Skip to main content

Import

To import your WordPress sites into WordPress Hosting, follow these steps:

  1. Activate WordPress Hosting: Contact your account manager to activate WordPress Hosting for your account.
  2. Create a New Site: Launch WordPress Hosting and create a site. You'll need your business name, tagline, and domain.
  3. Migrate the Old Site: Use one of the two options below.

Option A: DIY

Use the All-in-One WP Migration plugin to move your site yourself:

On your original site:

  1. Install and activate the All-in-One WP Migration plugin.
  2. Go to All-in-One WP Migration > Export.
  3. Choose your export destination (e.g., File) and download the full export. This includes your database, media, plugins, and themes.

In WordPress Hosting:

  1. Launch the WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Install and activate the All-in-One WP Migration plugin again.
  3. Navigate to All-in-One WP Migration > Import.
  4. Upload the .wpress file you exported from your old site.

Once the import finishes, your site is fully restored in WordPress Hosting — content, design, and functionality included.

Option B: Do It For Me

Contact your account manager to request migration assistance. Here's what happens next:

  1. A member of the WordPress Hosting team will email you to begin the migration.
  2. We'll move a copy of your site to WordPress Hosting and put it on a temporary domain.
  3. You'll repoint the domain and DNS records to WordPress Hosting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

Can I import a WordPress site into WordPress Hosting?

Yes! There are two main ways to import a WordPress site:

Option 1: Use the All-in-One WP Migration Plugin

  • This is the easiest option for most users — see the migration steps above.
  • WordPress Hosting templates already include the plugin by default.

Option 2: Manual Import (for advanced users)

You can manually import your site if the backup file is too large or you're using a format not supported by plugins:

  1. Backup your files and database from your old host.
  2. Upload files via SFTP to WordPress Hosting.
  3. Import your .sql database via phpMyAdmin in Advanced Tools.
  4. Use a tool like Search and Replace to update any domain references in the database.
  5. Connect your domain to WordPress Hosting via the Domains tab.
What if my backup file is larger than 512MB?

The free version of All-in-One WP Migration supports up to 64MB. If your file is larger:

Option 1: Use the extended plugin version

  • Download the 512MB-capable version and upload it manually to your WordPress site.

Option 2: Upgrade to Unlimited

  • Buy the Unlimited Extension ($69 one-time, use on unlimited sites)
  • Or contact Support and we'll upload it for you at no cost.

Option 3: Use another migration plugin

Other WordPress migration plugins are also supported if you prefer an alternative.

Can I import a Squarespace website into WordPress Hosting?

Yes — with limitations. Squarespace allows exporting into a WordPress-compatible format, but some features and styles may not fully transfer.

Steps to migrate:

  1. In Squarespace, go to Settings > Advanced > Import/Export
  2. Choose Export, then click the WordPress icon
  3. In WordPress, go to Tools > Import, and choose the Squarespace file
  4. Run the importer and complete the process

Expect to re-style or rebuild elements that do not transfer exactly.

Can I import or migrate a Wix website to WordPress Hosting?

No. Wix is a proprietary website builder and does not support exporting into WordPress-compatible formats.

If you're currently on Wix:

  • You'll need to rebuild your site manually in WordPress using WordPress Hosting
  • Consider using similar themes or recreating layouts with page builders like Divi or Elementor
Can I import a .zip backup file (e.g., from Duplicator) directly?

No. WordPress Hosting supports .wpress files used by All-in-One WP Migration, but .zip files cannot be converted to .wpress.

Alternative:
Follow the manual import process using SFTP and phpMyAdmin.

What happens to WordPress users after a site import?

By default, users from the imported WordPress site won't be able to log in. To preserve access:

Option 1:

  • Delete existing users and create Business App users for everyone who needs access.
  • When they log in via Business App, a matching WordPress user will be created automatically.

Option 2:

  • Create a Business App user with the same email as each WordPress user you want to preserve.

Emails must match exactly. bob@email.com and robert@email.com are considered different users.