Would you like to transfer your WordPress website from localhost to cPanel? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Moving your site from a local server to a live server might sound a bit tricky, but don’t worry—it’s actually quite manageable, and we’ll guide you through every step.
This guide will walk you through the process of moving your WordPress website from a local development environment to a live cPanel hosting server.
This article is designed for beginners who have created a website on their local machine using WordPress and are now ready to make it accessible to the public.
By following these instructions, you will learn how to export your WordPress database, transfer your website files, and update the necessary settings to ensure a smooth transition from localhost to cPanel.
Think of it as moving your website from your personal computer to the big, wide web.
So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let’s get started on making your website go live!
Prerequisites
Before you begin the process of transferring your WordPress website from localhost to cPanel, make sure you have the following:
1. A fully functional WordPress site on localhost
You should have a complete WordPress installation running on your local machine.
This should include all your content, plugins, and configurations set up and ready to be moved to the live server.
2. Access to your cPanel account
You will need to have access to your cPanel hosting account, which is where you will be uploading your WordPress website.
Make sure you have the necessary login credentials and permissions to manage your hosting account.
3. FTP client
You will need an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client, such as FileZilla, to upload your WordPress files from your local machine to the cPanel server.
4. Database management tool
To transfer your WordPress database, you will need a database management tool, such as phpMyAdmin, which is typically available in your cPanel dashboard.
This will allow you to export your local database and import it into your cPanel hosting account.
With these prerequisites in place, you can proceed to the next steps of the transfer process.
Step 1: Backup Your Local WordPress Site
Before you begin the process of transferring your WordPress website from localhost to cPanel, it’s crucial to create a backup of your local site.
This backup will serve as a safety net in case anything goes wrong during the transfer process, allowing you to restore your website to its previous state.
To backup your WordPress files:
1. Navigate to the root folder of your local WordPress site. This is typically the folder where you installed your WordPress application.
2. Compress the entire folder into a zip file. You can do this by right-clicking on the folder and selecting “Compress” or “Create Archive” (depending on your operating system).
3. Save the zip file to a secure location on your local machine, such as your desktop or a dedicated backup folder.
Step 2: Export the Local Database
Next up, you need to export your local database.
This step is crucial as it ensures that all your website data, including posts, pages, comments, and settings, are transferred correctly to the new server.
How to Export Your Database Using phpMyAdmin
1. Log in to phpMyAdmin:
Open your web browser and navigate to the phpMyAdmin interface.
You can typically find this in your cPanel dashboard under the “Databases” section.
2. Select Your WordPress Database:
Once logged in, you will see a list of databases.
Select the database associated with your WordPress site.
3. Click on the “Export” Tab:
In the main phpMyAdmin interface, click on the “Export” tab.
4. Choose the Export Method and Format:
In the export options, choose the method and format you prefer.
For WordPress, it is recommended to use the “Quick” method and select “SQL” as the format.
5. Save the Database Export File:
Click the “Go” button to start the export process.
phpMyAdmin will generate an SQL file containing your database structure and data.
Save this file to a secure location on your local machine.
Step 3: Create a New Database on cPanel
Creating a new database on the live server is necessary because your local WordPress installation is configured to use a specific database.
This is different from the one on your cPanel hosting account.
How to Create a New Database Using cPanel
1. Log in to cPanel:
Open your web browser and navigate to your cPanel hosting account.
Enter your login credentials to access the cPanel dashboard.
2. Navigate to the “MySQL Databases” Section:
In the cPanel dashboard, locate the “Databases” section and click on “MySQL Databases”.
3. Create a New Database:
In the “MySQL Databases” section, enter a name for your new database in the “Create New Database” field.
Choose a descriptive name that identifies your WordPress site.
Click the “Create Database” button to create the new database.
4. Create a New Database User and Assign It to the Database:
Scroll down to the “MySQL Users” section.
Enter a username for your new database user in the “Username” field.
Enter and confirm a password for the new user.
Click the “Create User” button to create the new user.
In the “Add User To Database” section, select your newly created database and the user you just created from the dropdown menus.
Choose “All Privileges” from the “Host” dropdown menu.
Click the “Add” button to assign the user to the database.
5. Note Down the Database Information:
Make a note of the database name, username, and password.
You will need this information later when configuring your WordPress site on cPanel.
Step 4: Upload WordPress Files to cPanel
To transfer your WordPress files from your local machine to your cPanel hosting account, you will need to use an FTP client.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) allows you to securely upload and download files between your local computer and the remote server.
How to Upload Your WordPress Files
1. Connect to Your cPanel Account Using an FTP Client:
Open your FTP client and enter your cPanel hosting account details, including the hostname, username, and password.
Connect to your cPanel account using the FTP client.
2. Navigate to the Root Directory of Your Domain:
In the FTP client, navigate to the root directory of your domain, typically named “public_html”.
3. Upload the Compressed WordPress File:
In your local FTP client window, locate the compressed WordPress zip file you created earlier.
Drag and drop the zip file into the “public_html” directory on the remote server.
Wait for the upload process to complete.
4. Extract the Uploaded Zip File Within cPanel:
Log in to your cPanel dashboard.
Locate the “File Manager” tool in the cPanel dashboard and click on it.
Navigate to the “public_html” directory.
Right-click on the uploaded WordPress zip file and select “Extract” from the context menu.
Choose the destination folder for the extracted files. It is recommended to extract the files directly into the “public_html” directory.
Click the “Extract File(s)” button to begin the extraction process.
Step 5: Import the Database to cPanel
To complete the transfer of your WordPress website from localhost to cPanel, you need to import the database you exported earlier into your new cPanel database.
This step ensures that all your website content, settings, and configurations are transferred to the live server.
How to Import Your Database Using phpMyAdmin
1. Log in to phpMyAdmin in cPanel:
Open your web browser and navigate to your cPanel dashboard.
Locate the “Databases” section and click on “phpMyAdmin”.
2. Select the New Database:
In the phpMyAdmin interface, select the new database you created earlier from the left-hand menu.
3. Click on the “Import” Tab:
At the top of the phpMyAdmin interface, click on the “Import” tab.
4. Choose the Exported Database File from Your Local Site:
Under the “File to import” section, click on the “Choose File” button.
Navigate to the location where you saved the exported database file from your local WordPress site.
Select the SQL file and click “Open”.
5. Start the Import Process:
Ensure that the correct database is selected in the “Database” dropdown menu.
Scroll down and click the “Go” button to start the import process.
phpMyAdmin will begin importing your database into the new cPanel database.
This process may take some time depending on the size of your database.
Step 6: Update the wp-config.php File
After uploading your WordPress files and importing the database to your cPanel hosting account, you need to update the wp-config.php file with the new database credentials.
This file contains the necessary information for your WordPress site to connect to the correct database.
How to Update the wp-config.php File
1. Locate the wp-config.php File in Your WordPress Root Directory:
Log in to your cPanel dashboard and navigate to the “File Manager” tool.
Locate the “public_html” directory, which is the root directory of your WordPress site.
Inside the “public_html” directory, find the wp-config.php file.
2. Update the Database Name, Username, and Password:
Click on the wp-config.php file to open it for editing.
Locate the following lines in the file:
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘your_database_name’);
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘your_database_username’);
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘your_database_password’);
Replace ‘your_database_name’, ‘your_database_username’, and ‘your_database_password’ with the new database credentials you created in Step 3.
3. Save the Changes:
After updating the database credentials, click the “Save Changes” button to apply the modifications to the wp-config.php file.
Step 7: Fix Any Broken Links and Update URLs
After transferring your WordPress website from localhost to cPanel, it’s essential to update any internal links and URLs that may have been affected by the move.
This is because your WordPress site was previously accessible through a local URL (e.g., http://localhost/your-site), but now it needs to be updated to the new live URL (e.g., https://www.your-domain.com).
How to Update URLs
1. Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard on the Live Site:
Access your WordPress dashboard on the live cPanel-hosted website.
2. Use a Plugin Like “Better Search Replace” to Update Old URLs:
Install and activate the “Better Search Replace” plugin (or a similar plugin) on your WordPress site.
Navigate to the “Better Search Replace” tool in your WordPress dashboard.
In the “Search for” field, enter the old URL (e.g., http://localhost/your-site).
In the “Replace with” field, enter the new live URL (e.g., https://www.your-domain.com).
Ensure that the “Replace in database” option is selected.
Click the “Run Search/Replace” button to update all occurrences of the old URL with the new one.
3. Check for Any Broken Links and Fix Them Manually if Necessary:
After running the URL update, check your website thoroughly for any broken links or images.
Identify and fix any remaining broken links or URLs manually by updating them in your WordPress content.
Step 8: Test Your Website
After transferring your WordPress website from localhost to cPanel, it’s crucial to thoroughly test your site to ensure that everything is working as expected.
This step is essential to identify and fix any issues that may have arisen during the transfer process.
List of Elements to Check
1. Homepage and Internal Pages:
Verify that all pages, including the homepage, are accessible and display correctly.
Check that navigation menus, widgets, and other elements are functioning properly.
2. Forms and Interactive Elements:
Test all forms, including contact forms, registration forms, and other interactive elements.
Ensure that form submissions are processed correctly and that any notifications or emails are sent as expected.
3. Media Files and Links:
Verify that all images, videos, and other media files are displayed correctly.
Check that links to external sites and internal pages are working properly.
4. Plugins and Themes:
Test all plugins and themes to ensure they are functioning correctly.
Verify that any customizations, such as custom CSS or JavaScript, are applied correctly.
Steps to Perform a Thorough Test
1. Access Your Website:
Open your website in a web browser to start the testing process.
2. Check Homepage and Internal Pages:
Verify that the homepage and internal pages are accessible and display correctly.
Check for any broken links or missing elements.
3. Test Forms and Interactive Elements:
Fill out and submit all forms to ensure they are processed correctly.
Test any interactive elements, such as JavaScript-powered effects or animations.
4. Verify Media Files and Links:
Check that all media files, including images and videos, are displayed correctly.
Verify that links to external sites and internal pages are working properly.
5. Test Plugins and Themes:
Activate and deactivate all plugins to ensure they are functioning correctly.
Test any customizations, such as custom CSS or JavaScript, to ensure they are applied correctly.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve successfully moved your WordPress website from your local computer to a live cPanel hosting server.
Now, your WordPress website is live and accessible to everyone through your domain, with all your content, settings, and configurations intact.
Remember, regular backups and maintenance are key to keeping your WordPress site secure and up-to-date.
Keep an eye on your website, update your plugins and themes, and perform regular backups to ensure the long-term success of your online presence.
If you run into any issues or have questions during the transfer process, don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider or a WordPress expert for help.
