No Downtime Migration Checklist

Find new host provider and prep the account

Paid and Activated?New fresh/empty "Hello world" WordPress installed.Decide how you will preview the site (alternate domain or hosts file trick).- If alternate domain, ensure it's working now and attempt to preview the empty WP site. (If your new host provider gives you a temporary/alternate domain, then you're likely set.)- If using your own custom domain, then ensure it works and try to get an SSL installed on it.- If using hosts file trick, ensure primary domain is prepped at new host. (This act is not pointing DNS yet).- Get SSL preinstalled at new host for your primary domain. (Important step to avoid downtime.)Start getting an idea of the DNS changes needed to go live on the new host. Make sure you won't experience an interruption in email service.Finally, take note of your current primary domain of the live site on the old host, is it configured with or without www? This is very important to know for later.

Perform 1st migration

Copy your site from the old host to the new host.If performing a manual migration, put the /wp-content in place and import the database!Perform Search & Replace for alternate domain or setup hosts file trick. (Depending on what tool you used to copy the site, a S&R may have been done for you already.)

Preview copied site

How are you previewing the site? Using Alternate Domain or Hosts File Trick?If Alternate Domain, was a Search & Replace already ran during the migration? If not, run one on your end so you can successfully test the site.If using the Hosts File Trick, configure that and start previewing!Do PHP versions match old host and new? Try to use a higher version if possible.Do all special pages work, forms, calendars, subscribe, etc?Consider migrating the site several times for practice, to help make the final migration go smoothly.

Schedule the final migration

Date and time set?All teams confirmed and ready?Banner placed on live site alerting visitors of site "maintenance" on specific day and time for XX hours?

Crunch Time - Start final migration

Put your live site in maintenance mode. (This is the moment if anything new is added to the live site once the copy starts, that content won't make it to the new server, resulting in loss of data. If you have eCommerce purchases going on, those would be lost too. So maintenance mode is necessary for sites with high volume traffic.)Perform the final migration.Preview Site.Leave a bread-crumb, such as a new draft post or new html file on the new host.If site preview is looking good, it's go time!

Flip the DNS

If using the Hosts File Trick for the preview, revert that first.If using an alternate domain for the preview, then perform a S&R to the primary domain. Make sure it matches exactly as before, either with or without www. If you accidentally swap it, this can harm SEO.You should already have a SSL installed at the new host, but doesn't hurt to double check.Log into your DNS management system and flip the DNS in accordance with your new hosting providers recommendation.

Confirm the site is live at the new host

Check DNS Propagation using WhatsMyDNS.net or DNSChecker.org.If DNS is looking good, test out your new site!Do you see your bread-crumb(s) yet? If yes, then you're pretty much done! If no, then you'll need to wait it out. Try another browser or a different internet connection, if possible. You can also test in proxy sites, like kproxy.com or geopeeker.com.Give a high-five to someone and go have a mojito 🌿

You're done! If you want to let me know how it went, feel free to submit this form with all the applicable checkmarks and leave a comment. If you believe I missed anything relevant, let me know and I can update this form for the next person.

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