Skip to main content

Migrating a Single WordPress Site into a Multisite Subsite

Instructions for migrating and converting an individual WordPress site into a multisite subsite at Seravo. Learn about database changes and domain routing.

WordPress Multisite enables managing multiple distinct sites within a single WordPress installation and database. Moving an individual standalone WordPress site (single site) into an existing multisite network requires special care because during the migration:

  • Database tables are converted into subsite-specific tables (e.g., wp_posts becomes wp_2_posts, matching the subsite ID).

  • Media uploads are reorganized from the generic uploads directory into the subsite's designated folder: /wp-content/uploads/sites/[ID]/.

  • User accounts are integrated into the network's shared global user table.

Service Plan Requirement at Seravo:

Multisite installations at Seravo require at least a WP Corporate plan (or a custom hosting agreement) due to their higher resource requirements and specialized server architecture.

Choosing a Migration Method

  1. Method 1: All-in-One WP Migration + Multisite Extension (Full Site Migration):

    Migrates the entire site seamlessly: plugins, themes, settings, content, and media. Requires the plugin developer's premium Multisite Extension.

  2. Method 2: WordPress Importer (Free Content-Only Migration):

    Transfers only the site's content (pages, posts, menus, and media) using native WordPress tools without additional licensing costs. Themes, plugins, and custom configurations are installed and configured manually on the subsite.

Method 1: Migration Using the All-in-One WP Migration Multisite Extension

This is the most straightforward way to migrate a complete site along with its configuration, as the extension automatically handles database prefixing and file path conversions.

1. Export from the Old Site

  1. Install and activate the free All-in-One WP Migration plugin on your old standalone site.

  2. Navigate to All-in-One WP Migration > Export in the admin dashboard.

  3. (Recommended) Under Advanced settings, check Exclude must-use plugins to prevent server-specific scripts from your previous host from being bundled into the archive.

  4. Select Export site to > File and download the generated .wpress file to your computer.

2. Network Preparation in Multisite

  1. Ensure the following plugins are installed and network-activated (Network Activate) across the multisite network:

    • All-in-One WP Migration

    • Premium Multisite Extension

3. Import into the Subsite

  1. In the Network Admin dashboard, go to All-in-One WP Migration > Import.

  2. Select your destination: enter the address for the new subsite so the plugin can create the subsite during import.

  3. Click Import from > File and select the .wpress file you downloaded earlier.

  4. Confirm the prompt to proceed. The extension will automatically adjust database tables and media paths for the new subsite.

  5. After the import finishes, log in to the newly created subsite's dashboard, navigate to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes twice to flush and update all rewrite rules.

Method 2: Free Content Migration Using WordPress Importer

If you do not wish to purchase a commercial plugin extension and only need to transfer content (pages, posts, images, comments, and navigation menus):

  1. Export from the old site:

    Log in to the old site's admin dashboard and go to Tools > Export. Choose All content and download the XML export file.

  2. Create the subsite:

    In the multisite Network Admin, go to Sites > Add New and create a new subsite with your preferred path or subdomain.

  3. Enable required themes and plugins:

    In the Network Admin, make sure the necessary theme and plugins are activated for the newly created subsite.

  4. Import to the subsite:

    Log in directly to the subsite's admin dashboard and go to Tools > Import. Install and run the WordPress importer.

  5. Upload the XML export file and check the box Download and import file attachments so that media files are downloaded directly from the old server into the new subsite's media library.

Domain Mapping and Routing at Seravo

Multisite subsites can operate as subdirectories (example.com/subsite), subdomains (subsite.example.com), or entirely independent custom domains (anotherdomain.com).

If a subsite uses its own custom domain:

  1. Configure the domain in WordPress:

    In the Network Admin dashboard, go to Sites > All Sites, click Edit under the subsite, and update the Site Address (URL) field to your custom domain (e.g., https://anotherdomain.com).

  2. Notify Seravo Support:

    In order for Seravo's nginx web server and edge routing to route incoming traffic to the correct multisite installation and provision an automated SSL certificate, the domain must be registered in the server configuration. Contact our support team at [email protected], and we will bind the domain to your site.

  3. Configure DNS Records:

    Point the domain’s DNS records (A, AAAA, and CNAME) of your Seravo multisite server following our DNS configuration guide.

See Also

Managing a multisite environment and performing cross-network migrations requires precision, as all subsites share the same WordPress core codebase and hosting resources. If you need assistance merging an individual site into your multisite network or would prefer our team to handle the migration as an invoiced expert service, Seravo's WordPress specialists are always ready to assist at [email protected].

Related Articles
Did this answer your question?