How to migrate or clone a website with Modular DS

Migrations are the Modular DS feature that lets you move a WordPress site from one place to another, including its files and its database.

You can use this feature for different purposes: moving to a new hosting while keeping your domain, cloning a website to a new domain, setting up a staging site, or overwriting a site you already have on the dashboard with the content of another.

The whole process runs from the dashboard, without you having to touch the server manually.

How to start a migration

You can start a migration from two different places on the dashboard:

• From the details page of a completed backup. Open the backup you want to use and click the Migrate / Clone button.

• From the site settings. In the site's left side menu, open Site settings and scroll down to the Migration options section.

Both paths lead to the same flow, where the first screen lets you choose between the three available migration modes.

The 3 migration modes

Existing website in Modular DS

Migrates a website to another site you already have connected to Modular DS, overwriting its content.
It is useful when you manage two sites from the dashboard and want to move the content from one to the other, for example from production to a site you use as staging.
This mode does not create any link between the two sites. If what you want is to set up a staging environment marked as such on the dashboard, use the Staging feature in Modular DS, not this migration mode.
It does not require FTP or MySQL credentials because the connection is handled by the Modular Connector plugin already installed on the destination site.

Same domain, different server

Migrates a website to a different server while keeping the same domain.
You will use it when you change hosting and want your domain to point to the new server.
You need the FTP/SFTP and MySQL credentials of the new hosting, an empty database created on the destination server, and a temporary HTTPS URL provided by your host.

New website (clone)

Creates a copy of the website on a new domain, on the same server or a different one.
It is useful for duplicating a project or setting up an independent test environment with its own URL.
You need the credentials of the destination server and a database already created.

How the process runs

Once you have chosen the mode, Modular DS guides you through a wizard that asks for credentials, paths and configuration for the new site.
When you confirm by typing migrate, the process starts and you will see the progress on screen by phases. You can close the progress screen and reopen it at any time. The process keeps running in the background.
You will know it has finished when the message "The migration is complete" appears on your website's dashboard.

Keep in mind that the migration cannot be interrupted or reversed once confirmed. If the destination site already had files or a database, they will be replaced.

After the migration

What you have to do once it is finished depends on the migration mode you chose:

• Existing website in Modular DS: the destination site is updated and keeps its URL, its name on the dashboard and its team. The source site is left untouched.
• Same domain, different server: you have to change the DNS records of your domain to point to the new server and wait for propagation (it can take up to 24 hours). Until then, the domain will keep showing the website on the old server.
• New website (clone): the cloned site appears automatically on the Modular DS dashboard inside the team you chose.

There are currently no known restrictions on migrations based on website size, WordPress installation type or hosting type.

If you run into any problems during the process, email us at help@modulards.com or open a support chat from the platform and we will be happy to help.

Updated on: 10/07/2026