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Step-by-step guide to migrating a WordPress site with Duplicator: create a package, build the backup, and send files to Dreamfox Media support.
Step-by-step guide to migrating a WordPress site with Duplicator: create a package, build the backup, and send files to Dreamfox Media support.
This guide explains how to prepare a staging copy of your website for the DreamfoxMedia support or development team using the Duplicator plugin.
Although we use Duplicator as the example in this guide, the general process is the same no matter where you are moving the site from or to, and regardless of the exact migration method you use. In short, you create a backup of the website in one location and restore it in another.
Read on for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to migrate your website with Duplicator.
Duplicator is available in the WordPress plugin repository, which means it can be installed directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Go to Plugins > Add New, search for Duplicator, then click Install Now. Once the installation is complete, click Activate.
The plugin is now installed and available from the WordPress admin menu.
It is always a good idea to review a plugin’s settings after installation.
In the free version of Duplicator, only the General and Packages tabs are relevant. The default settings are suitable for most users, but it is worth reviewing them so you understand the available options.
Once that is done, you are ready for Stage 1: Creating a Package. This is essentially a full backup of your website and applies in both of the following scenarios:
moving a local site to a web server
moving a website from one server to another
If you are moving your site from a local environment to a web server, you may encounter a MySQL-related error. This can happen, for example, when using WAMP and Duplicator cannot locate its preferred build tool, mysqldump.
To fix this, enter the correct path to the mysqldump.exe file in your WAMP installation. See the screenshots below for more details.
The first step in the migration process is to create a package. This is Duplicator’s term for creating a full backup of your website. Because of this, Duplicator is also widely known as a backup plugin.
If you are not yet familiar with Duplicator, you may want to watch the quick overview video before continuing.
Creating a package consists of three steps:
Setup
Scan
Build
Let’s go through them one by one.
When you first open Duplicator, you will see the main screen. Click Create New to begin the package creation process.
On the next screen, you can simply click Next to continue, although there are several optional settings you may want to review first.
The options in the Storage section are only available in the Pro version. These allow you to control where the package is stored. Available destinations include Amazon S3, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and FTP/SFTP.
The Archive section is divided into two parts:
This section allows you to control which files are included in the backup. For example, you can:
create a database-only backup
exclude specific files or folders
This section allows you to exclude certain database tables from the backup.
Use this option carefully, as excluding the wrong tables may break your website.
To learn more about these options, refer to the Archive section in the Duplicator documentation under:
Packages > New > Step 1: Setup
The options in the Installer section are optional, and some are only available in the Pro version.
For more information, refer to the Installer section in the Duplicator documentation under:
Packages > New > Step 1: Setup
Once you are finished with the Setup step and click Next, Duplicator will immediately start scanning your website for potential issues.
You will first see the scanning screen, followed by the scan results. If everything looks good, you can continue to the Build step.
If warnings appear, you can review them and run the scan again. However, many warnings do not actually prevent the package from being created successfully.
As stated in the Duplicator documentation:
It is OK to try to build a package even if you have a warning status. If the package builds successfully, the warning can usually be ignored. However, if you experience problems during the build or install process, you may need to work with your hosting provider to resolve the warning.
When you are satisfied with the scan results, click the blue Build button to create the package.
You will see a build screen while Duplicator prepares the package. Once the process is complete, you will be able to download:
the Archive file
the Installer file
or both together using One-Click Download
After downloading the package contents, upload them to the server where the website will be migrated.
This could be:
a brand-new hosting account
a new folder on an existing server
or a completely different hosting environment
The next step is restoring the package on the destination server.
Clicking One-Click Download will trigger the download of both the installer and archive files at the same time.
Some browsers may block one or both downloads as pop-ups. If that happens, you may need to allow pop-ups for this domain.
In most cases, the two files are too large to send by email.
You can send both files — installer.php and the package archive — using WeTransfer:
Please send the files to the email address we provided in your support request.
