Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about using WP Domain Changer to migrate your WordPress site to a new domain.

Is WP Domain Changer really free?

Yes! WP Domain Changer is 100% free to use with no hidden costs, premium plans, or feature limitations. The tool runs entirely in your browser and doesn't require any server resources, which means we can offer it completely free forever.

Is it safe to upload my database file?

Absolutely! Your database file never leaves your computer. All processing happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. We never upload, store, or have any access to your files. This makes WP Domain Changer one of the safest tools available for WordPress URL migration.

Technical Note: You can even disconnect from the internet after loading the page, and the tool will still work perfectly because everything runs client-side.

What file formats are supported?

WP Domain Changer supports:

  • .sql files - Standard SQL database exports from phpMyAdmin, cPanel, or command line
  • .txt files - SQL exports saved with .txt extension

The tool works with any text-based SQL dump file, regardless of database size (though very large files may take longer to process in your browser).

Why wasn't my WordPress URL detected automatically?

The automatic detection looks for WordPress URLs in the wp_options table. If it doesn't find your URL, possible reasons include:

  • Your database uses a custom table prefix (not wp_)
  • The export doesn't include the wp_options table
  • Your database file has unusual formatting

Don't worry! You can simply type in your old URL manually. Just make sure to include the full URL with protocol (e.g., https://old-site.com).

Do I need to include "www" in the URLs?

You should use whatever URL format your WordPress site currently uses. If your old site is https://www.example.com, use that exact format. If it's https://example.com (without www), use that instead.

Important: The URLs must match exactly what's in your database, or the replacements won't work. Check your WordPress Settings → General to confirm the exact URLs used.

Should I use HTTP or HTTPS?

Use whatever protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) matches your old site in the "Old URL" field. For the "New URL" field, we strongly recommend using HTTPS for security. However, make sure your new domain actually has an SSL certificate installed before changing to HTTPS in your database.

Pro Tip: If you're switching from HTTP to HTTPS, you should also set up proper 301 redirects in your .htaccess file or web server configuration to automatically redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS.

Can I migrate from a subdomain to a main domain?

Yes! WP Domain Changer works for any URL change, including:

  • Subdomain to main domain: staging.site.com → site.com
  • Main domain to subdomain: site.com → blog.site.com
  • Subdirectory to main domain: site.com/wordpress → newsite.com
  • Complete domain change: old-site.com → new-site.com

What happens to serialized data?

WP Domain Changer performs a simple find-and-replace operation, which means it does not handle serialized data. WordPress stores some data in serialized PHP format, where the string length is part of the data structure.

For most WordPress migrations, this isn't a problem because:

  • Most important URLs (site URL, home URL, content URLs) are not serialized
  • Many WordPress themes and plugins regenerate serialized settings on the new domain
For complex sites: If you have complex widget configurations, theme options, or plugin settings, consider using specialized tools like Better Search Replace or WP Migrate DB Pro that handle serialized data. WP Domain Changer is best for straightforward domain changes.

The tool says "URL not found" - what should I do?

If the tool can't find your old URL, check these things:

  • Make sure you've typed the URL exactly as it appears in WordPress (including or excluding www)
  • Include the protocol (https:// or http://)
  • Don't include trailing slashes
  • Check if your site uses a custom domain in wp-config.php that differs from the database URLs
  • Verify you exported the correct database

Do I still need to update wp-config.php?

Your wp-config.php file doesn't usually contain domain-specific URLs, so in most cases, you won't need to change it. However, check if your wp-config.php has these constants defined:

  • WP_HOME
  • WP_SITEURL

If these are present and hardcoded to your old domain, you should update them manually or remove them to let WordPress use the database values.

How large of a database file can I process?

Since all processing happens in your browser's memory, the size limit depends on your device's available RAM and browser capabilities. Most modern computers can handle database files up to 500MB-1GB without issues.

For very large databases:

  • Close other browser tabs and applications
  • Use a desktop browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
  • Be patient - large files may take a minute or two to process
  • Consider splitting your database export if it's extremely large (10GB+)

Can I use this for WordPress Multisite?

WP Domain Changer will perform the URL replacement on a multisite database, but WordPress Multisite has additional complexity with domain mapping and network settings. For multisite migrations, we recommend:

  • Using WP Domain Changer as a first step to replace the main URLs
  • Manually updating network settings in the database
  • Using WordPress Multisite-specific migration plugins for complex setups
  • Testing thoroughly on a staging environment first

What should I do after importing the updated database?

After importing your updated database to the new domain:

  1. Clear your browser cache and cookies
  2. Clear any WordPress caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, etc.)
  3. Check that you can access both the frontend and wp-admin
  4. Regenerate thumbnails if you moved media files
  5. Update your permalinks (Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes)
  6. Test all critical functionality on your site
  7. Update any external services that point to your old domain (DNS, CDN, etc.)

My site still shows the old URL after migration. Why?

Common causes include:

  • Browser cache: Clear your browser cache or use incognito mode
  • WordPress cache: Deactivate and clear all caching plugins
  • DNS not propagated: DNS changes can take up to 48 hours
  • Hardcoded URLs in theme/plugins: Some themes hardcode URLs that need manual updates
  • wp-config.php constants: Check for WP_HOME or WP_SITEURL definitions
  • .htaccess redirects: Old redirects may be forcing the old domain

Can I undo the changes if something goes wrong?

As long as you keep your original database backup (which you absolutely should!), you can always restore it. This is why we always recommend:

Best Practice: Keep backups of both your original database AND your files before migrating. Test the migration on a staging environment first if possible. Never delete your old site until you've confirmed everything works on the new domain.

Ready to migrate your WordPress site?

Start Using WP Domain Changer