How to Migrate Your WordPress Website to Cloudways (2026 Full Guide)

A Complete Step-By-Step Tutorial for Beginners, Agencies, and San Antonio Businesses

 

Migrating your WordPress website to a high-performance hosting platform is one of the smartest technical decisions you can make—especially if you’re running a business in a competitive market like San Antonio, where speed, uptime, and user experience directly translate to higher conversions.

Among all modern hosting solutions, Cloudways stands out as one of the most reliable and scalable platforms for serious site owners, agencies, eCommerce stores, and high-traffic businesses in Texas and beyond. Whether you’re upgrading from shared hosting, moving away from cPanel limitations, or finally stepping into cloud hosting for the first time, Cloudways gives you a clean, managed, powerful environment without the complexity of DevOps.

In this definitive guide, you’ll learn every possible way to migrate your WordPress website to Cloudways — from the official one-click migrator plugin to manual FTP/database migration to backup-plugin migrations. You’ll also get San Antonio-specific best practices, performance tuning, CDN optimization, DNS setup, and troubleshooting guidance.

 

➡️ https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

 

Why Move Your WordPress Website to Cloudways?

 

Before we dive into the migration workflow, let’s establish exactly why Cloudways is the preferred hosting choice for thousands of companies—including many here in San Antonio, from small agencies near the Pearl District, to SaaS companies by Downtown San Antonio, to eCommerce shops along Loop 410.

Here are the top reasons businesses migrate to Cloudways:

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1. Managed Cloud Hosting Without the Complexity

Cloudways allows you to deploy on top-tier cloud providers like:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Google Cloud Platform
• DigitalOcean
• Vultr
• Linode

—without doing the server maintenance yourself.

You get the speed of cloud hosting with the simplicity of a dashboard.

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2. Extremely Fast Load Times (Especially for Texas Visitors)

Cloudways offers edge caching, a built-in CDN (Cloudflare Enterprise), Redis, HTTP/2, and auto-scaling resources. For users browsing from Texas, the performance improvement is often dramatic.

Your San Antonio customers will notice the difference instantly.

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3. The Safest Migration Environment

You can:

• Create staging environments
• Clone servers
• Roll back failed migrations
• Test updates
• Deploy safely with zero downtime

This guide teaches you how to use all of that while migrating.

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4. No Contract, No Lock-In, No Shared Hosting Limitations

Cloudways is pay-as-you-go, scalable, and not at all like shared hosting where your neighbors are eating your resources.

This is ideal for:

• Agencies
• Multi-site WordPress setups
• Growing local businesses
• High-traffic websites
• eCommerce brands

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5. You Can Start Free 

You can launch a server instantly and migrate your WordPress website today using Cloudways with a free trial:

👉 https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

Now let’s learn how to migrate your site.

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Overview of All Migration Methods

 

 

To help you choose the right path, here’s a breakdown of the three migration methods included in this guide.

Migration Method	Difficulty	Best For	Notes
Cloudways Migrator Plugin	★☆☆☆☆	Beginners	Easiest method, 1-click
Manual FTP + Database Migration	★★★★☆	Developers	Best for broken sites, huge sites
Backup Plugin Migration	★★☆☆☆	Owners of multisite or complex installs	Works with AIOWP, UpdraftPlus, Duplicator

We will fully cover each.

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BEFORE YOU BEGIN: What You Need Before Migration

 

Here’s everything you should prepare before migrating.

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✔️ 1. Your Cloudways Account (Affiliate Link #2)

If you haven’t already, sign up using your Cloudways account:

👉 https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

This gives you access to:

• Cloudways Platform
• Server Dashboard
• Application Settings
• Temporary WordPress URL
• Staging environments

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✔️ 2. Access to Your Current Web Host

You will need:

• WordPress admin login
• cPanel, DirectAdmin, or hosting panel login
• FTP credentials
• Database credentials (phpMyAdmin)

If you don’t have these, request them from your hosting provider.

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✔️ 3. A Full Backup of Your Website

Use one of these tools:

• UpdraftPlus
• Duplicator
• All-in-One WP Migration
• Native cPanel backups

This ensures you can restore your site if anything goes wrong.

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✔️ 4. Your DNS Provider Login

This may be through:

• GoDaddy
• Namecheap
• Cloudflare
• HostGator
• Bluehost

We’ll update DNS at the end.

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✔️ 5. Temporary Site Freeze (Optional but Recommended)

During migration:

• Turn off comments
• Stop publishing posts
• Pause eCommerce orders
• Disable caching plugins

This prevents data mismatch.

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SECTION 1 — Migration Method #1: Using the Cloudways WordPress Migrator Plugin (Beginner-Friendly)

This is by far the easiest method.

The Cloudways Migrator Plugin handles:

• Database migration
• Core files
• WP-content folder
• Plugins
• Themes
• Serialized data
• URLs
• Search-replace

It’s the simplest path with minimal downtime.

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Step 1: Launch a WordPress Application on Cloudways

 

1. Log in to Cloudways.
2. Click Launch Server.
3. Choose your provider (DigitalOcean is the most popular).
4. Choose server size (start at 1GB or 2GB).
5. Choose a region (Dallas is ideal for San Antonio).
6. Choose WordPress as the application.
7. Click Launch Now.

Your server will deploy in 2–7 minutes.

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Step 2: Locate Your Application Credentials

 

Go to:

Applications → Your App → Access Details

You will find:

• Application URL
• Admin Panel URL
• Username
• Password
• MySQL credentials

These will be used later in the migration plugin.

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Step 3: Install the Cloudways Migrator Plugin

 

In your original WordPress site:

1. Go to Plugins → Add New
2. Search “Cloudways WordPress Migrator”
3. Click Install
4. Click Activate

This adds the migration wizard to your dashboard.

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Step 4: Enter Your Destination (Cloudways) Information

The plugin will ask you for:

• Your Cloudways SFTP host
• SFTP username
• SFTP password
• Application folder
• Database name
• Email address

All of these can be found inside:

Applications → Application Management → Access Details

Copy/paste everything carefully.

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Step 5: Start the Migration Process

 

Click Migrate.

The plugin will:

• Zip your files
• Export your database
• Upload everything to Cloudways
• Run search-replace on URLs
• Install your site on the new server

This typically takes 5–30 minutes depending on site size.

When complete, you will receive an email.

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Step 6: Test Your Site on Cloudways

Open your temporary Cloudways URL:

https://wordpress-1234567-123456.cloudwaysapps.com

Check:

• Homepage
• Blog posts
• Contact forms
• Login
• Plugins
• Mobile responsiveness

If everything works, you’re ready to move DNS.

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Step 7: Point Your Domain to Cloudways (DNS)

 

Go to your domain host and set:

A Record → Cloudways server IP
(found in your Server Console)

Add:

• @ → IP address
• www → IP address

DNS propagation takes 5 minutes to 24 hours.

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 Cloudways Free Trial

After migrating with the plugin, many users upgrade their plan to improve performance:

click here for your free trial 👉 https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

 

Method 2: Manual FTP + Database Migration (Advanced)

This method is best for large sites, multisite installations, or situations where the plugin fails due to timeouts or server limitations. While more advanced, it gives you full control over every file and database entry.

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1. Prepare Your Cloudways WordPress Application

 

Before starting manual migration:

1. Log into Cloudways → Applications → Add Server
2. Select WordPress as the application
3. Pick your cloud provider (DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, GCP)
4. Choose server size based on expected traffic
5. Choose server location closest to your audience (Dallas is ideal for San Antonio)
6. Launch the server

Once complete, your new WordPress application will have a temporary Cloudways URL for testing.

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2. Download All WordPress Files from Old Host

Connect to your old hosting provider via FTP or SFTP. Recommended clients:

• FileZilla
• Cyberduck
• WinSCP

Steps:

1. Connect using your host credentials:
   • Host (IP or domain)
   • FTP/SFTP username
   • Password
   • Port (usually 21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP)
2. Navigate to the WordPress root folder:

   /public_html/  
   /htdocs/  
   /www/
   

3. Download all files including hidden files (e.g., .htaccess).

⚠️ Pro Tip: If your site is very large, download in chunks to avoid FTP timeout errors.

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3. Export the Database from Old Host

1. Log into phpMyAdmin
2. Select your WordPress database
3. Click Export → Choose Quick Export → SQL format
4. Save the .sql file locally

This database contains your posts, pages, users, plugin settings, and theme customizations.

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4. Upload WordPress Files to Cloudways

 

1. In Cloudways, navigate to Server Management → Master Credentials
2. Use SFTP credentials in FileZilla to connect
3. Upload all files to:

   /applications/yourapp/public_html/
   

4. Overwrite any existing files in the Cloudways WordPress installation

⚠️ Pro Tip: Keep a local backup in case of mistakes.

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5. Import the Database to Cloudways

 

1. In Cloudways, go to Application → Access Database → phpMyAdmin
2. Select the database
3. Click Import → Choose the .sql file
4. Click Go

Database import may take a few minutes for large sites.

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6. Update wp-config.php

 

Open the wp-config.php file in Cloudways SFTP and update:

define('DB_NAME', 'cloudways_db_name');  
define('DB_USER', 'cloudways_db_user');  
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'cloudways_db_password');  
define('DB_HOST', '127.0.0.1');  

These values come from your Cloudways Application Access Details.

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7. Fix URLs and Permalinks

 

If your old site used oldsite.com and your Cloudways site is temp.cloudwaysapps.com, update URLs using WP-CLI:

wp search-replace 'oldsite.com' 'newsite.com'

Or via plugin: Better Search Replace.

Finally, go to WordPress Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes to refresh rewrite rules.

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8. Test the Migrated Site

 

Check:

• Homepage
• Posts & pages
• Media files
• WooCommerce checkout
• Contact forms
• Mobile responsiveness

Ensure all plugins work properly.

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9. Enable SSL and Security

 

1. Cloudways provides free Let’s Encrypt SSL.
2. Go to Application → SSL Certificate → Add domain → Install
3. Enable HTTPS Redirection

Your site is now secure.

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10. CDN and Caching Optimization

 

1. Enable Breeze caching plugin
2. Optionally activate CloudwaysCDN (faster global delivery)
3. Enable Redis for WooCommerce-heavy sites

⚡ Pro Tip: Faster sites = higher SEO rankings.

For businesses ready to scale their San Antonio online presence with managed cloud hosting, start your Cloudways trial:

👉 https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

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11. Post-Migration Manual Checklist

• Test admin login
• Test forms & checkout
• Test all media files
• Refresh permalinks
• Clear cache & CDN
• Backup current Cloudways site

Once confirmed, you can proceed to update your domain DNS.

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12. DNS Update (Point Your Domain to Cloudways)

1. Go to your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare)
2. Update A Record → Cloudways Server IP
3. Update CNAME → www → your domain
4. Wait 5–24 hours for DNS propagation

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13. Testing After DNS Propagation

• Open your domain in Chrome/Edge/Firefox
• Verify HTTPS
• Test site speed with GTMetrix, Pingdom, PageSpeed Insights
• Ensure all links & forms function

Your site is now fully migrated manually.

If you’re ready to experience premium WordPress cloud hosting, start your Cloudways trial today:

👉 https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

PART 3 — Migration Using Backup Plugins (AIOWP, Duplicator, UpdraftPlus)

This method is ideal for:

• Large or complex websites
• Multisite WordPress installs
• Sites with custom themes or builders like Elementor, Divi, or WPBakery
• Situations where plugin migration fails or manual migration is too complex

Using backup plugins ensures a full site copy, including database, media, plugins, and themes.

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1. Using Duplicator (Pro & Free Versions)

 

Duplicator is one of the most robust migration plugins.

Step 1: Install Duplicator on Old Site

1. Log into WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate: Plugins → Add New → Search: Duplicator
3. Install & Activate

Step 2: Create a New Package

1. Open Duplicator → Packages → Create New
2. Follow wizard: Scan → Build
3. Wait for Duplicator to generate:
   • installer.php
   • archive.zip

⚡ Tip: For sites >1 GB, Duplicator Pro is recommended for reliability.

Step 3: Upload Files to Cloudways

1. Connect to Cloudways server via SFTP
2. Upload both installer.php and archive.zip to:

   /applications/yourapp/public_html/
   

Step 4: Run the Installer

1. Visit:

   https://temp.cloudwaysapps.com/installer.php
   

2. Follow steps:
   • Connect to Cloudways database
   • Update site URL
   • Test connection
3. Complete migration

Step 5: Post-Migration Tasks

• Test homepage, posts, plugins
• Refresh permalinks
• Remove temporary installer.php file

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2. Using All-in-One WP Migration (AIOWP)

 

Step 1: Export Site

1. Install All-in-One WP Migration on old site
2. Go to: Export → File
3. Download the .wpress file

Step 2: Import Site into Cloudways WordPress

1. Log into Cloudways WordPress admin
2. Install AIOWP Migration plugin
3. Navigate: Import → File → Select .wpress
4. Wait for upload and automatic restoration

⚡ Tip: AIOWP Migration free version supports up to 512MB; larger sites require the Unlimited Extension.

Step 3: Test Your Migrated Site

• Verify pages, posts, media
• Check WooCommerce checkout (if applicable)
• Check menus, plugins, and theme layouts

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3. Using UpdraftPlus Backup & Restore

 

Step 1: Back Up Old Site

1. Install UpdraftPlus on old site
2. Navigate: Settings → Backup Now
3. Include: Plugins, Themes, Uploads, Database
4. Store backup locally or in cloud storage

Step 2: Restore on Cloudways

1. Install WordPress on Cloudways
2. Install UpdraftPlus
3. Navigate: Restore → Upload Backup Files
4. Select all files and restore

Step 3: Verify Site

• Check all functionality, including forms and WooCommerce
• Activate SSL if necessary
• Clear cache and CDN

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4. Optimizing Backup-Plugin Migrated Sites

 

After any backup-plugin migration:

• Activate Breeze caching plugin
• Enable CloudwaysCDN
• Enable Redis (optional for eCommerce)
• Update PHP version to 8.x
• Test site speed using GTMetrix, Pingdom, or Google PageSpeed Insights

⚡ San Antonio Tip: Choose a server closest to Texas (Dallas or Houston) for lowest latency.

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5. Common Issues & Fixes for Backup-Plugin Migration

 

 

6. Post-Migration Checklist for Backup Plugin Method

• Test login, posts, pages
• Verify media files
• Refresh permalinks
• Enable SSL
• Enable caching & CDN
• Test mobile responsiveness
• Backup migrated site immediately

Once your site is successfully migrated using plugins, scale your performance and security with Cloudways managed hosting:

👉 https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

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7. Benefits of Plugin Migration for San Antonio Businesses

• Minimal downtime for clients and customers
• Easy staging for testing
• Supports large eCommerce and membership sites
• Perfect for agency clients who need fast deployment
• Affordable, cost-effective, and compatible with Cloudways pay-as-you-go pricing

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8. San Antonio SEO & Performance Considerations

• Use CloudwaysCDN for faster page delivery in South Texas
• Optimize images with Smush or Imagify
• Activate server-level caching via Breeze
• Ensure mobile-first optimization for Google ranking
• Minify JS and CSS for faster load times

1. Updating DNS to Point Your Domain to Cloudways

 

After your WordPress migration is complete, the next critical step is updating your domain so visitors reach your Cloudways-hosted site instead of your old host.

Step 1: Get Your Cloudways Server IP

1. Log in to Cloudways → Servers
2. Select your server → Access Details → Public IP

Step 2: Update Your Domain Registrar

At your domain provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Bluehost, Cloudflare):

• Create an A Record:

  Host: @
  Value: Cloudways Server IP
  TTL: 600
  

• Create a CNAME Record for www:

  Host: www
  Value: yourdomain.com
  TTL: 600
  

Step 3: Wait for Propagation

DNS propagation may take 5 minutes to 24 hours. You can monitor it via tools like whatsmydns.net.

⚡ Pro Tip for San Antonio Businesses: Pointing your DNS to a Dallas or Houston server ensures local visitors experience faster load times, which can improve conversions and SEO rankings.

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2. Enabling SSL (HTTPS)

 

SSL is essential for security, SEO, and customer trust. Cloudways makes it easy:

1. Go to your Cloudways Application → SSL Certificate
2. Enter your domain
3. Click Install Certificate
4. Enable HTTPS Redirection to force all traffic to HTTPS

After installation, verify with your browser that the padlock is active.

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3. Caching & Performance Optimization

 

Cloudways offers multiple ways to improve site speed:

Step 1: Enable Breeze Caching

• Install the Breeze plugin in WordPress
• Enable options:
  • Database optimization
  • Minification (CSS/JS/HTML)
  • GZIP compression
  • Cache preloading

Step 2: Activate CloudwaysCDN

• Go to Cloudways → Application → CloudwaysCDN
• Enable for faster delivery across the U.S., especially for users in Texas

Step 3: Enable Redis (Optional)

For WooCommerce or database-heavy sites, Redis caching reduces server load and improves response time.

Step 4: PHP & Server Tweaks

• Ensure PHP 8.x
• Increase memory_limit and max_execution_time if needed

⚡ San Antonio Tip: Running speed tests with GTMetrix or PageSpeed Insights helps ensure your site is optimized for local searches.

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4. Common Migration Errors & How to Fix Them

 

 

Error	Cause	Solution
White Screen of Death	Plugin conflict	Rename plugins folder, re-enable one by one
500 Internal Server Error	PHP or .htaccess issue	Check error logs, clear Varnish cache
Mixed Content (HTTP/HTTPS)	Non-HTTPS URLs	Run search-replace, enable HTTPS redirection
Database Connection Error	Wrong DB credentials	Update wp-config.php
Media Not Displaying	Old URLs	Use Better Search Replace or WP-CLI

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5. Post-Migration Checklist

• Test homepage, posts, pages, and custom post types
• Test forms and WooCommerce checkout
• Test mobile responsiveness
• Test plugins functionality
• Backup your new Cloudways site
• Enable automatic backups
• Monitor server resources

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6. Advanced San Antonio-Specific SEO & Performance Practices

 

1. Use CloudwaysCDN for low latency in Texas
2. Optimize images with Smush or Imagify
3. Minify JS & CSS
4. Implement local schema markup (address, phone, hours)
5. Enable server-side caching
6. Use mobile-first responsive design
7. Ensure fast DNS resolution by selecting the nearest server region (Dallas preferred)

For San Antonio businesses, agencies, or developers ready to scale their WordPress website with premium managed hosting, start your Cloudways trial today:

👉 https://www.cloudways.com/en/?id=1004605

Cloudways ensures fast, secure, and scalable hosting with zero hassles.

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7. Summary & Key Takeaways

• There are 3 reliable ways to migrate WordPress to Cloudways:
  1. Cloudways WordPress Migrator Plugin (Easiest)
  2. Manual FTP + Database Migration (Advanced)
  3. Backup Plugin Migration (Large or complex sites)
• Always backup your site before migration
• Test thoroughly after migration:
  • Pages, posts, media, forms, WooCommerce
• Update DNS to point to your Cloudways server
• Enable SSL and caching for speed, security, and SEO
• Optimize site for San Antonio users: server region, CDN, mobile-first, and schema markup

Migrating to Cloudways is the first step in scaling your online presence while providing a fast, reliable, and secure user experience for local and global visitors.