A WordPress site is always two halves: the files (theme, plugins, images) and the database (posts, pages, settings). To migrate you need both — a .zip with the files and a .sql with the database. Miss one and the site will not work at the other end.
Part 1 — Generating the .zip of files
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In cPanel, open File Manager and go into public_html — or the site’s folder, if it is not the main domain.
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Click Select All. Make sure hidden files are visible — .htaccess is essential and starts with a dot. If you cannot see it, turn on the setting to show hidden files.
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Right-click and choose Compress. Pick Zip Archive, give it a name and confirm.
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When it finishes, the .zip appears in the folder. Click it and choose Download.
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Part 2 — Generating the .sql of the database
First find out which database the site uses. Open wp-config.php in File Manager and look for the DB_NAME line — that is the name.
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In cPanel, open phpMyAdmin, in the Databases section.
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In the left-hand column, click the database you identified in wp-config.php.
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On the Export tab, leave the method as Quick and the format as SQL. Press Export and the .sql file downloads.
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Large database? If the export fails halfway, choose the Custom method and enable gzip compression. The file comes out much smaller and copes far better with slow connections.
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Check before calling it done
| • The .zip contains wp-content, wp-admin and wp-includes, plus wp-config.php |
| • .htaccess was included — without it, the site’s internal links stop working |
| • The .sql is not 0 KB — if it is, the export failed |
| • Both files are saved in the same place, ready to send |
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wp-config.php carries your database passwords. At the destination those details will be different — you must edit the file with the new database name, user and password. And never send this file over public channels.
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Once they are generated
With both files in hand, you can upload them to the new hosting — or send them to us. Our Migration Department handles the installation, and the correct order of steps is in how to migrate a site without downtime.
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