Most WordPress websites migrate to Web60 in just a few minutes. However, if your site is particularly large — over 1GB of files, a big media library, or a database with thousands of posts — you may need to take a few extra steps to ensure a smooth transfer.
How to tell if your site is "large"
Your site might benefit from the tips in this guide if:
- Your total website files are over 1GB (this includes images, videos, and downloads)
- Your database is over 100MB
- You have thousands of blog posts, products, or pages
- Your media library contains thousands of images
If you are not sure how large your site is, check with your current hosting provider or look at the disk usage in your hosting control panel.
Tip 1: Use the Web60 Migration Plugin
Even for large sites, the Web60 Migration Plugin is usually the best option. It transfers files in resumable chunks, which means if the connection drops during a large transfer, it picks up where it left off rather than starting again from scratch.
See our migration plugin guide for full instructions.
Tip 2: Optimise your database before migrating
Over time, WordPress databases accumulate unnecessary data that makes them larger than they need to be. Cleaning this up before migrating reduces the transfer time and gives you a tidier site.
Consider removing:
- Post revisions — WordPress saves every draft revision of every post. If you have hundreds of posts, this can add up to thousands of database entries. You can remove old revisions using a cleanup plugin before migrating.
- Spam comments — Go to Comments in your WordPress admin and delete all spam.
- Trashed items — Empty the trash for posts, pages, and comments.
- Expired transients — These are temporary database entries that are often no longer needed. A database cleanup plugin can remove them.
Tip 3: If migrating manually, upload in batches
If you are using the manual migration method and your site has a large number of files, upload them in smaller batches rather than all at once. This avoids connection timeouts and makes it easier to spot any issues.
A good approach is to upload each major folder separately:
- Upload
wp-content/themesfirst - Then
wp-content/plugins - Then
wp-content/uploads— if this folder is very large, upload it year by year (for example,uploads/2024, thenuploads/2025)
Tip 4: Compress your database export
When exporting your database from your current host, save it as a compressed file (gzip or zip). A compressed database file can be five to ten times smaller than the uncompressed version, which makes uploading much faster.
Most database export tools offer a compression option during export. Choose gzip if available.
Tip 5: Consider uploading large media libraries separately
If your site has a very large media library (several gigabytes of images and files), it may be faster to upload the media files separately using a file transfer application rather than relying on the migration plugin to transfer everything.
- Use the migration plugin to transfer your database, themes, and plugins.
- Then connect to your Web60 site using a file transfer application (see our file access guide).
- Upload your
wp-content/uploadsfolder directly.
This splits the workload and avoids any single transfer becoming too large.
Tip 6: Be patient with large transfers
A 1GB website might take 10 to 15 minutes to migrate. A 3GB website could take 30 to 60 minutes. This is normal and not a sign that anything has gone wrong.
If you are using the migration plugin, you can leave the page and come back later. The migration continues in the background.
Tip 7: Check your current host's limits
Some hosting providers have limits that can interfere with large migrations:
- Connection timeouts — Your old host may cut the connection after a certain time, interrupting the export. If exports keep failing, try exporting in smaller pieces.
- Download limits — Some hosts limit how much data you can download at once. You may need to download your files in stages.
If your current host is making the migration difficult, contact Web60 support and we can work around these limitations.
Sites over 5GB
If your website is over 5GB, we recommend contacting our support team for a free assisted migration. We have tools and processes for handling very large transfers that go beyond what the standard migration methods offer.
Contact Web60 support to arrange an assisted migration.
Need help?
If your large migration is not going smoothly, visit our support page and we will help you get it sorted.
Frequently asked questions
How large of a site can Web60 handle?
Web60 can host websites of any size. For migrations, the plugin method handles most sites up to several gigabytes without any issues. If your site is over 5GB, contact our support team and we will assist with the transfer.
What if my migration keeps timing out?
Timeouts are usually caused by your old host cutting the connection. Try the manual migration method instead, uploading files in smaller batches. You can also contact Web60 support for a free assisted migration.
Can Web60 support help with large migrations?
Yes. Our support team is happy to handle large migrations for you at no extra cost. Just get in touch through the support page and let us know the size of your site.
Last updated: 31 March 2026