How to Migrate Your WordPress Website from Localhost to a Remote Server

Learning how to migrate your WordPress website from localhost to a remote server is an essential milestone for any developer, agency, or website owner. Developing locally with tools like LocalWP, XAMPP, WampServer, or MAMP provides a fast, risk-free environment to build layouts and customize plugins before launching to the public.

However, once your website is polished and ready for the world, you must move it from your local computer to a live, remote web hosting server. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the entire process of migrating your WordPress site to a remote server powered by the modern DirectAdmin Control Panel on Aveshost.

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Pre-Migration Checklist: What You Need Before You Start

Before transferring files and database records, completing a quick audit ensures a seamless migration without unexpected errors:

1. Active Remote Hosting Account: A web hosting package running DirectAdmin (such as high-speed NVMe hosting from Aveshost). If you haven’t logged in before, check How to Login to DirectAdmin Control Panel.
2. Registered Domain Name: Your live domain (e.g., domain.com) pointed to your hosting server’s Nameservers or A Record IP address. Learn how to get a domain name and how to add a domain name in DirectAdmin. If you manage DNS via Cloudflare, check our guide on setting up DNS records in Cloudflare.
3. Database Credentials: Access to your local phpMyAdmin or database manager.
4. Clean Up Your Local Site: Empty your trash bins (deleted posts, pages, and media), delete spam comments, and remove unused themes or deactivated plugins to keep your backup lightweight.
5. Deactivate Caching & Security Plugins: Temporarily turn off plugins like Wordfence, iThemes Security, or WP Fastest Cache on your local site before creating the export archive to avoid file permission lockouts or redirection conflicts.
6. Record Your URLs: Take note of your local website address (e.g., http://localhost/mysite or http://mysite.local) and your target live URL (e.g., https://domain.com).

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Overview of the DirectAdmin Environment

DirectAdmin is a lightning-fast, secure, and intuitive web hosting control panel. Unlike resource-heavy legacy panels, DirectAdmin’s Evolution interface provides rapid access to core hosting features including Databases, File Manager, SSL/TLS Certificates, and Softaculous 1-Click Installers.

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Method 1: Automated Migration via Plugin (Recommended for Beginners)

The easiest way to migrate small-to-medium WordPress websites (under 512MB to a few gigabytes) without touching server files manually is using a trusted migration plugin like All-in-One WP Migration or Duplicator.

Step 1: Install Migration Plugin on Localhost

1. Log in to your local WordPress dashboard (e.g., http://localhost/mysite/wp-admin).
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for All-in-One WP Migration.
4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

Step 2: Export Your Local WordPress Site

1. In your local dashboard menu, navigate to All-in-One WP Migration > Export.
2. Click on Export To and select File from the dropdown list.
3. The plugin will package your database, media library, plugins, and active theme into a single .wpress archive.
4. Once the export process completes, click the pulsing download button to save the file to your computer.

Step 3: Install WordPress on Your Remote DirectAdmin Server

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel.
2. Scroll down to Extra Features or Softaculous Apps Installer and click on WordPress (or follow our step-by-step guide on How to Install WordPress in DirectAdmin).
3. Click Install Now.
4. Choose your domain (e.g., https://domain.com), leave the in-directory field blank, set your admin credentials, and click Install.

Step 4: Import Your Website onto the Remote Server

1. Log in to the newly installed WordPress admin dashboard on your remote server (https://domain.com/wp-admin).
2. Go to Plugins > Add New, install and activate All-in-One WP Migration.
3. Navigate to All-in-One WP Migration > Import.
4. Drag and drop the .wpress file exported from your localhost.
5. Follow the on-screen prompt warning that the import will overwrite your existing database and files, then click Proceed.

Step 5: Save Permalinks Twice

Once the import finishes, your WordPress login credentials will change to match your localhost username and password. Log back in, go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes twice to regenerate your URL rewrite rules.

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Method 2: Manual Migration via DirectAdmin (Best for Full Control & Large Websites)

For large websites, custom development projects, or instances where plugin execution times out, the manual migration method provides complete control over your files and database. (If you prefer using command-line workflows or Git, you can also check our guides on deploying via Git in DirectAdmin and deploying from VS Code using AI).

Step 1: Export Your Local WordPress Files

1. Navigate to your local WordPress installation directory on your computer:
   • XAMPP: C:\xampp\htdocs\mysite
   • WampServer: C:\wamp64\www\mysite
   • LocalWP: ~/Local Sites/mysite/app/public
2. Select all files and folders inside the root directory (including wp-admin, wp-content, wp-includes, wp-config.php, and .htaccess).
3. Right-click and compress them into a single .zip archive (e.g., site-files.zip).

Step 2: Export Your Local MySQL Database

1. Open your local database management tool (typically http://localhost/phpmyadmin).
2. Click on your WordPress database name in the left sidebar.
3. Click on the Export tab at the top.
4. Choose the Quick export method and ensure the format is set to SQL.
5. Click Go (or Export) to download the .sql file to your computer.

Step 3: Create a New MySQL Database and User in DirectAdmin

Now, set up a fresh database on your remote server to receive your local data:

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel.
2. Under the Account Manager section, click on Databases.
3. In the Create Database area, click on Advanced mode to set custom user credentials.
4. Enter your desired Database Name (e.g., wpuser_wp_live) and User name (e.g., wpuser_wp_liveusr).
5. Generate or enter a strong password and save these details securely in a notepad.
6. Click the CREATE button. DirectAdmin will establish the database and automatically grant full administrative privileges to the new user.

Step 4: Upload and Extract Files via DirectAdmin File Manager

1. In DirectAdmin, go to System Info & Files > File Manager.
2. Navigate to your domain’s public root directory: domains/domain.com/public_html.
3. If there is a default placeholder index.html file, delete or rename it.
4. Click the Upload button on the top toolbar.
5. Drag and drop your site-files.zip archive and wait for the upload to reach 100%.
6. Hover over the uploaded zip file, click Extract (or right-click > Extract), and confirm the destination is public_html.

Step 5: Import the Local Database in DirectAdmin via phpMyAdmin

1. Return to Account Manager > Databases in DirectAdmin.
2. Click the PHPMYADMIN button in the top right to access phpMyAdmin.
3. In phpMyAdmin’s left sidebar, select the newly created database (e.g., wpuser_wp_live).
4. Click on the Import tab in the top navigation bar.
5. Click Choose File and select the .sql file you exported from your localhost.
6. Scroll down and click Import (or Go). You will see a success message indicating all database tables have been created.

Step 6: Update wp-config.php with New Database Details

Your WordPress files on the remote server must now be linked to the newly created database:

1. In DirectAdmin File Manager, locate wp-config.php inside public_html.
2. Click Edit to open the built-in code editor.
3. Locate the MySQL settings section and update the database name, username, and password with your DirectAdmin database details:

// ** Database settings - You can get this info from your DirectAdmin panel ** //
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define( 'DB_NAME', 'wpuser_wp_live' );

/** MySQL database username */
define( 'DB_USER', 'wpuser_wp_liveusr' );

/** MySQL database password */
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'YourSecurePasswordHere' );

/** MySQL hostname (standard DirectAdmin default is localhost) */
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );

/** Database charset to use in creating database tables. */
define( 'DB_CHARSET', 'utf8mb4' );

/** The database collate type. Don't change this if in doubt. */
define( 'DB_COLLATE', '' );

4. Click Save to commit the changes.

Step 7: Update Site URLs and Domain Names in Database

WordPress stores absolute URLs in multiple database tables. Since your database was exported from localhost (e.g., http://localhost/mysite), you must update all occurrences to your live domain (e.g., https://domain.com).

Option A: Run SQL Queries in phpMyAdmin

Open phpMyAdmin in DirectAdmin, click on your database, navigate to the SQL tab, paste the following queries (replacing the table prefix and domain names), and click Go:

UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = replace(option_value, 'http://localhost/mysite', 'https://domain.com') WHERE option_name = 'home' OR option_name = 'siteurl';

UPDATE wp_posts SET guid = replace(guid, 'http://localhost/mysite', 'https://domain.com');

UPDATE wp_posts SET post_content = replace(post_content, 'http://localhost/mysite', 'https://domain.com');

UPDATE wp_postmeta SET meta_value = replace(meta_value, 'http://localhost/mysite', 'https://domain.com');

Option B: Use the Better Search Replace Plugin

If your theme or page builder (such as Elementor) uses serialized data, running a raw SQL query might corrupt serialized arrays. You can safely replace URLs using the free Better Search Replace plugin:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin (https://domain.com/wp-admin).
2. Install and activate Better Search Replace.
3. Go to Tools > Better Search Replace.
4. In the Search for field, enter: http://localhost/mysite (or your local URL).
5. In the Replace with field, enter: https://domain.com.
6. Select all tables, uncheck “Run as dry run”, and click Run Search/Replace.

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Post-Migration Setup: Securing and Fine-Tuning Your Live Site

Congratulations! Your website files and database are now operating on your remote server. Complete these essential final touches:

1. Install Free Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS Certificate in DirectAdmin

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate encrypts data between your visitors and your server, displays the secure padlock icon, and improves your search engine rankings. For detailed step-by-step instructions, see the official Aveshost knowledge base guide on How to Install an SSL Certificate in DirectAdmin.

1. In DirectAdmin, navigate to Account Manager > SSL/TLS Certificates.
2. Click on the ACME settings tab to configure automated certificate issuance.
3. Check Enable ACME, select Let’s Encrypt as the provider, and choose ECDSA P-256 (or RSA 2048) for modern, fast cryptographic handshakes.
4. Select your root domain (domain.com), www.domain.com, and any relevant subdomains, then click SAVE. DirectAdmin will automatically issue and install the certificate in 30–60 seconds.
5. Next, force secure browsing: go to Account Manager > Domains, click your domain, and check Force SSL with https redirect. (See How to Force HTTP to HTTPS in DirectAdmin).

2. Flush WordPress Rewrite Rules (Permalinks)

Log in to your live WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes twice. This forces WordPress to regenerate your .htaccess file, ensuring clean permalinks work properly.

3. Re-enable Security and Caching Plugins

Turn back on your caching plugin (e.g., LiteSpeed Cache, WP Fastest Cache) and security suite (e.g., Wordfence, cPGuard). Purge all cache to ensure visitors receive fresh, optimized pages. You can also configure domain emails by following How to Create an Email Account in DirectAdmin.

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Troubleshooting Common Migration Issues

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Conclusion

Migrating your WordPress website from localhost to a remote server does not have to be intimidating. By leveraging DirectAdmin’s streamlined file manager and database controls alongside modern WordPress tools, you can transition your development projects to a high-performance live server smoothly with zero downtime.

Whether you choose the rapid automated plugin method or the comprehensive manual DirectAdmin approach, following this guide ensures your files, database, and SSL certificates are configured for optimal speed, reliability, and security.

Suggested Reading & Helpful Resources:

• How to Install an SSL Certificate in DirectAdmin (Official KB)
• How to Install WordPress in DirectAdmin (Softaculous Guide)
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• How to set up DNS records for your domain in Cloudflare
• How to Get a Free Domain Name – Here’s How (No Tricks)
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