Overview
This guide explains how to manually migrate a WordPress website from Bluehost to Neurax Host. The process involves backing up your website files and database from Bluehost, then restoring them on Neurax Host.
Note: Neurax Host offers free website migration assistance. Before starting the manual process, contact Neurax Host support to check whether they can migrate your website for you.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
An active Bluehost hosting account
A WordPress website hosted on Bluehost
An active Neurax Host account with cPanel access
Access to your domain's DNS settings
Sufficient disk space on your computer
A recent backup of your website files and database
Phase 1: Export Website from Bluehost
Step 1: Log in to Bluehost
Log in to your Bluehost account.
Open the Websites or Hosting section.
Select the website you want to migrate.
Open the available advanced hosting tools. If cPanel is available for your hosting plan, open it.
Expected outcome: You can access the available tools for managing your website files and database.
Step 2: Open File Manager
If cPanel is available, navigate to Files → File Manager.
Open the directory associated with your WordPress website.
Expected outcome: The website's files are visible.
Step 3: Locate the WordPress Installation
Identify the website's actual document root. It may be public_html, but this can vary depending on your domain and hosting configuration.
Verify that the directory contains WordPress files such as:
wp-admin
wp-content
wp-includes
wp-config.php
index.php
Expected outcome: You have identified the correct WordPress installation directory.
Step 4: Create a Backup of Website Files
Select the files and folders inside the WordPress installation directory.
Ensure hidden files, including .htaccess, are included.
Click Compress.
Choose ZIP Archive.
Name the archive backup.zip.
Create the archive.
Expected outcome: A ZIP archive containing the website files, including hidden files, is created.
Step 5: Download the Website Backup
Locate backup.zip.
Select the file and click Download.
Save it to your computer.
Expected outcome: The website backup is saved locally.
Step 6: Export the WordPress Database
Return to cPanel, if available.
Open phpMyAdmin.
Select the database used by WordPress. If necessary, check wp-config.php for the database name.
Verify the database tables. The table prefix may differ from wp_; check the $table_prefix value in wp-config.php.
Click Export.
Choose Quick and SQL if suitable for your database size.
Click Go to download the export.
For large databases, use an export method appropriate to the database size and the tools available on your hosting plan.
Expected outcome: A database backup, for example database.sql, is saved locally.
Step 7: Verify the Backup Files
Ensure you have both files:
backup.zip
database.sql
Keep these files safe until the migration is complete and verified.
Phase 2: Import Website into Neurax Host
Step 8: Log in to Neurax Host cPanel
Log in to your Neurax Host account.
Open cPanel.
Expected outcome: The cPanel dashboard opens.
Step 9: Locate the Website Document Root
Open Domains in cPanel, if available.
Check the document root assigned to your domain.
Open that directory in File Manager.
Do not assume the correct directory is always public_html. Use the actual document root assigned to your domain.
Expected outcome: You have opened the correct destination directory for your website.
Step 10: Upload Website Files
Click Upload in File Manager.
Upload backup.zip to the destination directory.
Wait for the upload to finish.
Expected outcome: The ZIP archive appears in the destination directory.
Step 11: Extract Website Files
Select backup.zip.
Click Extract.
Extract the files into the correct document root.
Verify that wp-admin, wp-content, wp-includes, wp-config.php, and index.php are directly inside the intended WordPress directory, not inside an unintended nested folder.
Expected outcome: The WordPress files are restored in the correct location.
Step 12: Create a MySQL Database
Open MySQL Databases in cPanel, if available.
Create a new database.
Record the full database name.
Expected outcome: A new database is created.
Step 13: Create a Database User
Create a new MySQL database user.
Generate a strong password.
Save the username and password securely.
Expected outcome: A database user is created.
Step 14: Assign the User to the Database
Add the new user to the new database.
Grant the required privileges, typically ALL PRIVILEGES for a standard cPanel WordPress setup.
Save the changes.
Expected outcome: The database user has the required access to the destination database.
Step 15: Import the Database
Open phpMyAdmin.
Select the new database.
Click Import.
Upload database.sql.
Click Go.
Expected outcome: The database imports successfully without errors.
Step 16: Update WordPress Configuration
Open wp-config.php in the WordPress destination directory.
Update the database settings using the actual credentials provided by Neurax Host.
Example:
define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name'); define('DB_USER', 'your_database_user'); define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password'); define('DB_HOST', 'your_database_host');
Replace the example values with the correct details provided by Neurax Host. Do not assume DB_HOST is localhost; confirm the correct database host before saving the file.
Save the changes.
Expected outcome: WordPress has the correct configuration to connect to the destination database.
Step 17: Verify Domain Configuration
Open the domain settings in cPanel.
Confirm that the domain points to the correct document root assigned to it.
If the domain or website URL is changing, check whether the WordPress URLs and database references need updating.
Expected outcome: The domain is mapped to the correct website files.
Step 18: Update DNS If Required
If your domain still points to Bluehost, you can use one of these approaches:
Change nameservers: Update the domain's nameservers to those provided by Neurax Host.
Update the A record: Point the domain's A record to the correct Neurax Host server IP.
Choose the method appropriate for your DNS setup. You do not normally need to change both.
If you change nameservers, ensure that existing email records, including MX records and any required SPF, DKIM, and other DNS records, are recreated at the new DNS provider. Otherwise, email delivery or other domain services may be affected.
DNS propagation time varies depending on the DNS configuration and caching. It is not guaranteed to finish within 24–48 hours.
Expected outcome: The domain begins resolving to Neurax Host as DNS changes take effect.
Step 19: Enable SSL and HTTPS
Open SSL/TLS Status in cPanel, if available.
Run AutoSSL if supported and needed.
Verify that the SSL certificate is active and the website loads over HTTPS.
Enable Force HTTPS Redirect only after confirming that the certificate is active and working correctly.
Expected outcome: The website loads securely over HTTPS without certificate errors.
Step 20: Test the Website
Before declaring the migration complete, verify the following:
The homepage and important pages load correctly.
Images and media display properly.
Menus, forms, and plugins work.
WordPress Admin is accessible at https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin.
The website connects to the destination database without errors.
HTTPS works correctly without certificate warnings.
Email delivery works, if your domain uses email.
Important links and permalinks work correctly.
If needed, open Settings → Permalinks in WordPress Admin and click Save Changes to refresh permalink rules.
Expected outcome: The migrated website passes the required functionality checks.
Migration Complete
The migration is complete only after the website, database connection, WordPress Admin, HTTPS, and essential functionality have been tested successfully.
Keep your Bluehost hosting account active until the migrated website has been verified and DNS is resolving correctly. After confirming that you no longer need the temporary archive on the Neurax Host server, delete it to free up storage space.
If any issue occurs during migration, contact Neurax Host support for assistance.