Updated: May 1, 2023
The All-in-One WP Migration plugin is hands down the best tool you can use to migrate your WordPress website from one host to another.
I used it myself a couple of days ago to transition my website to one of NameHero’s new WordPress Hosting packages, and it really is simple.
We have a great tutorial on how to use this plugin – it’s pretty self-explanatory. Of course, if you’ve just purchased hosting with NameHero, you can reach out to our team to perform the migration for you. All you need to do is buy one of our web hosting packages, then simply fill out this form and we’ll take care of the rest.
However, if you’re looking for a do-it-yourself approach, this plugin is perfect.
Sometimes it’s best to leave it to the expert because the import process can run into two problems:
- The upload limit for your WordPress installation is insufficient
- The import gets “stuck” at 100%
To solve the first problem, you can change your PHP upload limits as shown in the NameHero tutorial to which I linked above. The solution is to go into your PHP settings on cPanel and change the following two variables:
upload_max_filesize
post_max_size
This should take care of the upload restrictions. But what if the plugin halts the import? Then there’s nothing you can do. So you’re forced to find another way to restore backups. Here are 4 different things you can try to fix it.
#1. Using the Backup Restore Functionality Instead
The solution to the “stuck import” problem lies in taking another route towards getting your file into the All-in-One migration plugin. It relies on uploading your export file to a special folder in wp-content called ai1wm-backups and then using the “Backup” option to find the file and perform the restore.
Unfortunately, they restrict this functionality only to the older version of the plugin, which had it for free.
More recent versions of the plugin have moved it into the paid tier. Luckily, the older versions of the plugin are freely available on WordPress’s website where it keeps a repository of all previous versions and a complete changelog. So if you have a small website, and don’t want to fork over the fee just to compensate for a buggy import process, then this is the method for you!
#2. Installing the Older Plugin – Version 6.7
The WordPress plugin repository keeps a record of all previous versions of a plugin. You can download version 6.7 of the All-in-One WP Migration plugin. Download the files and folders, and make a zip file. From here, you can then use the “Plugin Upload” feature in WordPress to manually install the older version of the plugin.
#3. Uploading your Export File to wp-content/ai1wm-backups
Unlike uploading a file through the WordPress interface, you can now upload it via the file manager using cPanel on NameHero, or through whichever custom file manager your hosting provider has. This time, there shouldn’t be any size limitations. Upload the export file to the following folder of your WordPress installation:
wp-content/ai1wm-backups
If you’ve already installed version 6.7 of the plugin, this folder should already be available and you won’t need to create it. Once you’re done uploading, you can now navigate to the “Backups” section of the All-in-One WP Migration plugin and you should find this file already sitting there, which will then allow you to restore it without a hitch!
#4. Should You Get the Premium Version of the Plugin?
In my opinion, the biggest benefit of the premium version of the All-in-One WP Migration plugin is that it allows you to import files greater than 512 MB. This doesn’t refer to the upload limit which your web host sets, but rather to the size of the backup file that the plugin will import.
If your website is greater than 512 MB, then it’s quite a large website, and you should consider paying for the premium version of the plugin. Considering that switching web hosts can be such a pain in the neck, I think it’s totally worth it for the process to be so hassle-free.
An easy mental exercise to do is – is the premium plugin price more expensive than it would cost you a few hours or days of downtime? Likely the answer is the plugin price is a drop in the bucket.
However, in the meantime, if you’re a small site owner, and your import is getting stuck while uploading, this solution should help you!
Rather Watch A Video Instead?
After you’re finished you should either remove or update the plugin for best security. That way, if you ever forget to update the plugin or there’s another vulnerability identified down the line, you won’t have to worry about your WordPress site being hijacked.
I’m a NameHero team member, and an expert on WordPress and web hosting. I’ve been in this industry since 2008. I’ve also developed apps on Android and have written extensive tutorials on managing Linux servers. You can contact me on my website WP-Tweaks.com!
I have the premium version and it doesn’t even get past 0% when I try and upload a clients website 🙁
Unfortunately, the function “Restore” only available in Premium Version 🙁 So here I am, still stuck in 100% uploading with no solution except paying for premium.
Even after my hosting support team increased the upload size, I am still stuck on the same page for more than 20 minutes. Is it possible, that the error is persisting other than this solution?
Update to my last comment. Finally, the support team found the root cause.
Their response: The issue was caused by ModSecurity which blocked the opportunity to use All in one Wp migration on your end. The necessary ModSecurity rules have been whitelisted for your hosting account.
ModSecurity is an Apache module that works as a web application firewall protecting your sites from malicious injections. Though sometimes it might be a little excessive and block some valid changes in the hosting.
Some shared hosting use this security. So, please ask them about this too.
tnx man help alot
Well I cant backup my website because I always get the error message “Backup is in process”. That can I do? I have already reinstalled the plugin but it does not work
I might add, that the WPress Doctor on YouTube changed a few files and created a 100GB version of this plugin. Very usefull and it works like a charm.
Matt… You frkn rock dude! You saved me on this one. It took 10 hours of searching and trying different methods but your comment lead me to the solution. Thanks for sharing!
Seems like you seved alot of people, me aswell! Thanks for this!
Thank you, it was helpful
This article is a life saver. None of the versions were working. Getting stuck exactly at 36.93% each time. I increased the upload size etc in php settings but didn’t work. The older version given for download in this post simply worked like a charm.
This fixed it for me. I tried a previous version before but it kept failing. Your download link did the trick
This fixed it for me. I tried a previous version before but it kept failing. Your download link did the trick
You are a time saver man. Thank you for the v6.7 😀
Keep up the good work.
It works as simple as having a cup of coffee. Thanks for the link you have shared.
Uploading didn’t work for me either. I do have the premium version, so copying to the backup folder, opening Backups from the All-in-One MP Migration menu, clicking on the file I just put there, and then clicking the vertical dots and picking restore worked just fine. No older version needed in this case.
I bought the premium version because I was tired of the workarounds, especially for the plugin’s own 512 mb limit (which was easier to work around in an older version, as I recall). I don’t mind the cost because I work on enough websites to be worth it, but I know that’s not the case for everyone.
We got migrated to digital ocean and started using cloudpanel.io, but after that, it was hard to migrate our site from Cloudways. Tried All in one wp migration but it is not working at all. At first we thought, the Php version was creating an issue as we have chosen 8.2, then we rolled back to 7.4. Downloaded plugin from another site but not working and we are stuck. Tried duplicator plugin, blogvault, cloudways migrator plugin but nothing is working as of now. Also, in Cloudpanel.io FTP is created where as Cloudways asks for SFTP so the details are also not matching. Do you have any clue how to migrate the site now? We are currently tried Cyberduck (Mac user).
Yup, using the older version worked. Thank you so so so so much.
I really appreciate your knowledge, the backup option worked for me precisely.
Awesome article here!
Downloading the OLD file of All-In-One and uploading the backup directly to the folder you specified in WP-Contents did the trick for me.
Rock on man! 🤘
Thanks my issue is resolved.
Thank you so much! You saved me a lot of trouble. I used the method described for saving the file in the backups folder and then restoring.
Thank you , it worked!
Thank you.
Thanks for the great job.
They do not give unlimited upload now and it is only available in premium version.
I used old version it worked for me.
Thank you. Followed the instructions for “Using the Backup Restore Functionality Instead” and everything worked perfectly.
You sir, are an absolute genius! Worked without a hitch! Thank you so much!
Thanks my issue is resolved. Looking for the solution for a long time.
@Bhagwad Park sos lo más grande que hay!!! Te quiero mucho mucho mucho!
They don’t offer 6.7 at wordpress.org anymore. It only goes back to 7.5. (The link under #2 doesn’t work either). I never would have used this plugin to make an emergency backup if I knew they would switch to a $99 paywall to upload the backup. I’m wondering if it will even work after I pay?
If anyone has the old plugin let me know.
The link under #2 should be working. Could you try it again?
uploading to the suggested folder then “clicking “restore” on a small 159mb site cycles, and cycles, and cycles. Should be ultra simple like I remember it once was…. but not working like it used to
my website is 517mb. Waaahhhhh!
Delete a couple of plugins before you export.
Using Version 6.7 solve the problem like magic! Thanks very much!
Thank you so much, man. This saved me after 2 hours of failed tech support from GoDaddy. Worked perfectly.
Thank you man, you just saved my life!
well done man. your method worked and helped me
THANK YOU. IT WORKS
Thanks Bro, version 6.7 worked !
I have never left a comment or provided feedback even after being in the industry for 19 years. I generally don’t think my experience or comments have much value. But I was at my wits end, I don’t have the FTP login for the website I want migrate, and then I found this. So this is just a ginormous THANK YOU. You saved me some major heartache and time. Although I already spent the last 4.5 hours trying to migrate a website, I’m just happy I can go to bed before midnight if I so choose. Thank you again!
Thanks