting immediately until you’re confident that propagation has finished. You can verify propagation with tools such as DNS Checker.

After migrating your site, you’ll be prompted to log in to your new site. For that, use the WP-Admin username and password for the site you copied from. The cloning process overwrites everything, including the WP Admin user information.

Important: After logging in to the new site, the Jetpack Safe Mode prompt will be shown everywhere in your WP Admin. More information about Safe mode.