How to Migrate A WordPress Blog To WP Engine

Last updated on August 1st, 2018 at 06:51 pm

At one point in your blogging career, you’ll be faced with the issue.

Should I migrate my WordPress blog to another hosting account? This isn’t always a bad thing, it usually means that your site has outgrown your starter plan.

In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to migrate a WordPress blog to WP Engine.

Why Move A WordPress Blog?

When your blog is new and shiny a starter shared hosting account is fine. My blog is still hosted on the GrowBig account with SiteGround.

However, as your blog starts to grow there are some decisions to make.

Should I upgrade my existing account to the next level?

Should I find another hosting account?

Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question for you.

What I can tell you is that I am fortunate enough to migrate WordPress blogs to several hosting accounts, because of my WordPress freelancing business.

One of my clients needed a site migrated to WP Engine. So I figured why not show you how I completed the migration.

Working As A Freelancer

As you know, I am in the process of leaving my full-time freelancing business. In fact, that’s the main reason that I started this blog.

However, I still have a regular client that I manage over 30 websites for.

While I can’t knock my freelancing business. It has definitely taught me a lot about WordPress.

I’ve done migrations, WordPress setups, worked with WooCommerce, backups, dealt with security issues and etc. This has helped me offer my limited WordPress services on my own blog.

I’ve pretty much done a lot for my clients.

Last week I set up my first multi-site on WP Engine.

I have to admit, I personally don’t like working with multisite. So if someone asks me to do it again, I’m going to decline.

So anyway, whenever I do something for a client that I feel can benefit you, I take the time to write a tutorial.

After all, if my tutorial can help at least one person then I’m happy.

If you’re looking for a tutorial that will show you how to migrate a WordPress site away from WP Engine, read this.

How to Migrate A WordPress Blog To WP Engine

Unfortunately, when I migrated the site, I didn’t actually take screenshots.

So, I won’t actually be migrating a live site in my step-by-step tutorial. However, I will walk you through the entire process of what you need to do.

I recently had to migrate another live site from SiteGround to WP Engine for a client and this time, I created a step-by-step video tutorial that walks you through the entire process.

Video Tutorial of Migrating a Site To WP Engine

Follow along with me on the video or keep reading to see how to migrate WordPress to WP Engine.

However, both ways will get your blog moved to WP Engine without any downtime.

The blog in the video was moved early July.

If you’re just signing up with WP Engine, chances are they’ll send you a welcome email with your SFTP and IP information you’ll need to use for the migration.

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If you don’t have that information, you’ll need to log into your WP Engine account.

Let’s get your blog migrated to WP Engine.

Adding Your WP Engine Install

Go Dashboard >> Add Install

This is where you will add the information for the domain you will be migrating. Let’s run through what you’ll add to this box.

Install Name: This is the CNAME that WP Engine uses for your specific domain. I usually give it the same name as the domain.

Copy from: leave this as a new install

Transferable: leave this unchecked

Workspace: leave it as no workspace

Multisite: Leave this unchecked

Click create install and give it a moment. It won’t take very long to see your new install in your WP Engine dashboard.

Creating the SFTP Account

You’ll need to create the SFTP account to start the migration process. From your dashboard go to SFTP users >> Add SFTP user

Username: Add a username here it can be anything you want

Password: This will be the password you’ll use whenever you need to access the WordPress files

Path: Leave it blank

Environment: set it to live

Then click on Add SFTP login.

Don’t forget to put your SFTP information on a text pad, because you’re going to need it when we start the actual migration.

Adding Domain to WP Engine

Now we need to add the domain to WP Engine. You’ll need the domain added in order to complete the migration process.

What I did was run Blog Vault once and then I came back and added the domain to the client’s WP Engine account.

When you’re ready to add the domain, from the dashboard, go to Domains >> Add Domain

Okay, now we’ve got everything set up in the WP Engine dashboard.

It’s time to log into your WordPress blog that you’re trying to migrate.

Now It’s Time To Migrate The Site

Log into your WordPress blog and go to WP Plugins. We are going to be installing the WP Engine Migration plugin.

If this is your first time working with WordPress plugins, read this.

In the search box type in WP Engine Automated Migration. You’ll want to install this plugin.

Once it’s activated, it’s time to start the migration process.

Don’t worry, it’s extremely easy and won’t require you to do much.

Remember that information you used to create your SFTP user on WP Engine. This is where we’ll be entering that information.

Email: Enter an email where Blog Vault will let you know the migration is successful

Destination Site URL: This is where we enter the cName WP Engine Created. domain.wpengine.com

Host/Server Address: You can find this information in your dashboard.

SFTP Username: Enter the username you just created.

SFTP Password: This is the password you used for your SFTP account

Once you have successfully inputted that information, click on migrate.

Now you can sit back and relax as Blog Vault will take care of the migration process for you.

They will send you an email after the process has been completed.

Running The Migration A Second Time

After the migration has completed the first round, you’ll want to run it again.

Use the same exact information as you did the first time.

However, the only difference is that instead of using the CNAME as the Destination URL.

This time, you’ll want to enter your actual domain URL.

The second run won’t take as long as the first one.

Once the migration has been completed, you will need to log into your Domain Registrar and point your DNS to WP Engine.

You’ll need to create an A record as WP Engine does not use the typical nameservers.

Everyone uses different Domain Registrars for their domains.

Here’s a tutorial that will walk you through step by step on creating an A record in Namecheap.

If you’re using GoDaddy, you’ll need this tutorial. If you’re using a totally different Domain Registrar the process will pretty much be the same.

The Migration Is Complete

Now that the migration is complete and your site is running on WP Engine, you can delete the migration plugin we used.

If you still haven’t signed up for a new account on WP Engine, you can use my affiliate link.

Final Take Away

Migrating a site to WP Engine is extremely easy. From my experience of working with them through my client’s sites, they have great customer support.

I’ve used their live chat several times and they’ve been quick to help me.

If you’re looking for a reliable hosting account that is pretty much hands off, you’ll definitely love them.

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Have you considered moving your WordPress blog to another hosting account?

If so why? Did you outgrow your current hosting account or are you moving for a different reason?