How to Do a Safe WordPress Search & Replace After Changing Domains
Wordpress search and replace after migration
Updated: December 28, 2025 • Use this as a practical workflow. Provider dashboards change—adapt the steps to your UI.
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Why you need this
- URLs are stored in the database and serialized data can break if edited incorrectly.
Safe methods
- Use WP-CLI search-replace.
- Use a reputable plugin that handles serialization.
- Avoid raw SQL edits unless you know what you’re doing.
Next steps
- True Cost Calculator (avoid billing surprises)
- Core Web Vitals checklist (speed basics)
- WordPress backups best practices
- Best WordPress hosting for X