How to Migrate WordPress Multisite 

Do you want to migrate your WordPress multisite network?

As you’re managing WordPress multisite, you may find you need to migrate sub-sites or the entire network. This can allow you to rebrand your network, improve your server, or move a client’s site to an independent installation. 

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to migrate WordPress multisite!

Why You Might Want to Migrate WordPress Multisite

As your online presence grows and evolves, so do your website management needs. Eventually, you may consider moving your WordPress multisite network to a different location.

Here are some reasons to migrate WordPress multisite:

• Enhanced performance and scalability: You might need to move to a new web host that offers more resources, better uptime, and faster page speed.
• Rebranding: By migrating to a new domain name, you’ll rebrand your entire network. This can boost brand recognition. Additionally, you may want to move one subsite to its own domain instead of a subdomain in your multisite. 
• Managing clients’ websites: To add a client to your WordPress maintenance plan, you can migrate their site into your network. After working on a client’s site in your network, you can move it to a single server.

How to Migrate WordPress Multisite

Even if you’ve moved a single WordPress installation before, you might not have tackled a full multisite network migration. Since it contains extra subsites, it can be difficult to know how to do this correctly.

Don’t worry! We’ll show you how to easily migrate your WordPress multisite without losing data or SEO ranking. 

Method 1. Migrating Single WordPress Installations Into a Multisite

If you’re a freelancer or you run an agency, you might manage many different clients’ sites. To streamline your workflow, you can set up a multisite. 

Then, migrate all your individual clients’ websites into the network. They’ll be subsites on one WordPress installation, which can save you valuable time and effort when performing backups, updates, or other maintenance tasks.

Let’s show you how to migrate single site installations into a multisite network!

Step 1: Back Up Each Website

First things first, you’ll need to create copies of every individual WordPress website you want to migrate into the network. One easy way to do this is by installing a WordPress backup plugin.

Duplicator Pro is the best plugin for WordPress backups, migrations, and cloning. Using this tool, you can quickly back up your clients’ sites and move them to a single network.

There is a free version of Duplicator, but we’d recommend upgrading so that you can customize your site backups. Plus, you’ll be able to drag and drop your single sites into a network instead of worrying about a manual website migration.

Now that you have Duplicator Pro, install the plugin on each of your WordPress sites. Then, activate the license key to unlock its premium features:

After this, you’re ready to create your first site backup! Head over to Duplicator Pro » Packages » Create New:

Give the package a name. Next, expand the Archive section. Here, you can decide exactly what data you want to move into your network:

For a full backup, select All. However, consider cleaning up your network by only migrating active plugins, themes, and other necessary files. You can also add filters to exclude certain database tables if you’d like.

Once you continue, Duplicator will scan your site:

Review any notices and hit Build. Then, download your backup archive on the Packages page:

Repeat this process for every single site you want to migrate into your multisite network. Save each archive file so you can easily access them later. 

Step 2: Activate Your Multisite Network

For the next step, you’ll need to set up your WordPress multisite network. When you sign up for a new web host, they’ll usually offer this as a service. 

However, you may need to enable WordPress multisite yourself. To get started, open your new site’s files in a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client, cPanel, or your host’s custom file manager.

Find and edit your wp-config.php file. Add this code before That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging:

/* Multisite */

define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );

Save the file and re-upload it to your server. 

In your new WordPress dashboard, deactivate all your active plugins. Then, go to Tools » Network Setup:

On this page, choose how you want to set up your network’s addresses. There are two different options:

• Sub-domains: site1.example.com
• Sub-directories: example.com/site1

Enter a title for your network and an admin email address. After this, hit Install.

To finish setting up your multisite, you’ll need to add some code to your wp-config.php and .htaccess files. Copy the code shown and update these files:

Finally, log back into your wp-admin dashboard:

Now you’ll have a WordPress multisite network! 

If you chose the subdomain URL structure, you’ll need to create a wildcard subdomain. You can do this by adding a new subdomain to your hosting account and entering an asterisk (*) in the text field. 

Step 3: Import Your Subsites

If you want to create a new subsite from scratch, simply head over to My Sites » Network Admin » Sites » Add New:

Then, fill out the information for the new subsite:

However, this will set up a blank WP site. Instead, you might want to import your pre-existing websites into the network.

To do this, install Duplicator Pro and activate it for the network:

Next, open Duplicator Pro » Import. Here, upload one of your single site’s archive files:

When it finishes uploading you’ll see information about the previous site. Then, hit Continue:

If you already have created other subsites or customized your multisite in any way, we’d recommend setting a recovery point. This way, you can easily restore your network if the installation causes any issues:

After this, click on the Launch Installer button:

Using the Duplicator installer, you can choose a new URL path for the imported subsite:

Accept the terms and notices and continue. In the pop-up, hit OK:

You can import your entire database, or choose specific tables to include:

To finish creating your subsite, you’ll have to search for its old URL and replace it with the new one. Fortunately, Duplicator has a built-in search & replace tool. Simply enter your old domain and the updated subsite URL:

Duplicator will automatically import the single site into the network as a subsite. You can use the Admin Login button to access your updated network admin:

Feel free to import all of your individual WordPress installations into your network!

Method 2. Migrating a Subsite Into a Standalone Site

Once you’re finished designing your client’s website, you’ll probably need to migrate it out of your network onto its own server. Let’s show you how to do this! 

Step 1: Create a Package of the Subsite

On your multisite, open your network admin and create a new package with Duplicator. In the Archive section, click on the Multisite tab:

Then, only include the client’s site in the left-hand box. Move all other subsites to the Excluded Sub-Sites box.

Look over the scan of the subsite. If everything looks correct, hit Build:

Duplicator will then save a copy of just your subsite. You’ll need to download its archive file:

This will make it easy to import the subsite into a standalone installation. 

Step 2: Set Up a New WordPress Installation

At this point, you’ll need to create a new WordPress website. First, find a web hosting provider. Here are some that we recommend:

• Bluehost
• SiteGround
• WP Engine

Most WordPress hosting plans include one-click WordPress installations. If you’re not sure how to get your new site up and running, check out this guide on how to install WordPress. 

Step 3: Import the Subsite

Once you install WordPress, be sure to install Duplicator Pro and activate it. Then, find the Import page. 

Upload the subsite’s archive file and hit Continue:

If you’d like to, set a recovery point. Next, launch the installer. 

The Install Type should be Convert network subsite to standalone site. Make sure the subsite URL is correct:

Click Validate to allow Duplicator to test the database connection. Accept the terms and notices and continue.

Next, confirm the installation settings:

After Duplicator migrates your subsite into the WordPress installation, use the Admin Login button to access your newly migrated site. You’ll see that everything on the previous subsite was imported, including media files, plugins, and themes. 

Method 3. Migrating a Subsite Into a Different Network

With Duplicator, you can also migrate any subsite into a different WordPress multisite installation. All you’ll need to do is back up the subsite you want to move.

Similar to the other methods, open Duplicator » Import and upload the backup archive file to the new network. Once the installer launches, choose to Import subsite into multisite network:

You’ll see the URL of the old site. In the New Domain field, customize the new URL for the imported subsite.

If you use the Advanced import option, you’ll be able to search and replace any old URLs on your database. This prevents you from having to use third-party tools like the Better Search Replace plugin.

Finally, log back into the new multisite dashboard. You’ll now have an extra subsite from the old network. 

Method 4. Cloning a Subsite on the Same Network

Sometimes, you might want to create a copy of one of your subsites. Especially if you’re a developer or designer, you can save time by building one pre-configured site and using it as a template for other sites.

Start by creating a package of the subsite. Using Duplicator Pro, you’ll need to specify that you only want to include one subsite out of your entire network of sites.

Then, use the import tool to upload the package to your multisite network. The Duplicator installer wizard will allow you to set up a new subsite with a new domain:

This makes it easy to use the same web design, plugins, and settings on multiple subsites. You can instantly create new subsites in the blink of an eye!

Method 5. Full Multisite Migration

So far, we’ve talked about moving subsites into and out of your multisite network. However, what if you want to migrate the entire network to another location?

As your network grows, your WordPress hosting plan may not be able to support it. This means you’ll have to find a new host and migrate every subsite onto the new server. 

To make this migration process easy, you can use Duplicator Pro. As you’re packaging your site, make sure every subsite is included:

Finish building the package. Then, download the generated archive file.

Just like migrating a subsite, you can move an entire network by importing it into another WordPress installation. Once you install WordPress on a new host, import the multisite package.

In the Duplicator installer, choose Full install multisite network. Next, add custom site URLs for each of the subsites:

Validate the installation and hit Next. Be sure to confirm that you want to replace the existing site:

Duplicator will then install your multisite network on the new server. 

Method 6. Manually Migrate WordPress Multisite

Even if you’re an expert, we’d recommend using a migration plugin to migrate your WordPress multisite. This ensures that you don’t lose any precious data along the way. 

However, you can also manually migrate your multisite. This can prevent you from using too many plugins, but keep in mind that this method is not ideal for beginners. It takes more time and has lots of room for human error.

If you decide to take this route, be sure to back up your site beforehand!

Step 1: Download Your Multisite Database

The two main parts of your WordPress multisite are the core WordPress files and the MySQL database. To start migrating your site, you’ll need to export a copy of your database.

Log into your database manager, which will likely be either phpMyAdmin or Adminer. We’ll be using phpMyAdmin. 

Select the database for your multisite network. Then, click on Export:

Be sure to choose SQL as the file format:

Finally, hit Go to finish downloading your database as a SQL file. 

Step 2: Transfer Your Multisite Files to a New Server

Now, you’ll need to download your site’s files. Using an FTP client, find and download all the files in your root directory. This is usually called the public_html folder, which contains files like wp-content, wp-admin, and wp-includes:

Once you download these files, compress them into a single zip file. 

Next, open the file manager for the new multisite installation. Open the public_html folder for this site and delete all the included files:

Upload the zipped file with your original multisite data:

This will transfer all of the information from your old network to the new location!

Step 3: Create a New Database

For the next step, it’s time to create a database for the new multisite. Usually, your web host will give you a way of editing your MySQL databases:

If you’re using Bluehost, enter a database name and hit Create Database:

You’ll also need to create a new user for the database:

Lastly, assign the new user to the new database:

You can give the new user all privileges so that you can fully edit your multisite database.

Step 4: Import Your Multisite Database

Remember the database you downloaded earlier? Now, you’re going to import that file into the new database.

Sign into phpMyAdmin for the new site. Then, click on the Import tab:

Upload your original multisite database. After you hit Go, your old database information will import into the new database.

Step 5: Edit Your wp-config.php File

At this point, you uploaded your old wp-config.php file to the new site. This means that it still contains information about your old database. You’ll need to point it to the new one.

Open your file manager for the new multisite. Navigate to public_html » wp-config.php. Once you open this file, update these values:

• db_user
• db_name
• db_password
• db_host

Make sure to replace any information about your old database with the one you just created. Then, save the file and close it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Alternative: You can also use the built-in WordPress export tool to download each single subsite as XML files. Go to Tools » Export and hit Download Export File. 

If you don’t want to waste time creating manual backups, consider setting up an automatic backup schedule!

Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to migrate WordPress multisite!

While you’re here, you may like these extra WordPress guides:

• How to Back Up WordPress Multisite
• 13 Best WordPress Multisite Plugins for 2023
• The Ultimate WordPress Migration Checklist
• How to Migrate a Large WordPress Site
• The Complete Guide to SEO Website Migration in 2023

Are you ready to migrate your WordPress multisite without any effort or coding experience? Download Duplicator Pro today!