Moving from Localhost to Live Server
Making Your Site Public
Moving a WordPress site from localhost to a live server is the final step before real visitors can see and interact with it.
Preparing for the Move
Export your local database using phpMyAdmin, and gather all your WordPress files from the local server folder.
Set up your hosting account, domain, and database beforehand so everything is ready to receive the site.
Performing the Move
Upload your files to the live server via FTP, then import your exported database into the new hosting database.
Update the site URL and database connection details in wp-config.php to match the new live environment.
Search and replace any remaining localhost URLs in the database using a plugin or database tool.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Export | Database via phpMyAdmin |
| Upload | Files via FTP to live server |
| Import | Database into live hosting |
| Update config | wp-config.php with new DB details |
| Fix URLs | Search-replace old localhost URLs |
This manual process can be simplified significantly by using a dedicated migration plugin instead.
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