> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.hosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Migrating from wordpress.com to wordpress.org

> Easily migrate your site from wordpress.com to wordpress.org in a few steps, including export, import, and redirect setup.

If you recently purchased a [WordPress](https://hosting.com/hosting/platforms/wordpress-hosting) hosting account at hosting.com and want to leave WordPress.com, this article will show you how to migrate your existing WordPress.com content to your self-hosted WordPress hosting account in just a few steps.

* Before you begin migrating your WordPress.com content, keep the following points in mind:
* WordPress must be installed on your Web Hosting account.
* The theme is not included in the migration process; if you use a specific theme, install and activate it before migrating.
* There may be some WordPress.com functionality that is missing; please contact our Support team at [https://my.hosting.com](https://my.hosting.com) if you have any specific needs.
* You will need to manually update the internal links in the post.

Alternatively, you can request [your free migration](/docs/site-migration-request) after you've signed up for your new high speed, ultra-reliable [hosting.com Managed WordPress](https://hosting.com/hosting/platforms/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress-hosting/) account!

## Migrating from Wordpress.com to Wordpress.org

Follow the steps below to migrate Wordpress.com to Wordpress.org:

### Step 1: Exporting Data from WordPress.com

1. Log in to your [WordPress](https://hosting.com/hosting/platforms/wordpress-hosting) site with an administrator account.
2. On the **Dashboard** in the left sidebar, click **Tools**, click **Export**:\ <img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/WP.com-export-menu_.png" />
3. Click **Export all** to export all content:\ <img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/WP.com-_export-content_.png" />
4. The download link will be emailed. Download the.xml file and use it for the upcoming steps:\ <img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/WP.com-exportlink_.png" />

### Step 2: Import your content into your new WordPress site

1. Install WordPress on your new hosting account.
   > 👍 Tip
   >
   > If you do not know how to install WordPress on your hosting.com account,please see this\
   > [article](/docs/wordpress1).
2. Log in to your WordPress site with an administrator account.
3. On the **Dashboard** in the left sidebar, click **Tools**, click **Import** and then click **Install Now:** \*\*\*\*
4. Click on **Choose File**, select the.xml file exported in the earlier step, and then click **Upload file and export:**

***

5. Choose either one of the  options to assign the author to an old posts:

* Create the same author profile as on your WordPress.com site
* Assign all the imported posts to a new author profile that you specify
* Assign all the imported posts to an existing author profile<img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/WordPress.org-_assign-authors_.png" />

6. To import select the checkbox to import uploaded images or other media and then click on the Submit button to complete the process:\ <img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/Wordpress.org-import-attachment_.png" />

### Step 3: Redirecting existing WordPress.com to WordPress.org site

Following are the two options to redirect users from the existing WordPress.com site:

* Free: Set the existing WordPress.com to private,to avoid duplicate content on the Web:
  1. On the Dashboard in the left sidebar, click Settings,and then click Reading:\ <img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/WP.com-reading-setting_.png" />
  2. On the Reading Settings page, scroll to Site Visibility, and the select the "*I would like my site to be private, visible only to myself and users I choose*" option:\ <img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/WP.com-site-visibility_.png" />
* Paid option: WordPress.com charges US13.00 per year to redirect your traffic to your new site:
  1. On the Dashboard in the left sidebar, click **Settings**,and then click **General**. Click on the redirect link below the **Site address:**
  ***
  2. Enter your new site address and click **Go**: <img src="https://static.hosting.com/kb/WP.com-redirect-site-setting_.png" />

## Related articles

* [Backing up WordPress](/docs/backing-up-your-wordpress-site)
* [Redirecting the primary domain to an existing WordPress installation](/docs/redirecting-the-primary-domain-to-an-existing-wordpress-installation)