WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress migration
Move your WordPress.com publication to hosting you control, with the content and editing workflow checked before the switch. Norml prepares the destination, transfers the agreed posts and pages, and reviews the themes, plugins, and subscriptions tied to your current account. The result is a maintained WordPress site with clear ownership of hosting, backups, and updates.
A few clients we’ve worked with
What we do
Move WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress with content and media checks, theme compatibility, domain planning, and an editor handoff.
What the migration covers
The transfer route depends on your WordPress.com plan and current setup. A content export, a full backup, and a media archive contain different things.
- Solution
- Migrations
- Current platform
- WordPress.com
- Destination
- WordPress
- Posts, pages and attachmentsWe inspect the available export and map authors, categories, tags, comments, and content into the new installation. The standard XML export points to media rather than containing the media files. We check that agreed images and downloads are copied and still work before retiring the source.01
- Theme and editor compatibilityThe destination needs the theme, blocks, and plugins that support your pages. We check availability and licensing, then rebuild any unsupported pieces. Representative pages include galleries, embedded media, and reusable patterns so an apparently successful import does not conceal broken layouts.02
- Followers and paid featuresNewsletter subscribers, followers, paid memberships, and other WordPress.com-connected features need their own handoff decisions. We review the available Jetpack or provider-supported route and preserve consent and access requirements. A transferred article archive alone does not establish that these relationships moved.03
- Domain and hosting operationsWe configure the WordPress destination and plan domain, HTTPS, redirects, and email-record continuity. A custom domain and a wordpress.com address have different redirect options. We document the chosen setup and who will maintain the site after launch.04
Client reviews
“Norml Studio's professionalism and responsiveness were impressive.”
“They were proactive in suggesting improvements we hadn't considered.”
“They delivered what they said they would, on time.”
“They focused on how to make our daily operations easier, not just on building features for the sake of it.”
“They understood that the app needed to be practical for someone sitting in a car, not just look good on a desktop.”
“Their level of dedication to the success of the project and GoPetZen's business as a whole is unique.”
What we need before the move
- Account and hosting ownershipWe need authorized WordPress.com access, your hosting destination, domain details, and an inventory of paid features. The content owner should identify drafts, private pages, and anything that should stay unpublished during the move.01
- A maintained destinationSelf-hosting needs backups, updates, security controls, and recovery access. We agree the operating responsibilities and check that required themes and plugins can run on the selected host before transferring the full site.02
How we prepare the move
- [Choose the transfer method]Step 01
Compare the source plan and available exports with the destination requirements. Record which material belongs in a content import and which settings require separate setup.
- [Import and reconcile]Step 02
Transfer representative content, validate attachment downloads, and review author and taxonomy mappings. Compare the full import against the approved inventory and resolve missing media or broken blocks.
- [Connect and hand over]Step 03
Test editing, forms, links, search, and account features included in scope. Apply the domain and redirect plan, recheck the public site, and hand over hosting and publishing instructions.
The people who do this work.
Meet the whole teamNo account layer between you and them. These are the Norml specialists this work runs through.
Let's chat
“I've spent 10 years working across development and marketing. I started as a developer, but design, SEO and advertising were already part of the job. That taught me to treat a website as one system: the business, the content, the design and the code have to work together. At Norml, I lead the architecture behind our work and stay involved wherever strategy, design, development and search meet.”
Max TymoshynFounder & Architect
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From the Norml blog.
Questions about the migration
Does the XML export include every image?
It contains references used by the destination to fetch media. We keep the source accessible for the transfer and verify the resulting media library. A separate archive or backup may be needed for files that are not captured by that process.
What happens to followers and paid features?
We check the transfer options for the specific feature and account. Subscribers, payment subscriptions, and access permissions are separate concerns. Any unsupported transfer is identified before the old account is changed.
Will the site look the same?
Content can retain its structure, but the destination theme, blocks, and settings determine the rendered pages. We review those dependencies and agree any necessary rebuild work before migration.
Plan your WordPress.com migration
Share your current website, the features you rely on, and what needs to change. We will review the WordPress requirements and identify the content, rebuild work, and launch checks your move needs.