If you’re moving your WordPress website from WPEngine to your own cloud server or another hosting provider, don’t overlook the WPEngine Must-Use (MU) plugins. These platform-specific plugins can cause problems after migration if they’re left in place.
We’ve had several WPEngine customers approach us after facing migration issues when moving their WordPress sites to other hosts.
Many website owners use migration plugins, which transfer everything in the /wp-content folder, including WPEngine’s proprietary Must-Use (MU) plugins and drop-in files. While these files are essential on WPEngine’s platform, they can conflict with other hosting environments if they aren’t removed during the migration process.
To avoid conflicts, ensure that you remove the following MU Plugins and Drop-In Files when migrating your website from WPEngine.
- Path /wp-content/mu-plugins
Force Strong Passwords - WPE Edition
WP Engine Cache Plugin
WP Engine Seamless Login Plugin
WP Engine Security Auditor
WP Engine System
- Path /wp-content
advanced-cache.php
object-cache.phpWhat Are MU Plugins And Drop-In Files?
Must-use plugins (mu-plugins) are plugins installed in a special directory inside the /wp-content folder that are automatically enabled and can not be deactivated unless manually deleted. Drop-in files are used to alter Core WordPress files and are usually ‘dropped in’ inside the /wp-content folder.
WP-Config.php
If you are using a migration plugin to transfer your website from WPEngine, then you need not worry about the wp-config.php file. However, if you are moving your website manually, it is recommended that you create your own wp-config.php file as WPEngine’s customised file contains several settings that can cause issues.
If you need help migrating WordPress away from WPEngine’s hosting platform, consider reaching out to us. Our team has extensive experience in handling such migrations.