Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Use cPanel to Download a WordPress Site for Transfer

If you are planning to transfer your WordPress site to a new host, it's essential to back up your website files and database. One way to do this is by using cPanel, the control panel software that's commonly provided by web hosting companies. This article will show you how to download a WordPress site using cPanel for transfer.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

First, log in to cPanel using your credentials, provided by your web host. Once you have logged in, navigate to "Backup" in the Files section.

Step 2: Generate a Full Backup

On the Backup page, click on "Generate/Download a Full Backup." You will be taken to a new page where you can choose the backup destination, file type, and email notification settings.

Choose "Home Directory" as the Backup Destination, "zip" as the Backup Type, and enter your email address in the Notification Email field. Finally, click on the "Generate Backup" button to start the backup process.

Step 3: Download the Backup File

After clicking on the "Generate Backup" button, you will be taken back to the Backup page, where you will see your backup file listed. Click on the file name to download it to your local computer.

The downloaded backup file will contain all the files and folders that your website needs to function, plus your website's database in SQL format.

Step 4: Upload the Backup File to the New Host

Once you have downloaded the backup file to your local computer, you will need to upload it to the new host before you can restore your WordPress site. Most web hosts provide a file manager or FTP access, which you can use to upload the backup file. Once you have uploaded the file, extract it to the public_html directory of your new host.

Step 5: Restore the Database

To restore your WordPress website's database, log in to cPanel on your new host and navigate to phpMyAdmin under the Databases section. Select the database for your WordPress site and click on the "Import" tab. Browse for the SQL file in the backup folder and click on "Go" to start the import process.

Step 6: Adjust the Configuration File

Next, you need to edit your WordPress configuration file to reflect the new database settings. Open the wp-config.php file located in the root directory of your WordPress installation, and replace the old database credentials with the new ones.

Step 7: Test Your Site

Finally, you need to test your WordPress site on the new host to ensure that everything is working correctly. Check that all pages, posts, and media files are present and that the website's functionality, such as comments and contact forms, is working correctly.

In conclusion, using cPanel to download your WordPress site is a quick and easy way to back up your website data for transfer to a new host. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your website migration goes smoothly without any data loss or downtime.