Moving WordPress is fairly easy, but it needs careful attention. The key point of WordPress directory change is to modify URL settings through the admin page and/or to change DB user information through “wp-config.php”. In most cases, re-installation is not necessary.
Moving WordPress Case by Case
1. Move WordPress to a new directory within the same website.
2. Move WordPress to an existing directory (including the root directory) within the same website.
3. Move WordPress to a new server with the same domain and the same directory.
4. Move WordPress to a new server with a different domain or a different directory.
5. Use WordPress plug-ins or tools to export and import data.
6. Update the internal links of the existing posts if necessary.
7. Modify the 404 page if necessary to indicated that some files may be missing because of directory change.
8. Manual update of the blog URLs using MySql queries.
In any case, backup is essential!
1. Move WordPress to a new directory within the same website.
2. Move WordPress to an existing directory within the same website. This includes moving WordPress directory to the root directory. It’s going to overwrite the destination files when their names are the same.
3. Move WordPress to a new server with the same domain and the same directory.
4. Move WordPress to a new server with a different domain or a different directory.
5. Use WordPress plug-ins or tools to export and import data. If you don’t feel comfortable to run queries, use this WordPress plug-in.
WP-DB-Backup
This tool allows you to back up WordPress DB data without using phpMyAdmin or command lines.
6. Update the internal links of the existing posts if necessary. The internal links within the existing posts and pages should be manually updated when they use absolute URLs. Otherwise, they still point to old locations.
Example) www.mydomain/oldblog/tips/how-to-move-wordpress.html
-> www.mydomain.com/newblog/tips/how-to-move-wordpress.html
Run this MySql query using phpMyAdmin or other DB tools.
Via WordPress Admin: Design -> Theme Editor -> 404 Template or
Via FTP: wp-content/themes/yourtheme/404.php
Example) http://www.free-ebusinesshelp.com/example-404page.html