Title: Transferring WordPress Last modified: August 22, 2016 --- # Transferring WordPress * Resolved [KJ82](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kj82/) * (@kj82) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/) * I was using Windows hosting for WordPress. I just created a new Linux account to use instead. * I have a backup of my WordPress database, and a copy of all of my files (downloaded via FileZilla) on my desktop. * I want to get WordPress going again on the new Linux server, but I have no idea where to start. When I originally installed it, I just clicked the install button in the control panel. * I’m not sure if just using FileZilla to upload the WordPress files to my new hosting account will “install” WordPress or not. * It seemed like WordPress was integrated into my control panel some how, because my control panel would always provide me with WordPress updates. So I’m not sure if just copying the files is what I need to do. * Can anyone tell me what the steps are to get WordPress up and running again? Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) * [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/) * (@leejosepho) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597080) * > I have a backup of my WordPress database, and a copy of all of my files (downloaded > via FileZilla) on my desktop. * There are only three things you actually *must* have from there: 1) database; 2) wp-config.php file (database access info); 3) wp-content folder (media and other uploads). * All other wp-files and wp-folders can come from a fresh download, if you wish. * Did your site used to be in your account’s root folder or was it in a sub-folder? If it was in your account’s root folder, you might only need to put it into place in its new location and then log in as long as your domain is assigned to that location and pointed to it in the same way as before (just like moving a lamp from one room to another). However, a possible exception there could be a given plugin that needs to have an actual path back to the database updated within the database…and I would suggest installing your database and then going into it and completely de-activating all plugins before ever trying to re-access it. To do that, you use phpMyAdmin to find the active_plugins entry in Options and simply clear that text box. * MySQL at cPanel will let you make a new database having its database name, assigned user and user password matching what you already have in your wp-config.php file, and then phpMyAdmin at cPanel will let you import your database (table_prefix) into that new shell. At that point, put all folders and files into place and be certain your domain is properly assigned and pointed…and then log in and go back to work! * Edit: You might also need to add some .htaccess to get your permalinks working properly after you get going again. * Thread Starter [KJ82](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kj82/) * (@kj82) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597107) * It sounds like the easiest thing to do is to start with a new install of WordPress, then just replace my wp-content folder with the old one, but the host only allows 4.1 to be installed, and I hadn’t upgraded WordPress yet. I had planned on doing that after I transferred. * [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/) * (@leejosepho) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597119) * > It sounds like the easiest thing to do is to start with a new install of WordPress, > then just replace my wp-content folder with the old one… * Yes, you can do that, then also import your database (table_prefix) into the new database shell (while ignoring or just dropping the tables (table_prefix) made during the new installation) and then editing the new wp-config.php so your new installation will switch to your previous table_prefix. * > the host only allows 4.1 to be installed, and I hadn’t upgraded WordPress yet. > I had planned on doing that after I transferred. * As I understand things, your first run of 4.1 will update the version number of your database the first time you log in or go to the site. And of course, you already have a backup if anything might go wrong there. * Thread Starter [KJ82](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kj82/) * (@kj82) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597161) * I don’t know what happened. GoDaddy tried to transfer it for me, and my Web site is completely trashed. The guy manually changed a bunch of stuff in the database for some reason. * Now they try to tell me that it’s WordPress’s fault. * [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/) * (@leejosepho) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597173) * > …my Web site is completely trashed. The guy manually changed a bunch of stuff > in the database for some reason. > Now they try to tell me that it’s WordPress’s fault. * I have my own sites at BlueHost where the Support Techs are great, at least in my own experience, but I still never allow any of them to poke around or do anything for me until I first know exactly what is planned and the ultimate outcome desired has been guaranteed even if a bit of trial-and-error might be part of the overall plan. * > I have a backup of my WordPress database, and a copy of all of my files (downloaded > via FileZilla) on my desktop. > I want to get WordPress going again * If I were in your place, I would have my host reset (“nuke”) my account so I could again start at the very beginning with a fresh installation of WordPress. You could do that either manually (my own preference) or by using whatever installer might be there — then here is where we check to be certain your URL is exactly as you want it — and then you can upload your /wp-content/ folder and import your database and edit wp-config.php to switch to it. * [LyleChamney](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lylechamney/) * (@lylechamney) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597174) * > I have a backup of my WordPress database, and a copy of all of my files (downloaded > via FileZilla) on my desktop. * Great! That’s all you need 🙂 * – log into cPanel and click MySQL Database Wizard – Step 1: create a new database– give it a name, lower case, no spaces – note that it does NOT have to be the same name as the Windows version; we will fix that in the wp-config.php later– Step 2: create db users – complete this section, use lower case for name, no spaces and a strong password; again, it does NOT need to match the previous one– Step 3: add user to the database – click to select the All Privileges at the top and click Next Step – Step 4: complete task – click Home then select phpMyAdmin– from the left sidebar in phpMyAdmin, click on the name of the db you just created– click the Import tab – click the Choose File button, navigate to your db backup file (should be a .sql file) and select it and Open, then click the Go button– you should get an Import successfully finished notice; that’s it for the database– click Home and then File Manager – as you mention that your install is “completely trashed”, this is what I would do: – open your local computer’s file manager ( you didn’t say if you are on Mac or Win) so that you can see all the folders and files that you downloaded in FZ; there should be 3 folders and 16 files – when you open File Manager from your cPanel, you should be by default in your public_html location (your web host root) – delete the folders and files you see there as they match the ones in your FZ download – once that is done, use FZ to upload your downloaded files to this location – when that has completed, from within your cPanel File Manger, select the wp-config.php file and choose Edit from the menu – carefully edit the DB_NAME, DB_USER and DB_PASSWORD with the values you entered during the Database Wizard, being careful not to disturb or change the single quotes; make sure there are no spaces; then Save Changes * That’s it, you should be good to go as your URLs haven’t changed. You don’t have to do anything with pointing a domain to a location on a new account when it’s at the same provider, at least not at GD; I have done this with them often. * It may seem a bit involved for the first time, but the whole process should take less that 5 minutes, depending upon your upload speed for the site files 🙂 * Thread Starter [KJ82](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kj82/) * (@kj82) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597190) * Thanks, * I was able to delete what ever mess was made and get my site up and running again, no thanks to GoDaddy. They just kept blaming it on the WordPress code. Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) The topic ‘Transferring WordPress’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/) * 7 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [KJ82](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kj82/) * Last activity: [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transferring-wordpress-1/#post-5597190) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics