Why drupal-to-wordpress migrations generate issues
When you move content from Drupal into WordPress you are translating two different content models, url schemes, and editorial workflows. Drupal stores content as nodes with fields, views, and often custom URL aliases created by Pathauto. WordPress expects posts, pages, taxonomies, and media registered in the Media Library. That mismatch creates predictable problems: broken links, missing images, mismapped taxonomies, lost SEO metadata, and user authentication differences. Recognizing those categories of problems up front reduces surprises and keeps downtime low.
Common issues and how to fix them
1. Broken permalinks and SEO loss
Drupal sites often use aliases like /category/my-article or date-structured urls that don’t match WordPress’s default permalink structure. If the old URLs disappear, search engines and visitors will hit 404s and rankings can drop. The fix is to create a complete set of 301 redirects from all old Drupal URLs to their WordPress equivalents. Export the Drupal aliases table and import it into a redirect manager in WordPress, or generate redirect rules in .htaccess or your web server configuration. Use the Redirection plugin or a server-level ruleset, and test with a crawler like Screaming Frog to ensure every old URL points to the proper new URL.
2. Missing images and broken media paths
Drupal stores files in sites/default/files with image styles that generate derivative images on demand. After migration those paths can break, and media entries won’t be attached to posts. Solution steps include migrating all files into WordPress’s wp-content/uploads by keeping the same directory structure where possible, running a script or using a plugin to import media and create attachments, and regenerating thumbnails so WordPress can serve the correct sizes. If image style URLs are still referenced in content, either recreate those styles as static images and update references, or rewrite the URLs during migration so they point to the regenerated images in uploads.
3. Taxonomy and category mismatch
Drupal’s taxonomy terms and vocabularies don’t map 1:1 to WordPress categories and tags. If terms are left unmapped, content may lose its contextual grouping. Plan a mapping strategy: decide which vocabularies become categories, which become tags, and which require custom taxonomies. Use migration plugins or a custom script to create the target taxonomies in WordPress and assign terms during import. For complex relationships, consider using Advanced Custom Fields or custom post types to preserve structure.
4. Custom content types and fields
Drupal content types with multiple fields and complex field formats (entity references, multi-value fields, geolocation, etc.) need equivalent structures in WordPress. WordPress supports custom post types and custom fields, but you will usually need to recreate those with code or plugins like Custom Post Type UI and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF). During migration, map each Drupal field to the corresponding WordPress field, convert serialized or structured values into formats WordPress accepts (json, repeated post meta), and import them with WP All Import or a bespoke migration script.
5. Users and passwords
Drupal and WordPress use different password hashing methods, so user exports won’t let users log in directly unless you handle passwords correctly. Best practice is to import user accounts with emails and usernames, but force a password reset on first login, or implement a password migration plugin that understands Drupal hashes and converts them. If you choose reset emails, make sure transactional email delivery (smtp) is configured so messages reliably reach users.
6. Lost meta tags and SEO settings
Drupal SEO modules often store page titles, descriptions, and social metadata in separate fields. If those are not migrated, your search engine snippets will be blank. Export metadata fields and import them into WordPress meta fields or configure an SEO plugin like Yoast or Rank Math to accept the imported data. Ensure canonical URLs are set properly and recreate XML sitemaps after the migration so search engines can re-index the new structure quickly.
7. Redirects from Pathauto and alias patterns
Pathauto generates predictable aliases from tokens. You can use the same token map to anticipate old URLs and bulk-generate redirect rules. If you have many pages, write a script to convert alias patterns into WordPress Rewrite rules, or create a CSV of source/target pairs and import them into the Redirection plugin. Keep redirect chains to a minimum and prefer 301 permanent redirects to preserve SEO value.
8. Broken internal links and relative URLs
Content copied from Drupal may contain absolute links that point to the old domain structure or relative links that no longer resolve. Run a search-and-replace on the post content to update old domain names and path prefixes, and convert Drupal internal token links into WordPress permalink structures. Use WP-cli search-replace or a database-aware tool to avoid corrupting serialized data. After replacing links, crawl the site to find edge cases like query-string links or references inside JSON blobs.
9. Forms, submissions, and webforms
Drupal’s Webform module stores submissions differently than WordPress form plugins. If submission history matters, export the form definitions and submission data from Drupal and import them into a WordPress form plugin or keep them as archived records. Recreate forms in Gravity Forms, Contact Form 7, or Ninja Forms, and either migrate submissions into a custom database table or export them to CSV for archival access. Make sure email notifications and spam protection are reconfigured after migration.
10. Performance and caching differences
Drupal caches at different layers and may use Varnish, Redis, or memcached in ways that won’t carry over automatically. After moving to WordPress, re-evaluate caching strategies: enable object caching with Redis if needed, configure a page cache plugin or server-level Varnish, and use an optimized php setup and CDN for static assets. Also check modules and plugins that add heavy database queries; replace expensive Drupal views with efficient WP queries or indexed custom tables where performance lags.
Practical migration checklist
Below is a condensed checklist to reduce migration pain. Run these steps in a staging environment, verify results, and only switch DNS when the checklist passes.
- Export Drupal nodes, users, taxonomies, files, and URL aliases.
- Create custom post types and taxonomies in WordPress to match Drupal structures.
- Import media into wp-content/uploads and attach files to posts.
- Map fields and run the content import using WP All Import, FG Drupal to WordPress, or a custom script.
- Import SEO metadata into your chosen SEO plugin.
- Set up 301 redirects for every Drupal URL to the new WordPress URL.
- Regenerate thumbnails and check image presentation across templates.
- Recreate forms and reconfigure email delivery.
- Test user logins, trigger password resets if needed, and verify roles.
- Crawl the site, fix broken links, and submit updated sitemap to search engines.
Tools and plugins that help
There are several reliable tools to streamline migration work. FG Drupal to WordPress automates a lot of the heavy lifting for content and media import. WP All Import with its ACF add-on gives granular control over field-level mapping and is helpful when you need custom mapping logic. Redirection and Yoast or Rank Math cover redirects and SEO metadata. For bulk database changes, WP-CLI and Search Replace DB are essential for safe search-and-replace operations. Use a crawler like Screaming Frog to validate redirects and find 404s before launch. When custom logic is required, build a migration script in PHP that reads the Drupal database and uses WordPress functions to create content so relationships and meta are preserved.
Testing and launch tips
Do not skip thorough testing. Run a comprehensive crawl and snapshot before switching dns, check mobile layouts and structured data, and compare traffic and key landing pages in a staging environment to spot ranking changes early. Keep the old Drupal site available in read-only mode for a short rollback window if you encounter critical issues. Finally, monitor server logs, search console, and analytics closely in the first weeks after launch to address crawl errors and user friction quickly.
Summary
Migrating from Drupal to WordPress tends to surface predictable problems,broken permalinks, lost media, taxonomy mismatches, and SEO metadata gaps. Planning field mappings, moving media correctly, implementing comprehensive 301 redirects, and using migration tools or scripts will address most issues. Test thoroughly on staging, recreate critical functionality like forms and user flows, and monitor SEO and performance after launch to catch lingering problems quickly.
FAQs
Do I need custom code to migrate from Drupal to WordPress?
Not always. Plugins like FG Drupal to WordPress or WP All Import can handle many sites. For complex field relationships, custom post types, or large-scale sites with nonstandard structures, custom PHP scripts provide more control and help preserve relationships and metadata.
How can I preserve SEO when migrating?
Export all Drupal URL aliases and metadata, recreate equivalent permalinks in WordPress or set up 301 redirects to match the old structure, import meta titles/descriptions into an SEO plugin, and submit updated sitemaps to search engines. Monitor Search Console and crawl logs to detect issues early.
What happens to user accounts and passwords?
Drupal and WordPress use different password hashing, so you cannot directly reuse hashes unless you implement a migration tool that converts them. The usual approach is to import users and prompt password resets, or use a plugin that understands Drupal hashes to allow a seamless transition.
How do I handle Drupal image styles and derivatives?
Either migrate the original images and regenerate WordPress sizes or export the generated derivative images and map their URLs to WordPress media. Update any content references to point to the new image locations and run a thumbnail regeneration to ensure consistent display.
How long should I keep the old Drupal site live?
Keep it available in read-only mode for at least a short rollback window,typically a few days to a couple of weeks,while you monitor traffic, SEO, and user reports. This allows you to recover quickly if a major issue emerges during the early post-launch period.
