NewThe WP Tutoring WordPress training platform is live — on demand video courses and interactive WordPress lessons. Free lessons included.Start free
Helping site owners learn WordPress since 2012 · (844) WP-TUTOR
Plugins course · BeginnerIn production

Duplicator: WordPress Plugin Tutorial

Learn the free Duplicator plugin in this short tutorial: build a package and deploy it with the installer to back up, clone or migrate any WordPress site.

4 lessons
17 min
Free with a free account
Create a free account →In production. Every lesson will be free — a free account gets it the day it releases

This short Duplicator tutorial shows you how the free plugin packages an entire WordPress site into a pair of files you can move anywhere. By the end you can build a backup, carry your site to a new host or a fresh server, and rebuild a working copy on the other end. It is the tool to reach for when the destination is empty and you need WordPress to simply appear there.

What you'll learn

Every WordPress site eventually needs to move: to a faster host, from a local build to live, or into a safe copy before a risky change. Duplicator matters because it does not need WordPress already running at the destination, which is exactly where the importers built into wp-admin fall short. In this course you will understand what goes into a package and why, then learn to deploy one with the installer so the copy comes up clean. You will also see how Duplicator fits alongside other migration tools, so you can pick the right one for the job in front of you and manage your backups with confidence.

Inside the course

  • How Duplicator Works & Installation
  • Building Your First Backup
  • Deploying a Package: The Installer Walkthrough
  • Backup Use, Tools & Choosing Your Mover

Who this course is for

This is a beginner-friendly course for site owners, freelancers and anyone who wants a dependable way to back up or move a WordPress site without a developer. No prior migration experience is needed; if you can log in to your dashboard and your host's control panel, you can follow along. If you would rather read first, our free written tutorials and live 1-on-1 training cover the same ground.

Frequently asked questions

Is Duplicator free to use?
Yes. This course covers the free Duplicator plugin, which is enough to back up, clone and migrate a typical WordPress site. There is a paid Pro version with extras like scheduled and cloud backups, but you do not need it to follow along. The course itself is also free to watch with a free account.
Can I use Duplicator to move my site to a new host?
Yes, that is one of its main jobs. Duplicator builds a package you upload to the new host, then rebuilds the site there using the installer, even when the destination is a bare server with no WordPress on it yet. The course walks the full move step by step.
Do I need coding skills to use Duplicator?
No. The whole process is done through the plugin and a browser, with no code to write. The one technical moment is entering the destination database details during install, and those come straight from your hosting control panel or your host's support team.

Get our free WordPress starter guide

Join thousands of site owners and get step-by-step WordPress tutorials in your inbox, plus printable cheat sheets.

Beginner-friendly, no jargon
Printable cheat sheets & checklists
Unsubscribe anytime

Request your session

We’ll reply quickly — usually the same business day.

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this site.

Access our WordPress Training Academy videos

Step-by-step video courses covering the block editor, themes, plugins, and everything you need to build a site you’re proud of. Free lessons included — browse the full library before you sign up for anything.

Explore the Academy