Importing a local WordPress site is a straightforward process involving a few steps:
1. Export Your WordPress Site
- Backup your site: Before starting the export process, ensure you have a backup of your entire WordPress site. This will prevent data loss in case of any errors.
- Access your WordPress dashboard: Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Tools > Export.
- Select "All content" and click the "Download Export File" button. This will download a
.xmlfile containing all your site's content, including posts, pages, comments, and custom post types.
2. Import the Site to Your New Host
- Create a new database: On your new host, create a new database and assign a user with appropriate permissions.
- Import the
.xmlfile: Access your WordPress dashboard on the new host and navigate to Tools > Import. Select "WordPress" from the list of importers, install the plugin, and then upload the.xmlfile you downloaded earlier. - Map users: The importer will ask you to map users from your old site to the new site. Choose the appropriate user mapping based on your needs.
- Import media files: You'll need to manually upload your media files (images, videos, etc.) to the new host. You can use an FTP client like FileZilla to transfer the files.
3. Final Steps
- Update database settings: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings > General and update the database settings with the new database details.
- Verify functionality: Check that all your site's content, plugins, and themes are working correctly on the new host.
By following these steps, you can successfully import your local WordPress site to a new host.
