Migrate from Plesk to FlatRun

Follow the installation instructions in our documentation to set up FlatRun on your new server.

Create a new WordPress deployment in FlatRun:

1. Open FlatRun dashboard
2. Click "Create Deployment"
3. Select the WordPress template
4. Configure your domain settings
5. Deploy the fresh WordPress instance

This creates a clean WordPress installation that you'll migrate your content into.

The easiest way to migrate WordPress sites is using a backup and migration plugin. We recommend WPvivid Backup Plugin (free version works great):

1. Log into WordPress admin on your Plesk-hosted site
2. Go to Plugins → Add New
3. Search for "WPvivid Backup Plugin"
4. Install and activate the plugin

Alternative plugins that work well: All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator, or UpdraftPlus.

In WPvivid on your source site:

1. Go to WPvivid Backup in the WordPress sidebar
2. Select "Database + Files" for a complete backup
3. Click "Backup Now"
4. Once complete, download the backup file(s) to your computer

For large sites, WPvivid splits backups into multiple files. Make sure to download all parts.

Now set up the receiving end:

1. Log into the fresh WordPress install on FlatRun
2. Install and activate WPvivid Backup Plugin
3. Go to WPvivid Backup → Upload
4. Upload your backup file(s) from step 4

Complete the migration:

1. In WPvivid, go to the Backups tab
2. Find your uploaded backup
3. Click "Restore"
4. Select both Database and Files
5. Confirm and wait for the restore to complete

WPvivid will overwrite the fresh WordPress install with your complete site including themes, plugins, uploads, and database.

Before updating DNS, verify everything works:

• Hosts file method: Edit your local hosts file to point your domain to the new server IP temporarily
• Check that all pages load correctly
• Test forms, login, and critical functionality
• Verify images and media are displaying

On Mac/Linux: /etc/hosts
On Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Point your domain to the new FlatRun server:

• A record: Update to your new server's IP address
• AAAA record: Add IPv6 if available
• Remove or update any records pointing to the old Plesk server

DNS propagation typically takes 1-4 hours, but can take up to 48 hours. Consider lowering TTL values a few days before migration to speed this up.

Once DNS is pointing to your FlatRun server, enable SSL:

1. Open your deployment settings in FlatRun
2. Enable SSL for your domain
3. FlatRun will obtain a Let's Encrypt certificate automatically

If your site uses HTTPS URLs in content, WPvivid should have preserved these. If needed, use a search-replace plugin to update URLs.

Final steps:

• Verify SSL certificate is active (padlock in browser)
• Test all site functionality thoroughly
• Remove the WPvivid backup files from both servers (saves space)
• Monitor the site for 24-48 hours
• Once stable, cancel your Plesk license

Congratulations! You've successfully migrated your WordPress site to FlatRun and eliminated your hosting panel licensing costs.