Moving WordPress Site to a New IPv4 Address

Moving your WordPress site to a new IPv4 address can improve server performance, fix network issues, or accommodate hosting changes. This guide walks you through each step to make the transition smooth, safe, and error-free.

Why You Might Need to Moving WordPress to a New IPv4 Address

There are several reasons you may want to move your WordPress site to a new IPv4 address:

• You’re switching web hosting providers.
• Your VPS or dedicated server has been assigned a new IP.
• Your IP is blocklisted or causing email deliverability problems.
• You’re optimizing server allocation for load balancing or performance.

Whatever the reason, handling the migration carefully is crucial to prevent downtime, broken links, or SEO damage.

Step 1: Before Moving WordPress, Backup Everything

Before you change anything, take a full backup of your WordPress site. This includes:

• Files (themes, plugins, uploads)
• The MySQL database
• .htaccess and wp-config.php files

You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus, All-in-One WP Migration, or do it manually via cPanel or SSH.

Step 2: Update DNS A Record

If you control your domain’s DNS settings, log in to your registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Hostinger, Cloudflare) and:

1. Locate the A record for your domain (e.g., example.com).
2. Change the IP address to the new IPv4 address.
3. Save the changes and wait for DNS propagation (typically 5 minutes to 48 hours).

For domains managed by your hosting provider, request the DNS update via their support panel.

Step 3: Update Server Configuration

On your server (VPS or dedicated), ensure the new IP address is configured correctly:

Apache:

• Update VirtualHost entries in httpd.conf or your site’s .conf file to the new IP.

<VirtualHost NEW.IP.ADDRESS:80>
  ServerName example.com
  DocumentRoot /var/www/html
</VirtualHost>

Nginx:

• Edit the server block configuration and bind it to the new IP:

server {
  listen NEW.IP.ADDRESS:80;
  server_name example.com;
  root /var/www/html;
}

Then restart the server:

sudo systemctl restart apache2
# or
sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 4: Check Firewall and Hosting Panel

Ensure your firewall (like UFW, iptables, or CSF) allows traffic on the new IP.

If you use a control panel like cPanel, Plesk, or CyberPanel, update the IP in server settings or IP configurations to reflect the new IPv4.

Step 5: Update WordPress Settings (if needed)

Usually, WordPress does not care about the server IP. However, if you’re hardcoding IP addresses in your:

• wp-config.php
• Theme files
• Custom plugins
• CDN settings

Make sure to update all references from the old IP to the new one.

You can search your database using phpMyAdmin or a plugin like Better Search Replace to scan for the old IP.

Step 6: Test Your Site

Once the DNS has propagated:

• Visit your domain from multiple devices or via a proxy.
• Use tools like https://dnschecker.org to confirm DNS changes.
• Ping your domain and check if it resolves to the new IP.
• Test HTTPS functionality (SSL certificate may need to be reissued).
• Monitor error logs for any configuration issues.

Step 7: Notify Google and Update Tools

If your site had downtime or URL structure changes:

• Re-submit your sitemap in Google Search Console.
• Update IPs in Cloudflare, Sucuri, or CDN dashboards if applicable.
• Ensure analytics and monitoring services are pointing to the new IP.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Site not loading? Double-check DNS settings, Apache/Nginx config, and firewall.
• SSL issues? Reissue SSL via Let’s Encrypt or your certificate provider.
• Email stopped working? Update SPF/DKIM records for the new IP.

📩 Do you have questions or suggestions? Leave a comment or contact us!
🏷️ Tags: WordPress migration, IPv4 address, change IP WordPress, DNS setup, server configuration, cPanel, Cloudflare, WordPress hosting, VPS setup, move WordPress site
📢 Hashtags: #WordPressMigration, #IPv4, #DNSChange, #WebsiteHosting, #WordPressGuide, #WebHosting, #cPanelTips, #CloudflareDNS, #ServerAdmin, #TechTutorials