This article explains the specifics of migrating a website from WordPress.com to Namecheap, a popular web hosting and domain registrar.
This process is not just about moving content; it involves understanding the technicalities of web hosting environments, domain management, and the potential for enhanced website customization and control.
Contents
STEP 1: First Thing First
Before starting the migration process, it’s essential to follow a series of crucial steps:
- Log into your WordPress.com account.
![Wordpress.com Login Page](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/wordpress.com-login-page-1.webp)
- Go to the “Plugins” section in the WordPress dashboard and click the “Upload” button.
![Upload Plugin Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/upload-plugin-button-1-1024x325.webp)
- Next, go ahead and upload your WP Staging | Pro.
![Upload WP Staging Plugin](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/upload-WP-Staging-or-Pro-Plugin.webp)
- Once installed and activated, navigate to the “Backup & Migration” section in the WordPress dashboard under “WP Staging Pro.”
![Backup and Migration Option in WP Staging](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/backup-and-migration-option-in-wp-staging-1024x391.webp)
- If you already possess a current backup, that is excellent. Otherwise, to generate a new backup, just click the “Create Backup” button.
![Create Backup Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/create-backup-button-4-1024x411.webp)
- Assign a name to your backup and proceed by clicking the “Start Backup” button.
![Enter Backup Name and Click Start Backup Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/enter-backup-name-and-click-the-strat-backup-button.webp)
- The backup process has been completed successfully.
![Backup Complete](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/backup-successfully-created-1.webp)
- Upon the completion of the backup process, you will typically find a “Download” option under the “Action” button. Ensure to save this backup file securely on your computer.
![Download Your WordPress.com Backup](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/download-button-1-1024x392.webp)
STEP 2: The Migration Process
- Log in to your Namecheap WordPress website using your username and password.
![Log into Namecheap Website](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/log-into-namecheap-website.webp)
- Navigate to the menu on the left-hand side, click “Plugins,” and then click on “Add New Plugin.”
![Add New Plugin](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/add-new-plugin-8-1024x427.webp)
- Click the “Upload Plugin” button, then click “Choose File” to upload the WP Staging Pro plugin.
![Click Upload Plugin Button and Chooose Your WP Staging Pro Plugin](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/upload-plugin-and-choose-file-1024x277.webp)
- Afterward, click the ‘Install Now’ button.
![Install Now Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/install-now-button-9-1024x288.webp)
- After installing the plugin, activate it.
![Click Activate Plugin Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/activate-plugin-button-1.webp)
- Navigate to the left-hand menu, locate ‘WP Staging Pro,’ and click the ‘Backup & Migration’ option.
![Backup and Migration Option in WP Staging Pro Plugin](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/backup-and-migration-option-4-1024x426.webp)
- Subsequently, click the ‘Upload Backup’ button.
![Click Upload Plugin Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/upload-backup-button-11-1024x363.webp)
- Upload the backup file you exported from your WordPress.com website.
![Upload WordPress.com Backup](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/upload-wordpress.com-backup-3.webp)
- The backup has been successfully uploaded.
![Backup Successfully Uploaded](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/backup-uploaded-successfully-3.webp)
- After that, click the ‘Action’ button and then click on the ‘Restore’ option.
![Select Restore Option](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/click-the-restore-button-3-1024x389.webp)
- Press the ‘Next’ button.
![Click the Next Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/next-button-7.webp)
- Subsequently, click the ‘Restore’ button.
![Click the Restore Button](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/restore-button-9.webp)
- The backup restoration is complete.
- Click the “OK” button.
![Backup Successfully Restored](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/backup-successfully-restored-3.webp)
- Log in to your WordPress website again.
![Login Again into Namecheap Website](https://wp-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/login-page-1.webp)
Perform a thorough website test on Namecheap to confirm the proper functioning of all components. Additionally, review all content for accuracy and formatting.
The Post-migration Checklist
After migrating a WordPress website to Namecheap, it’s essential to conduct a thorough check to ensure everything is functioning as expected. This post-migration checklist will help you verify that your website is fully operational, secure, and optimized for your audience. Here are the crucial things to check:
- Verify Site Loading and Functionality: Check if your site loading speed is normal, along with other interactive elements like navigations, forms, etc.
- Content & Media Verification: Check all the posts, pages, images, videos and other content is perfectly migrated.
- SEO Configuration: Check whether SEO configurations work like those on wordpress.com. Also, check the permalink structure and take the necessary steps to avoid a loss in rankings.
- Plugin & Theme Functionality: Ensure all plugins and themes are compatible with the version of WordPress you are running on your new host.
- Security & Backups: Implement or verify your backup solution is working correctly, ensuring regular backups of your website. You can try WP Staging to automate site backups! TRY FOR FREE!
WordPress.com vs. Namecheap
- WordPress.com is known for its user-friendly, secure, and maintenance-free platform, ideal for bloggers and small businesses. Yet, its limitations in customization, plugin access, and server control prompt users to seek more flexibility.
- Namecheap offers an open hosting environment with full control, allowing for custom plugins, themes, and performance optimization, essential for growing websites or those needing specific functionalities beyond WordPress.com’s managed setup.