Migrate Staging Site
InstaWP allows you to migrate your existing staging sites to a hosting provider or InstaWP Live - managed WordPress Hosting. It involves copying all files and databases related to the website and then updating settings for the WordPress website to work on its new server. This is often done when you want to upgrade your website's server for more features or better performance.
In this documentation, we will explore the steps to migrate a staging site to a hosting provider.
Let’s get started 🚀
Go to the Sites page, click on the Go live icon from your site.
👉 Note: From the dashboard, you can also find the Go Live icon (for migration) in the Actions column for each of your staging sites.
The following are the migration options for connecting to a hosting provider:
Migrate to InstaWP Live
Migrate to External Services
InstaWP allows you to migrate your existing staging site to the InstaWP Live - managed WordPress Hosting with CDN, Security (WAF), and Backups in-built.
👉 Note: If the user doesn't have any pricing plan subscribed to, they need to add a credit or debit card to migrate their staging site to InstaWP live.
Step 1: Select InstaWP Live and click Next Step.
Step 2: Now, choose a pricing plan according to your preferences and click Next Step .
Step 3: Enter your new domain. Optionally, you can configure the data center and PHP versions. Then click Next Step.
Step 4: Select themes or plugins to be installed on your site. Otherwise leave it and click Next Step.
Step 5: A modal window will appear for your confirmation. Click Continue.
Your site will start the go live process.
Once done, it'll display the magic login button and other site details.
👉 Note: This WordPress live site will have the InstaWP Connect plugin installed, allowing you to auto-login the WP Admin panel or create staging sites and host them on your InstaWP cloud servers. For more information, refer to this document.
InstaWP allows you to migrate your existing WordPress staging site to external services from the following options:
Choose from supported providers
Migrate via URL
This allows migrating your staging sites directly into hosting panels by the supported providers such are Runcloud, and Server Avatar integration. For more information, refer to the Runcloud, Pressable and Server Avatar integration docs.
Step 1: Select Choose from supported providers and click Next Step.
Step 2: Select hosting accounts from Runcloud, Server Avatar and Pressable with their server. Then enter domain name and configured other options according to your preferences. Now, click Next Step.
Step 3: Optionally, select themes or plugins from the available categories and click Next Step.
Step 4: A modal window will appear for your confirmation. Click Continue.
Your site will start the go live process.
This allows you to migrate your staging site to any hosting company with the live site URL.
Step 1: Select Migrate via URL and click Next Step.
Step 2: This supports migration to any hosting company with the live site URL. Put the URL and click Connect Website.
Step 3: Check the box and click Begin Migration button.
Step 4: A pop up window will appear for your confirmation. Click Continue from the window.
It'll start migrating instantly.
Once done, it'll display the site credentials and other details.
💡 Did you know - You can easily connect with any hosting provider to migrate your website. Learn about InstaWP connect plugin.
In this documentation, we will explore the steps to migrate a staging site to a hosting provider.
Let’s get started 🚀
How to Migrate a Site
Go to the Sites page, click on the Go live icon from your site.
👉 Note: From the dashboard, you can also find the Go Live icon (for migration) in the Actions column for each of your staging sites.
The following are the migration options for connecting to a hosting provider:
Migrate to InstaWP Live
Migrate to External Services
Migrate to InstaWP Live
InstaWP allows you to migrate your existing staging site to the InstaWP Live - managed WordPress Hosting with CDN, Security (WAF), and Backups in-built.
👉 Note: If the user doesn't have any pricing plan subscribed to, they need to add a credit or debit card to migrate their staging site to InstaWP live.
Step 1: Select InstaWP Live and click Next Step.
Step 2: Now, choose a pricing plan according to your preferences and click Next Step .
Step 3: Enter your new domain. Optionally, you can configure the data center and PHP versions. Then click Next Step.
Step 4: Select themes or plugins to be installed on your site. Otherwise leave it and click Next Step.
Step 5: A modal window will appear for your confirmation. Click Continue.
Your site will start the go live process.
Once done, it'll display the magic login button and other site details.
👉 Note: This WordPress live site will have the InstaWP Connect plugin installed, allowing you to auto-login the WP Admin panel or create staging sites and host them on your InstaWP cloud servers. For more information, refer to this document.
Migrate to External Services
InstaWP allows you to migrate your existing WordPress staging site to external services from the following options:
Choose from supported providers
Migrate via URL
Choose from supported providers
This allows migrating your staging sites directly into hosting panels by the supported providers such are Runcloud, and Server Avatar integration. For more information, refer to the Runcloud, Pressable and Server Avatar integration docs.
Step 1: Select Choose from supported providers and click Next Step.
Step 2: Select hosting accounts from Runcloud, Server Avatar and Pressable with their server. Then enter domain name and configured other options according to your preferences. Now, click Next Step.
Step 3: Optionally, select themes or plugins from the available categories and click Next Step.
Step 4: A modal window will appear for your confirmation. Click Continue.
Your site will start the go live process.
Migrate via URL
This allows you to migrate your staging site to any hosting company with the live site URL.
Step 1: Select Migrate via URL and click Next Step.
Step 2: This supports migration to any hosting company with the live site URL. Put the URL and click Connect Website.
Step 3: Check the box and click Begin Migration button.
Step 4: A pop up window will appear for your confirmation. Click Continue from the window.
It'll start migrating instantly.
Once done, it'll display the site credentials and other details.
💡 Did you know - You can easily connect with any hosting provider to migrate your website. Learn about InstaWP connect plugin.
Updated on: 16/05/2025
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