The recent WordPress drama has many site owners reconsidering their hosting choices. When WP Engine users suddenly lost access to plugin updates in September 2024 due to a dispute with WordPress.org, it highlighted a critical issue: depending too heavily on any single hosting provider can put your business at risk.
Why consider moving your WordPress site
The recent conflict between WP Engine and WordPress’s founder exposed how quickly things can change in the hosting world. When WP Engine temporarily lost access to WordPress.org’s resources, their customers couldn’t update plugins – leaving sites potentially vulnerable to security issues. While WP Engine has since developed their own update solution, this situation demonstrates why it’s crucial to have hosting that maintains a positive relationship with the WordPress ecosystem.
This (and many other reasons) is why I recommend considering hosts like Kinsta or Rocket.net. These providers maintain strong relationships with the WordPress community while offering excellent performance and support. Plus, they’re not currently involved in any trademark disputes that could affect their services.
Before you begin the migration
Before touching anything, document your current setup:
- Note your WordPress and PHP version
- Screenshot your active plugins and themes
- Export any custom configurations
- Lower your DNS TTL 24 hours before planned migration
Step by step migration process
A WordPress migration isn’t just copying files – it’s a delicate process that requires attention to detail. When migrating from WP Engine, you’ll need to navigate their proprietary systems and remove their custom modifications before your site will work properly elsewhere.
First, we need to grab a clean copy of your site. Log into your WP Engine portal and:
Head to ‘Sites’ → ‘Backup Points’ and hit that ‘Create Backup’ button. Make sure you select ‘Full Backup’ – we need everything. WP Engine will email you when it’s ready for download.
Here’s the crucial part most people miss: Once you’ve got your ZIP file, you need to clean out WP Engine’s custom code. Open up that ZIP and delete these files that won’t work on your new host:
- Everything in wp-content/mu-plugins (especially wpengine-common)
- wp-content/advanced-cache.php
- wp-content/object-cache.php
Find the mysql.sql file in wp-content – this is your database and it’s crucial. Copy it somewhere safe. You’ll need this for the next step.
Whether you’re moving to Kinsta, Rocket.net, or another host, the process is similar:
- Set up fresh WordPress on your new host
- Import that cleaned-up ZIP file you created
- Import your database (mysql.sql file) using phpMyAdmin
- Update wp-config.php with your new database credentials
- Update all internal URLs using Better Search Replace plugin
- Reset permalinks (Settings → Permalinks → Save)
Going live
Only after thorough testing:
- Repeat the process on your live server
- Update DNS records to your new host
- Wait for DNS propagation (can take up to 48 hours)
Keep your WP Engine site active for 48 hours after migration. If you hit issues:
- White screen? Check PHP version matches
- Missing content? Verify database import
- Broken links? Run URL search/replace again
- SSL issues? Clear browser cache and verify certificate installation
Need professional help with your migration?
While migration is possible using just WP Engine’s backup tool and a new host’s import system, I’ve seen too many migrations go wrong. Common issues include broken permalinks, missing images, and database connection errors. That’s why I include migration assistance in all my care plans.
My Complete Care and Premium Care plans include:
- Full migration management
- Pre-migration testing
- Minimal downtime (usually under 5 minutes)
- Post-migration monitoring
- DNS management
- SSL certificate setup
Whether you choose to migrate yourself or get professional help, the key is preparation. Make sure you have complete backups, understand your current hosting setup, and have a clear plan for the switch. And remember – while recent events might make changing hosts feel urgent, it’s more important to do it right than to do it fast.
Need help planning your migration? Let’s talk about keeping your site running smoothly through the transition.