Old site trying to upload to new Domain from an old backup file

  • Unknown's avatar
    herlachew · Member ·

    I received a backup file for a WordPress site that had a different domain name and has been inactive for a couple of years now. (the domain name is not available any more so I purchased a new one)

    I have all the files uploaded using an sftp (filezilla) but site shows nothing. I am pretty new to this and out of depth just trying to get this site back up.

    What steps should I have taken or take to get this site back uploaded from these achieved backup files.

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • Unknown's avatar
    josefhtest · Member ·

    Hi @herlachew,

    Thanks for sharing those details! Restoring a site from a backup can be tricky, especially when dealing with a different domain name.

    Could you confirm what kind of backup files you have? A full WordPress site requires both the file structure (wp-content, etc.) and a database (.sql file).

    On WordPress.com Business sites, SFTP is mostly for uploading media — themes and plugins need to be installed through the dashboard. Databases can’t be imported manually, so you’d want to use either the WordPress Importer or a Jetpack backup restore if one exists.

    Since your old domain is no longer active and the new one is perch-lake.org, you’ll also want to check that all links and site URLs point correctly to the new address.

    Could you also let me know what files you currently have from your old backup? Was the site a WordPress.com or a self-hosted one? That way, we can recommend the best next steps.
    Here are other guides that you might find helpful:
    Back up and restore your website
    Import a website
    Migrate a website to WordPress.com

    Since you’re on a WordPress.com Business plan, you also have access to direct support. Please feel free to reach out to us through the Help Center so we can take a closer look and assist you:
    https://wordpress.com/support/help-support-options/?#how-to-contact-us

    I look forward to your reply so I can help you further. 

  • Unknown's avatar
    herlachew · Member ·

    Hey! Thanks for the quick reply. I will review the links you sent this and did start using the chat.

    The files I have uploaded are wp-admin, wp-content, wp-includes. The wp-contents included the plugins and themes that existed on the previous site and I do see those plugins on my WordPress now. (these were uploaded using Filezilla, only mentioning in case it should have used WordPress importer)

    There was also a localhost.sql file that was uploaded.

    The site old site was a wordpress.com site. However, it was managed by a small group of people of volunteers for the site for this Lake.

  • staff-cici · Staff ·

    Thank you! We’ve received your request and our migrations team will reply via email once they’ve reviewed it. Thanks!

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