If you've got a WordPress website and you're wondering what it takes to move it — whether that's away from your current host or over to a new one — this one's for you.
Moving away from me? That's completely fine
First things first: if you're hosted with me and you decide to move your website elsewhere, that's absolutely fine. I won't stand in your way. I'm always a little sad to see people go — but the door's open if you ever want to come back.
When you leave, I'll give your new developer control panel access. Depending on how things are set up, that gives them everything they need:
- The domain name (unless it's registered elsewhere)
- Email (unless you're using Microsoft, Google or another provider)
- The database
- The website files themselves
That's genuinely all a competent developer needs to pick up your site and run with it. I'm not obliged to do more than hand over that access — but I usually will, because that's just how I like to work.
Moving your website to me? Same deal
It works the other way round too. If you're bringing a website to me from another host, all I need is control panel access — which gets me to your files and your domain name. That's it.
Here's how I handle it:
- I get your website running on my server first, so nothing goes live until it's working properly.
- I create a backup in a private, secure area, tucked away from Google while we're testing.
- I run the updates and give everything a full test.
- Then, on a date we agree together, we make the switch. We tell the domain name that your website no longer points to the old host, it points to me now.
Because I test everything on my server before we flip the switch, the move is smooth, and there's no nervous "will it work?" moment on the day.
The one thing to keep an eye on
Whether a site is coming or going, the essentials are the same: control panel access (or the files and database) plus access to the domain name. If your developer has something like cPanel to work with, that really is all they need.
So here's a gentle heads-up. If a developer is moving your site away from me, or from anyone, and they start asking me how to do it, that's a small orange flag. Moving a WordPress site is bread-and-butter stuff, and it's fair to expect the person you're paying to already know the way. I'll usually lend a hand anyway, but they shouldn't have to ask. (And if I'm asked to do the actual moving work for another developer, that's chargeable, because it's work they should be handling themselves.)
The short version
Moving a WordPress website isn't the ordeal people imagine. It comes down to handing over the right access and testing carefully before you go live. No hostages, no drama, just a clean handover.
If you've got questions about moving your site, whether it's to me or somewhere else entirely, I'm always happy to talk it through.
