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Migrate existing WordPress installation to Cloudron

Overview​

Migrate a WordPress installation from another server or service to Cloudron using one of two approaches. Choose the method based on the tools available in your existing hosting environment.

Migration without a plugin​

This approach requires access to a File Manager for downloading site content and PHPMyAdmin for creating a database dump.

Export WordPress​

Export the contents of your existing WordPress installation:

  1. Export the wp-content/ folder on the origin server to a wp-content.zip file.
  2. Export the database on the source server to a .sql file. In PHPMyAdmin, select all tables and export to wordpress.sql.

Install WordPress on Cloudron​

Install the WordPress Developer app on Cloudron.

Import WordPress content​

Go to the file manager of the WordPress installation and navigate to the public/ folder:

  1. Upload the wp-content.zip file.
  2. Delete the existing wp-content/ folder.
  3. Unzip wp-content.zip.
  4. Change ownership of the unzipped wp-content/ folder to www-data.

Import WordPress database​

Upload the wordpress.sql database dump to /app/data. Open the Web Terminal and run:

# cd /app/data
# WP db reset
# WP db import wordpress.sql

Verify​

The migration is complete. Restart the app to verify the site works across restarts.

Replacing urls​

Some WordPress core files, themes, and plugins store full URLs in the database instead of relative URLs. Replace strings in the database using the WP CLI search-replace subcommand.

Open a Web Terminal and run:

# sudo -E -u www-data /app/pkg/wp --path=/app/data/public/ search-replace 'https://old.cloudron.space' 'https://new.cloudron.space'
# sudo -E -u www-data /app/pkg/wp --path=/app/data/public/ cache flush

Migration with all-in-one WP migration plugin​

This approach requires installing the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on your existing site.

Export WordPress​

  1. Install and activate the All-in-One WP Migration plugin.
  2. Click All-in-One WP Migration in the side pane and select Export to file.
  3. Download the migration file (.press extension).

Install WordPress on Cloudron​

Install the WordPress Developer app on Cloudron.

Import WordPress content​

  1. Install and activate the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on the Cloudron installation.
  2. Click All-in-One WP Migration in the side pane and select Import.

Verify​

The migration is complete. Restart the app to verify the site works across restarts.

Migration with UpdraftPlus plugin​

This approach requires installing the UpdraftPlus plugin on your existing site.

Export WordPress​

  1. Install and activate the UpdraftPlus plugin.
  2. Create a backup.
  1. Download all backup files after the backup completes. There are 5 types: Database, themes, plugins, uploads, and others. Download each individually.

Install WordPress on Cloudron​

Install the WordPress Developer app on Cloudron.

Import WordPress content​

  1. Install and activate the UpdraftPlus plugin on the Cloudron installation.
  2. Upload the backup files and click Restore.

Ignore any migration warnings.

Verify​

The migration is complete. Restart the app to verify the site works across restarts.