Moving Your WordPress Website to 1&1 (For Advanced Users)

You can move (migrate) your WordPress website from another provider to 1&1. Your themes, plugins, posts, comments, categories and keywords will be transfered entirely. We recommend you to keep your domain. You can also transfer your domain to 1&1 and benefit from the many free domains included in many of our packages.
This post describes the transfer of a self maintained WordPress, when keeping the domain.
If you need support with the transfer, our competent support team is happy to assist you. Contact

Content

• Downloading Existing Page from the Other Webhosting Provider
• Setting up a New Web Hosting Account at 1&1
• Adjusting DNS Settings (Connecting Domain with WordPress Website)
• Optional: Fixing Broken Links When Switching to a New Domain (or Coming From a Local Installation)

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Prerequisites

This is what you need for the transfer:

• FTP access to your existing page
• phpMyAdmin access to your existing MySQL database
• Access to the DNS settings for your domain names
• A 1&1 Web Hosting package
• Optional: a reasonably sized cup of coffee and your favorite cookies

The transfer is simple, but it requires some time. Therefore, plan about 30-45 minutes and choose the right moment for the transfer.

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Downloading Existing Page from the Other Webhosting Provider

Learn here how to export your existing WordPress database and how to download the WordPress files from another web hosting provider.

Exporting MySQL Database

1. Log into your previous hosting provider account and open phpMyAdmin.
2. Create an MySQL export of the database that you use for your WordPress installation.
3. This is how to export your database with phpMyAdmin:
   1. In the left column, click the database you want to export. The database structure overview will be displayed.
   2. Click Export.
   3. Select the option Quick – display only the minimal options.
   4. Select the SQL format
   5. Click OK.
4. Save the exported MySQL database on your computer.

Learn more:
If the option Quick – display only the minimal options is not available in the phpMyAdmin version that you use, you find more information on exporting in the WordPress Codex, the 1&1 Help Center or on the help pages of your previous hosting provider.

Downloading WordPress Files

1. Connect to your existing webspace using SFTP (Linux Hosting) or FTPS (Windows Hosting) at your previous hosting provider.
   As an FTP customer you can use FileZilla for example. The FTP settings and information on creating a FTP user are available in the customer area of your previous provider.
2. Install and start FileZilla.
3. Copy your WordPress files on your computer.
   1. Copy all WordPress main folders: wp-admin, wp-content and wp-includes.
   2. In the WordPress Root directory, copy all files that include wp- in the file name.
   3. If you are not sure, you can simply copy the whole WordPress Root directory. In the worst case, you copy some file you do not need…

Setting up a New Web Hosting Account at 1&1

To import your WordPress website, you need a webspace and a database at 1&1.

Creating an FTP User and a MySQL Database

1. Open the Hosting section in the 1&1 Control Panel.
   Here you can create an FTP user and manage your MySQL databases.
2. Create a new FTP user:
   1. Click Secure FTP Account under Manage webspace.
   2. Click New User.
   3. Enter a user name and a password and optionally, a description.
   4. Select the directory this user can access.
      The user can create, edit and delete files and folders in this directory.
   5. Write down the user name and password.
      You need this information right away to upload your WordPress files to the 1&1 server using FileZilla.
   6. Save the new user.
3. Create a MySQL database:
   1. Click MySQL Database from Manage webspace.
   2. Click New Database.

1. Set a password for the database.
2. Click Set Up.

1. Click Go to Overview and note down the database name, the host name, the database user name and the password.

Preparing WordPress Files (wp-config.php)

In this step you adjust the database settings of the WordPress files you have downloaded on your computer.

1. In the Root directory, open the wp-config.php file with a text editor, such as Notepad or Notepad++.
2. Adjust the following entries:
   /** The name of the database for WordPress */
   define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘1&1databasename’);/** MySQL database username */
   define(‘DB_USER’, ‘1&1username’);/** MySQL database password */
   define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘1&1password‘);/** MySQL hostname */
   define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘1&1hostname’);

Use the database name, the database user name, the password and the host name, that you set for your MySQL database at 1&1. Save the wp-config.php file.

Uploading WordPress Files with SFTP or FTPS

1. Start FileZilla.
2. Select File > Site Manager from the menu.
3. Click New Site and enter the following information:
   1. Host: your domain or subdomain
   2. Port: 22 (SFTP) or 21 (FTPS)
   3. Protocol: SFTP or FTPS – Encryption: Require explicit FTP over TLS
   4. User and password: use the FTP user name and the corresponding password you have just created.
4. Click Connect.
5. Upload a copy of all WordPress files and folders to the Root directory.

Importing Database

To complete the transfer you now have toimport the MySQL database.

1. Open the Hosting section in the 1&1 Control Panel.
2. Click MySQL Database from Manage webspace.
3. Select phpMyAdmin next to the database you have just created for your WordPress website.
4. To import your database with phpMyAdmin:
   1. Click SQL in the top menu.
   2. Click Browse.
   3. Select the database you have just exported and click Open.
   4. Select Compression: Autom. detection and Character set of the file: utf8.
   5. Click Go.

The database import is completed.

Adjusting DNS Settings (Connecting Domain with WordPress Website)

To make your website available under your domain on the Internet, you have to connect the domain to the website. Your website data is in your webspace.
Prerequisites:

• The domain has already been transfered to 1&1.
• The domain has the status Active.
• The domain must not be used by another application, such as 1&1 E-mail or 1&1 WebsiteBuilder.

1. Open the 1&1 Domain Center in the 1&1 Control-Panel.
2. Activate a domain in the Domain Overview.
3. In the toolbar, click Domain Settings > Edit Destination.
4. Click Webspace in the Destination section.
   Note: If your domain is already connected to a server or an application, such as 1&1 MyWebsite, you cannot change the destination within the 1&1 Domain Center.
   To change the destination and DNS settings, disconnect the server or the application first.
5. Select the target directory, where you have stored your WordPress files.
6. Click Save.

In some cases it might take up to 48 hours until your website can be accessed under the desired domain.