How to go from exported site to live on my host

Support
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Once I’ve exported my site, what steps do I need to take to get my site live on the internet?

For instance, I assume upload the zipped file and then unzip it on the server. Is that it? Seems like I need to do something with the DNS, as well, but I’m not a coder so any help you can give me is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stuart

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Hello there, @Stuart! Thank you for bringing your question to the Local Community! :wave:

My first question is - have you already exported your site & imported it into your hosting provider?

Depending on your domain registrar and hosting provider, there are different steps to connect those two together. Your hosting platform should have documentation regarding connecting your site to a domain and updating DNS settings.

Let me know if that helps,

:woman_technologist:t3: Sam

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Thanks, Sam,

Sorry to have so many newbie questions, but I haven’t exported my site. Is there an easy way to do that in Local?

Thanks,
Stuart

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Hi Stuart! :wave:

No worries - that’s what we’re here for :smile:

Yes, there is! You can follow this guide:

Do you have a hosting provider? If so, you can use this export & import process or you can use a tool like WP Migrate to migrate your site to your host.

Thank you,

:woman_technologist:t3: Sam

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Thanks Sam!

I have a hosting provider. Once I export using “local” can simply upload the zipped file and decompress it on my server? WP Migrate has a cost to it, so I’d rather not use it, if possible.

Sorry again for all the newbie questions.

Thanks,
Stuart

6

Hi @Stuart -

Great! So yes, once you export it you can take that file and import it into your hosting provider using whatever method they recommend.

I would search the help docs for your host and look around about “Importing a WordPress site”.

Let me know if that helps!

Sam :woman_technologist:t3:

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Hi!

I followed your advice and exported the site, uploaded it to my server, and decompressed the file I uploaded, but it’s not working. My host says the database is missing? Is there something else I need to do?

Thanks,
Stuart

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Hi @Stuart -

You may want to try uploading it as a zip file instead of decompressing it.

Can you also check the contents of the file you exported from Local? It should look like this, see an example of an exported Local site folder structure, below:

Shared with CloudApp

Let me know if that helps!

Sam :woman_technologist:t3:

9

Well,

It was a bit squirrely to install on my host, but my host was able to get it sorted out. They needed to make some changes in the name of the database or something. Plus the directories were a bit messed up. Everything was inside a “public” folder inside an “app” folder. All the contents need to be moved out of those two folders and into my domain name folder. After all that it’s finally working. Certainly wasn’t a turn key, one click type of install that I was hoping for, but I liked building my site locally. I’ve never done that before and that was speedier.

Thanks for all your help. I just wanted to give you the feedback incase it helps someone down the line.

Best,
Stuart

1 Like
10

Hi @Stuart -

Thank you for sharing your experience.

I am so excited that you’ve got it live on your host, congratulations! :tada:

Please reach out in the forums again if you need more support in the future.

You rock! :star2:

Sam :woman_technologist:t3:

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