Step-by-step guide to Migrate WordPress to Vultr with backup, DNS, import, and SSL setup included.Our Vultr Support Team is always here to help you.
How to Migrate WordPress to Vultr
Bringing your WordPress site to Vultr is a smart choice for speed and reliability. But it has to be done the right way. Many site owners skip a crucial detail or two, only to end up with downtime or broken pages. This guide walks you through everything clearly, without skipping a single detail. Here’s how to Migrate WordPress to Vultr from start to finish.
An Overview
Backup the Old Server
Never overlook this part. Before you start working on Vultr, make sure you have a backup of your old server. Ideally, create a complete server image backup. Alternatively, you can use a plugin like Updraft or Jetpack to take a WordPress backup. This ensures you can always roll back if something goes wrong.
Export the Content
The next step is moving your actual site data. A reliable option is the All-in-One WP Migration plugin. The free version works well for most websites.
- Log in to the old WordPress dashboard with an administrator account.
- Go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for All-in-One WP Migration.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
- In your dashboard, go to All-in-One WP Migration → Export.
- Select Export To > File.
- Wait until the export finishes, then download the file to your computer.
Now, shut down the old server (but do not destroy it yet). Your site will remain offline for a short while during the move.
Deploy the New Server
On Vultr, launch a new Marketplace WordPress server. This will be your fresh environment.
Update DNS
After the new server is running, update your DNS records with the IP address of the Vultr WordPress app. Use your DNS provider’s instructions or Vultr’s own DNS guide. This step points your domain to the new server.
Import the Site Content
- Get the login details from Step 1 of the Application Information section inside your Vultr dashboard.
- Visit your domain name with HTTPS, for example:
https://www.example.com/wp-admin- Enter the credentials provided.
1. Select your language → Continue.
2. Enter a temporary site title, username, and email (this will be overwritten later). Save the password.
3. Click Install WordPress and wait.
4. Log in to your new dashboard.
5. Go to Plugins > Add New, install and activate All-in-One WP Migration again.
6. Go to All-in-One WP Migration → Import.
7. Click Import From > File, then upload the export file you downloaded earlier.
8. After upload, click Proceed when asked for confirmation.
9. On success, click Save permalinks structure.
10. A new tab will open—log in with your old server’s username and password.
11. Check permalink settings and adjust if necessary. Save them.
12. Return to the import tab and click Finish.
13. Finally, log out of your new site.
Install SSL Certificate
Securing your WordPress site on Vultr is the final step. If you prefer Let’s Encrypt, connect to the server via console or SSH using root login. Then run:
# certbot --nginx --redirect -d www.example.com -m admin@example.com --agree-tos --no-eff-emailFor commercial SSL certificates, replace server.crt and server.key in /etc/nginx/ssl/ with your certificate files. Follow your vendor’s documentation for exact details.
Cleanup After Migration
Once everything looks good on Vultr, you can safely remove the old server. This frees up resources and avoids confusion later.
[If needed, Our team is available 24/7 for additional assistance.]
Conclusion
That’s the full picture of how to Migrate WordPress to Vultr safely and efficiently. By carefully backing up, exporting, deploying, updating DNS, importing, and securing with SSL, your site will be live and running on Vultr in no time. With these steps, you’ll never have to worry about missing data or downtime again.
