How to Update URLs in Elementor After Domain Change

Introduction

Moving your Elementor site to a new domain? URLs don’t update automatically, which means broken links, missing images, and non-functional buttons across your entire site.

This comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to update all URLs in Elementor after a domain change—from simple plugin methods to manual database updates.

What you’ll fix:

• Internal page links
• Image URLs
• Button links
• Menu links
• CSS background images
• Popup trigger URLs
• And everything in between

Estimated time: 15-30 minutes depending on site size

---

Why URLs Break After Domain Migration

When you change domains (e.g., oldsite.com → newsite.com), WordPress and Elementor store old URLs in multiple places:

Where Old URLs Hide:

1. WordPress Settings
   • Site URL
   • Home URL
2. Database Content
   • Post/page content (wp_posts)
   • Post metadata (wp_postmeta) ← Elementor data lives here
   • Options table (wp_options)
   • Widget data
3. Elementor-Specific Areas
   • Widget settings (buttons, images)
   • Custom CSS with background images
   • Template library
   • Popup settings
   • Navigation menus

The Problem: Elementor stores data as serialized PHP arrays. Simple find/replace can break this data structure, corrupting your pages.

---

Pre-Migration Checklist

Before changing URLs, complete these critical steps:

1. Create Complete Backup

Using UpdraftPlus (Recommended):

1. Install UpdraftPlus plugin
2. Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups
3. Click “Backup Now”
4. Check “Include database” and “Include files”
5. Download backup to your computer

Alternative Methods:

• Host backup (cPanel, Plesk)
• BackupBuddy
• Duplicator

2. Document Current Setup

Create a text file with:

Old Domain: https://oldsite.com
New Domain: https://newsite.com
Old URL patterns:
- http://oldsite.com
- https://oldsite.com
- //oldsite.com (protocol-relative)
- www.oldsite.com (if used)

3. Check for Hardcoded URLs

Places to check manually:

• Theme functions.php – Any hardcoded domains
• Custom CSS – Background image URLs
• Custom JavaScript – API endpoints or AJAX URLs
• .htaccess – Rewrite rules with old domain

---

Method 1: Using Better Search Replace Plugin (Recommended)

Best for: Most users, safest method, handles Elementor serialized data correctly.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Install Better Search Replace

1. Go to Plugins → Add New
2. Search “Better Search Replace”
3. Install and activate
4. Navigate to Tools → Better Search Replace

Step 2: Update WordPress Core URLs

First, update general WordPress settings:

1. Go to Settings → General
2. Update:
   • WordPress Address (URL): https://newdomain.com
   • Site Address (URL): https://newdomain.com
3. Save changes

Step 3: Run URL Replacement

In Better Search Replace:

Search for: http://oldsite.com Replace with: https://newsite.com

Select Tables:

☑ wp_posts
☑ wp_postmeta (CRITICAL for Elementor)
☑ wp_options
☑ wp_comments
☑ wp_commentmeta
☑ wp_term_taxonomy
☑ wp_termmeta
☑ wp_usermeta

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Check “Run as dry run?” first!

Step 4: Review Dry Run Results

1. Click “Run Search/Replace”
2. Check results:wp_posts: 47 changes wp_postmeta: 312 changes (Elementor data) wp_options: 23 changes Total: 382 changes
3. If numbers look reasonable, proceed

Step 5: Execute Real Replacement

1. Uncheck “Run as dry run?”
2. Click “Run Search/Replace” again
3. Note the actual changes made

Step 6: Repeat for URL Variations

Run additional replacements for:

Replace #2: HTTPS to HTTPS (if old site was HTTP)

Search: http://oldsite.com
Replace: https://newsite.com

Replace #3: Protocol-relative URLs

Search: //oldsite.com
Replace: //newsite.com

Replace #4: WWW variation (if applicable)

Search: www.oldsite.com
Replace: www.newsite.com

Replace #5: URL-encoded versions

Search: http:\/\/oldsite.com
Replace: https:\/\/newsite.com

---

Method 2: Using WP Migrate DB Plugin

Best for: Migrations, handles serialized data perfectly, more powerful than Better Search Replace.

Installation and Setup

Step 1: Install WP Migrate DB

1. Go to Plugins → Add New
2. Search “WP Migrate DB”
3. Install and activate
4. Go to Tools → Migrate DB

Step 2: Configure Find & Replace

In the “Find & Replace” tab:

Find: https://oldsite.com Replace: https://newsite.com

Click “+ Add Row” for additional patterns:

• http://oldsite.com → https://newsite.com
• //oldsite.com → //newsite.com

Step 3: Select Tables

Choose “Migrate only selected data” or “All tables”

For Elementor, ensure these are selected:

• wp_posts
• wp_postmeta
• wp_options

Step 4: Choose Action

Select “Find & Replace” (not export)

Step 5: Execute

1. Click “Find & Replace”
2. Review report showing changes
3. Click “Close”

---

Method 3: WP-CLI (Command Line – Advanced)

Best for: Developers, very large sites, automated deployments.

Prerequisites

• SSH access to server
• WP-CLI installed
• Basic command line knowledge

Basic URL Replacement

Step 1: Connect via SSH

ssh username@yourserver.com
cd /path/to/wordpress

Step 2: Create Backup

wp db export backup-before-urls.sql

Step 3: Test with Dry Run

wp search-replace 'https://oldsite.com' 'https://newsite.com' --dry-run

Review output:

Success: 437 replacements to be made.

Step 4: Execute Replacement

wp search-replace 'https://oldsite.com' 'https://newsite.com' --skip-columns=guid

Step 5: Additional Variations

# HTTP version
wp search-replace 'http://oldsite.com' 'https://newsite.com' --skip-columns=guid

# Protocol-relative
wp search-replace '//oldsite.com' '//newsite.com' --skip-columns=guid

Advanced WP-CLI Options

Target specific tables:

wp search-replace 'oldsite.com' 'newsite.com' wp_postmeta wp_posts --skip-columns=guid

Export database after changes:

wp db export backup-after-urls.sql

Check for remaining old URLs:

wp db search 'oldsite.com' --all-tables

---

Method 4: Manual Database Update (Last Resort)

⚠️ WARNING: Only use if other methods fail. High risk of breaking serialized data.

Using phpMyAdmin

Step 1: Access phpMyAdmin

1. Login to cPanel or host control panel
2. Navigate to phpMyAdmin
3. Select your WordPress database

Step 2: Export Backup

1. Click “Export” tab
2. Select “Quick” export method
3. Format: SQL
4. Click “Go”
5. Save file to computer

Step 3: Run SQL Query

Go to “SQL” tab and run:

-- Update post content
UPDATE wp_posts
SET post_content = REPLACE(post_content, 'https://oldsite.com', 'https://newsite.com');

-- Update post metadata (Elementor data)
UPDATE wp_postmeta
SET meta_value = REPLACE(meta_value, 'https://oldsite.com', 'https://newsite.com');

-- Update options
UPDATE wp_options
SET option_value = REPLACE(option_value, 'https://oldsite.com', 'https://newsite.com')
WHERE option_name NOT IN ('siteurl', 'home');

-- Update GUIDs (optional, debatable)
UPDATE wp_posts
SET guid = REPLACE(guid, 'https://oldsite.com', 'https://newsite.com');

Step 4: Verify Changes

Run search query:

SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%oldsite.com%' LIMIT 10;

---

Post-Migration Cleanup

After URL replacement, complete these essential steps:

1. Regenerate Elementor CSS

Why: Elementor caches CSS files with old URLs

How:

1. Go to Elementor → Tools
2. Click “Regenerate CSS & Data”
3. Wait for confirmation

2. Clear All Caches

Plugin Cache:

• WP Rocket: Settings → Clear cache
• W3 Total Cache: Performance → Dashboard → Empty all caches
• WP Super Cache: Settings → Delete cache

Server Cache:

• Check with hosting provider
• cPanel: Clear OPcache, Memcached, Redis

CDN Cache:

• Cloudflare: Purge everything
• StackPath: Clear cache
• Other: Check CDN documentation

3. Regenerate Thumbnails

Why: Image URLs may still reference old domain

How:

1. Install “Regenerate Thumbnails” plugin
2. Go to Tools → Regenerate Thumbnails
3. Click “Regenerate All Thumbnails”

4. Update Permalink Structure

1. Go to Settings → Permalinks
2. Don’t change anything
3. Just click “Save Changes” (flushes rewrite rules)

5. Test Navigation Menus

1. Go to Appearance → Menus
2. Check all menu items point to new domain
3. Update any hardcoded URLs

6. Check Elementor Templates

1. Go to Elementor → Templates
2. Edit each template
3. Check links and images
4. Update template

---

Verification Checklist

After migration, verify everything works:

Frontend Checks

☐ Homepage loads correctly
☐ All images display properly
☐ Internal links work (click 5-10 random links)
☐ Buttons navigate to correct pages
☐ Forms submit successfully
☐ Videos play (if embedded)
☐ Sliders/carousels function
☐ Mobile menu works
☐ Footer links correct
☐ Search functionality works

Elementor-Specific Checks

☐ Edit a page with Elementor (no errors)
☐ Check background images in sections
☐ Verify button links in widgets
☐ Test popups (if using Elementor Pro)
☐ Check mega menu links (if using Elementor Pro)
☐ Verify WooCommerce products (if applicable)
☐ Test contact forms
☐ Check social media links

Technical Checks

☐ No console errors (F12 → Console)
☐ No mixed content warnings (HTTP/HTTPS)
☐ SSL certificate installed and working
☐ Redirects working (old domain → new domain)
☐ Sitemap generated with new URLs
☐ Google Search Console verified for new domain

---

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Some Images Still Show Old URL

Symptoms: Random images broken, some pages fine

Causes:

1. Images in custom CSS
2. Background images in Elementor sections
3. CDN still serving old URLs

Solutions:

For Custom CSS:

1. Go to Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS
2. Find/replace old domain
3. Save

For Elementor Backgrounds:

1. Edit page with Elementor
2. Click section with background image
3. Re-upload or select image from media library
4. Update

For CDN:

1. Purge CDN cache completely
2. Wait 10-15 minutes for propagation
3. Test again

Issue 2: Elementor Editor Won’t Load

Symptoms: “Loading” spinner never stops, white screen

Causes:

1. Corrupted serialized data
2. Wrong site URL in settings
3. Cache not cleared

Solutions:

Check WordPress URLs:

SELECT option_value FROM wp_options WHERE option_name IN ('siteurl', 'home');

Should show new domain.

Fix if wrong:

UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'https://newdomain.com' WHERE option_name = 'siteurl';
UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'https://newdomain.com' WHERE option_name = 'home';

Clear Elementor Cache:

1. Deactivate Elementor
2. Activate Elementor
3. Go to Tools → Regenerate CSS

Issue 3: Links Work But Point to Old Domain

Symptoms: Clicking links redirects to old site

Cause: Didn’t update all URL variations

Solution:

Run additional replacements:

http://oldsite.com → https://newsite.com
https://www.oldsite.com → https://newsite.com
www.oldsite.com → newsite.com
oldsite.com (no protocol) → newsite.com

Issue 4: Mixed Content Warnings

Symptoms: Padlock icon missing, “Not secure” warning

Cause: Some resources loaded via HTTP instead of HTTPS

Solutions:

Find mixed content:

1. Open site in Chrome
2. Press F12 → Console
3. Look for “Mixed Content” warnings
4. Note the URLs

Fix with plugin: Install “Really Simple SSL” plugin (fixes most cases automatically)

Or run manual replace:

http://newsite.com → https://newsite.com

---

Advanced Scenarios

Scenario 1: Subdomain to Main Domain

Example: blog.oldsite.com → newsite.com

Replacements needed:

https://blog.oldsite.com → https://newsite.com
http://blog.oldsite.com → https://newsite.com
//blog.oldsite.com → //newsite.com

Scenario 2: Subfolder to Root

Example: oldsite.com/blog → newsite.com

Replacements needed:

https://oldsite.com/blog → https://newsite.com
https://oldsite.com/blog/ → https://newsite.com/
oldsite.com/blog → newsite.com

Additional step: Update .htaccess for redirects

Scenario 3: HTTP to HTTPS (Same Domain)

Example: http://mysite.com → https://mysite.com

Steps:

1. Install SSL certificate first
2. Run URL replacement: http://mysite.com → https://mysite.com
3. Add redirect in .htaccess:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

---

Setting Up 301 Redirects

After migration, redirect old domain to new domain:

Method 1: .htaccess (Apache Servers)

Add to top of old site’s .htaccess:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^oldsite\.com$ [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.oldsite\.com$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://newsite.com/\ [R=301,L]
</IfModule>

Method 2: Redirection Plugin

1. Install “Redirection” plugin on OLD site
2. Go to Tools → Redirection
3. Add redirect:
   • Source URL: .* (regex: all URLs)
   • Target URL: https://newsite.com/$1
   • Type: 301 Permanent

Method 3: Cloudflare Page Rules

1. Login to Cloudflare
2. Go to Rules → Page Rules
3. Add rule:
   • URL: oldsite.com/*
   • Setting: Forwarding URL (301)
   • Destination: https://newsite.com/$1

---

SEO Considerations

Update Google Search Console

1. Add new domain property in GSC
2. Submit new sitemap
3. Keep old property active for 6 months to monitor redirects

Update Google Analytics

1. Go to Admin → Property Settings
2. Update “Default URL” to new domain
3. Update tracking code if changed

Update Social Media Links

• Facebook page URL
• Twitter profile link
• LinkedIn company page
• Instagram bio link
• Pinterest verification

Inform Google of Domain Change

1. Verify both old and new domains in Search Console
2. Use the “Change of Address” tool
3. Google Help → Change of Address tool

---

Maintenance After Migration

Week 1: Daily Checks

• Monitor error logs
• Check Analytics for 404s
• Test critical pages daily
• Monitor uptime

Month 1: Weekly Checks

• Review Search Console for crawl errors
• Check backlink status
• Monitor rankings
• Verify redirects working

Month 3: Final Audit

• Remove 301 redirects from old domain (optional)
• Archive old site backups
• Update all third-party services
• Document migration for future reference

---

Conclusion

Updating URLs in Elementor after a domain change is straightforward when using the right tools. Better Search Replace and WP Migrate DB handle the complex serialized data safely, preventing corruption.

Key Takeaways:

1. ✅ Always backup before starting
2. ✅ Use Better Search Replace or WP Migrate DB
3. ✅ Test with dry run first
4. ✅ Update all URL variations (HTTP, HTTPS, www, protocol-relative)
5. ✅ Clear Elementor cache and all other caches
6. ✅ Set up 301 redirects from old to new domain
7. ✅ Update Search Console and Analytics

Recommended Plugin: Better Search Replace (free) handles 95% of cases perfectly.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to update URLs if I’m just moving to HTTPS on the same domain? A: Yes! Update http://yoursite.com to https://yoursite.com using the same process.

Q: Will URL changes affect my Elementor Pro license? A: No, your license is tied to your account, not the domain. Just reactivate with your license key.

Q: Can I use multiple find/replace plugins at once? A: No—choose one method and stick with it to avoid conflicts.

Q: What if I already changed URLs but pages are broken? A: Restore your backup and follow this guide step-by-step with dry run mode enabled.

Q: Should I update the GUID column in wp_posts? A: Debatable. WordPress documentation says don’t change GUIDs, but for domain changes, updating them is usually fine.

Q: How do I test if all URLs were updated? A: Use WP-CLI: wp db search 'oldsite.com' --all-tables to find any remaining references.

---

**Need help?** Drop your migration questions in the comments!