How to move a WordPress site with Backup Migration

When to use it

I would use it when moving a whole site from one host to another, creating a working copy, or restoring from backup. If you only need one Gutenberg page, copying block code or using WordPress export/import may be cleaner.

Before the move

Before migration, I would not check only the plugin. The new hosting matters too: PHP version, site size, upload limit, free disk space, SSL certificate, and whether the target site already contains content that must not be overwritten.

A restore through Backup Migration can overwrite the target WordPress install. So it is worth having a backup of the new install too, especially if someone already configured anything there.

Step-by-step workflow

1. On the old site, update WordPress, plugins and theme if it is safe to do so.
2. Install the Backup Migration plugin.
3. Create a new backup from the plugin settings.
4. Download the backup file and keep a local copy.
5. On the new site, install a clean WordPress and the same plugin.
6. Upload the backup into the plugin and run the restore process.
7. Log back into WordPress, usually with the original site credentials.
8. Check URLs, menus, forms, images, cache, SSL and mobile layout.

If you only need one page

Backup Migration is not the best tool if you only want to move one page. In that case, copying Gutenberg blocks, using WordPress export/import, or moving the content manually can be cleaner.

A full-site migration makes sense when you are moving the whole WordPress setup: theme, plugins, media, settings, menus, forms and database.

What usually needs checking

The common problems after a move are old URLs, broken forms, mixed HTTPS content, cache, missing images or a different PHP version on the new host. The migration is not done when the import finishes. It is done when the live site is checked.

• click through menu, services, blog, contact and important landing pages,
• save permalinks and check for 404 errors,
• test forms, SMTP and email delivery,
• check images, favicon, logo and mobile layout,
• clear cache and check SSL/mixed content,
• verify robots.txt, sitemap and basic SEO settings.

For WooCommerce stores, also test cart, checkout, emails, payment methods and shipping. I would not migrate a live store during active orders without a clear plan.

Short takeaway

Backup Migration can make moving WordPress much easier, but it is still a full-site operation. Back up, check hosting, restore, clear cache and manually test the important pages.

For a larger site, I would not treat migration as “click and see what happens”. First plan, then export, import, and only after that switch the domain or DNS.