Siteground Website Migration

Option 1: Migrate a WordPress Site with the SiteGround Migrator Plugin

This is usually the easiest and safest method.

1. Log in to your SiteGround account

1. Go to your SiteGround dashboard.

2. Click Websites in the top navigation.

3. Find the site you want to migrate to and click Site Tools.

2. Generate a Migration Token in Site Tools

1. In Site Tools, go to:
   WordPress → Migrator

2. Under Create New Migration, choose the domain you want to migrate the site to (e.g., example.com).

3. Click Generate to create a Migration Token.

4. Copy the token — you’ll paste this into the plugin on your old site.

3. Install the SiteGround Migrator Plugin on Your Old Site

On your existing (old) WordPress website:

1. Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.

2. Go to Plugins → Add New.

3. In the search bar, type “SiteGround Migrator”.

4. Click Install Now, then Activate.

4. Start the Migration from Your Old Site

1. After activating, go to Tools → SiteGround Migrator (or you’ll see a banner link).

2. Paste the Migration Token you copied from SiteGround into the token field.

3. Confirm the destination URL is correct.

4. Click Initiate Transfer (or similar button).

The plugin will now:

• Package your website files and database

• Send them securely to SiteGround

• Set up the site on your chosen domain

You’ll see a progress bar. Don’t close the window until it completes.

5. Wait for the Migration to Finish

When it’s done, you’ll see a success message with a link to preview your site on SiteGround.

If SiteGround temporarily uses a staging URL or a system URL, they’ll provide it so you can test before going live.

6. Update Your Domain’s DNS (If Needed)

If your domain is registered somewhere else (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.):

1. Log in to your domain registrar.

2. Find your domain’s DNS or Nameserver settings.

3. Change the nameservers to SiteGround’s (you’ll find these in your SiteGround account under your site’s Site Tools → Dashboard or Account → Details).

4. Save changes.

DNS changes can take a few hours to fully propagate (sometimes up to 24 hours).

7. Test Your Website on SiteGround

Once DNS has updated:

1. Visit your domain in a browser (try incognito/private mode).

2. Click through your pages:

   • Homepage

   • Blog posts

   • Contact page / forms

   • Shop (if WooCommerce)

3. Log in to WordPress at yourdomain.com/wp-admin and confirm you can access the dashboard.

8. Set Up HTTPS (SSL)

1. In SiteGround Site Tools, go to Security → SSL Manager.

2. Select your domain.

3. Choose Let’s Encrypt (free SSL).

4. Click Get / Install.

5. After installation, go to Security → HTTPS Enforce and enable HTTPS Enforce so your site always loads securely.

9. Check Email (If You Used Email at Your Old Host)

If your email was also hosted with your old provider:

• Decide if you’re moving email to SiteGround or keeping it where it is.

• If moving, set up email accounts in Site Tools → Email → Accounts.

• Update any email DNS records (MX, SPF) as needed, depending on where you host email.

Option 2: Manual Migration (Non-WordPress or Advanced Users)

If your site is not WordPress or you prefer a manual move:

1. Back up your site files from your old host (via FTP or File Manager).

2. Export your database (usually via phpMyAdmin, as a .sql file).

3. On SiteGround:

   • Upload your files to the correct folder (usually public_html or a subfolder).

   • Create a new database and user in Site Tools → MySQL.

   • Import your .sql file into that database.

   • Update your app’s config file (for WordPress, that’s wp-config.php) with the new DB name, user, and password.

4. Update DNS to point your domain to SiteGround.

5. Test everything thoroughly.