# Moving WordPress To Cloudways Migration Checklist Signup for Cloudways and support my content: https://links.clientamp.com/cloudways [Download this Checklist in .md format. ](https://cloud.clientamp.com/s/NaTk3QzaXb5mfGB) ## What You Need: - [ ] Admin access to your WordPress site. - [ ] Access to your DNS settings. - [ ] A Cloudways account ## Notes - Migration Date: ____________ - Old Host: ____________ - New Server IP: ____________ - Migration Duration: ____________ - Issues Encountered: ____________ ## Pre-Migration Preparation - [ ] Create full backup of existing site - [ ] Document current server settings: - [ ] PHP version - [ ] Memory limits - [ ] Max upload size - [ ] Max execution time - [ ] Export list of active plugins and versions - [ ] Screenshot critical site settings - [ ] Lower DNS TTL values (if possible) - [ ] Document all external integrations - [ ] Check disk space requirements on new server ## Server Setup - [ ] Create Cloudways server - [ ] Select appropriate region - [ ] Choose server size based on requirements - [ ] Configure PHP version to match existing site - [ ] Check memory limits ## Pre-Migration Tasks - [ ] Install Cloudways Migration Plugin on SOURCE site - [ ] For eCommerce/LMS sites: - [ ] Enable maintenance mode - [ ] Disable new transactions - [ ] Note down payment gateway settings ## Migration Process - [ ] Enter Cloudways credentials in migration plugin - [ ] Start migration process - [ ] Monitor migration progress - [ ] Document any warnings or errors - [ ] Verify initial file transfer completion - [ ] Check database migration status ## Initial Verification - [ ] Check for file migration errors - [ ] Test site on temporary Cloudways URL - [ ] Check media files are present - [ ] Verify core WordPress functionality - [ ] Test admin panel access ## Optional: Local Testing (Advanced) - [ ] Edit local hosts file to point domain to new server IP - [ ] Windows: Edit C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts - [ ] Mac/Linux: Edit /etc/hosts - [ ] Test site functionality with actual domain - [ ] Verify SSL certificate works correctly - [ ] Clear local DNS cache after testing - [ ] Remove hosts file entry when done ## Domain Configuration - [ ] Run search/replace for domain references - [ ] Add domain in Cloudways panel - [ ] Configure DNS settings: - [ ] A records - [ ] CNAME records - [ ] MX records (if applicable) - [ ] TXT records - [ ] Install SSL certificate ## Cache Configuration - [ ] Clear all caches: - [ ] Cloudways server cache - [ ] WordPress cache - [ ] Object cache - [ ] CDN cache - [ ] Browser cache - [ ] Configure Cloudways cache settings - [ ] Set up Breeze plugin (if using) Watch my video on Caching with Cloudways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=353uk1nBUDE ## Functionality Testing - [ ] Test all forms - [ ] Verify email functionality: - [ ] Configure SMTP if needed - [ ] Test contact forms - [ ] Check transactional emails Watch my video on using Email with Cloudways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exIuuWO5H28 - [ ] Test user functions: - [ ] Registration - [ ] Login - [ ] Password reset - [ ] Check payment gateways - [ ] Verify API connections - [ ] Test custom functionality - [ ] Test search functionality ## E-commerce/LMS Specific - [ ] Test checkout process - [ ] Verify payment gateway connections - [ ] Check order emails - [ ] Test course access - [ ] Verify member areas - [ ] Test subscription functions - [ ] Check download delivery ## Final Verification - [ ] Check SSL security - [ ] Verify external integrations - [ ] Test backup system - [ ] Verify analytics tracking - [ ] Check XML sitemap - [ ] Verify robots.txt ## Post-Migration Tasks - [ ] Document new server details - [ ] Update internal documentation - [ ] Save new backup - [ ] Monitor site for 24-48 hours - [ ] Update passwords if needed --- Created by [Dave Swift](https://youtube.com/@dave-swift)