How to Migrate a WordPress Website Between cPanel/WHM Servers in 2025 – Magezi Solutions | Magezi Harvest | School Software in Uganda | School Payment Solutions in Uganda | Software Solutions in Uganda | Magezi Harvest School

Migrating a WordPress site from one cPanel/WHM server to another is a common task for developers, agencies, and hosting providers. With updates to cPanel, PHP, and WordPress core, the process in 2025 is faster and more reliable—if you follow best practices. This article walks you through a streamlined migration.

1. Pre-Migration Checklist

Before you begin:

Verify PHP/MySQL versions on the destination server (ensure compatibility with your WordPress version and plugins).
Ensure enough disk space on both source and target servers.
Update WordPress, themes, and plugins to latest stable versions.
Take a full backup (files + database).

2. Methods of Migration

There are multiple approaches, but in 2025 the two most reliable are:

A. Using cPanel Backup & Restore

1. Log in to the source cPanel → go to Backup Wizard.
2. Generate a Full Account Backup (this includes home directory, databases, email, SSL).
3. Download the backup to your local machine or transfer it directly via SCP to the destination server.
4. On the destination WHM, go to Restore a Full Backup/cpmove File.
5. WHM restores the account with the same username, database, and file paths.

Best for entire account moves. (all sites, emails, databases)

B. Manual WordPress Site Migration

1.Export Files:
○Source cPanel → File Manager or FTP → Compress public_html (or WordPress root) into a .zip. ○Download and upload it to the destination cPanel.

2.Export Database:
○Use phpMyAdmin → Export the WordPress database as .sql.
○On destination cPanel, create a new database + user, then Import the .sql.

3.Update wp-config.php:
○Edit DB name, user, and password to match new credentials.

4.Check Domain Configuration:
○Ensure Addon/Primary domain is set up correctly.
○Update DNS records (A record to new server IP).

5.Test:
○Use hosts file modification or temporary URL (provided by cPanel/WHM) before DNS propagation.

Best for migrating a single WordPress site without email or other accounts

3. Post-Migration Steps

Verify DNS propagation using tools like dig or whatsmydns.net.
Check SSL certificates (AutoSSL can regenerate free certificates in WHM).
Ensure file permissions are intact (755 for directories, 644 for files).
If moving emails too, verify MX records and mail deliverability.

4. Common Pitfalls in 2025

PHP mismatches: Some WordPress plugins now require PHP 8.2+—ensure compatibility.
Incompatible MariaDB versions: WordPress supports MariaDB 10.4+; older versions cause errors.
Forgotten DNS TTL: Lower TTL to 300 seconds a day before migration to reduce downtime.
Hard-coded URLs: Use WP-CLI search-replace to update domain references if migrating to a new domain.

Conclusion

Migrating a WordPress site between cPanel/WHM servers in 2025 is straightforward when planned well. For entire accounts, WHM Full Account Transfer is the fastest and safest. For single-site migrations, a manual transfer with careful database updates gives more control.

Always test thoroughly before pointing DNS, and ensure your server stack is optimized for the latest WordPress ecosystem.