Search & Replace
Search and Replace URLs (Free Version)
The free version of Update URLS replaces old URLs across core WordPress content from one screen: posts, excerpts, attachment media, links, and custom fields. It is built for URL changes such as moving to a new domain or switching to HTTPS. Open Update URLS → Search & Replace, enter the old and new URLs, choose where to update, and click Run Search/Replace.
What the free version updates
The Search & Replace screen is a single form. Under Where to Update?, tick one or more targets:
| Target | What it updates |
|---|---|
| Content | Post content across posts, pages, custom post types, and revisions |
| Excerpts | Post excerpts |
| Attachments | Media GUIDs for attachment posts |
| Links | The WordPress links table (wp_links) |
| Custom | Post meta / custom fields, with serialized data handled safely |
| Replace GUIDs | All post GUIDs (an additional setting) |
In the free version, Search For and Replace With are treated as URLs, so use full URL values. To replace arbitrary text or target a specific database table, use Search and Replace Across Selected Tables (PRO).
Before you start
- Take a full site backup. Free changes cannot be undone.
- Make sure you are logged in as an administrator.
- Enter exact values for Search For and Replace With — free matching is case-sensitive.
Steps
- Go to Update URLS → Search & Replace.
- In Search For, enter the old URL.
- In Replace With, enter the new URL.
- Under Where to Update?, select the targets to update.
- Optionally tick Replace GUIDs under Additional Settings.
- Click Run Search/Replace.
What you will see after running
- A success message listing per-target counts (for example, the number of content items updated), or
- "No search found." if nothing matched, or
- An error if no checkbox was selected or the fields are empty.
Free changes are immediate and irreversible
The free version writes directly to the database with a case-sensitive, whole-table replacement. There is no dry run, no undo, no table selection, and no built-in backup. Back up your site before you run it. For a preview and one-click undo, upgrade to PRO.
Conclusion
The free version of Update URLS handles URL replacements across your core WordPress content from a single form. Back up first, since changes are applied immediately and cannot be reversed. When you need a dry-run preview, table selection, or undo, move to Search and Replace Across Selected Tables (PRO).
FAQs
Can I undo a free search and replace?
No. The free version applies changes directly to the database and there is no undo. Take a full site backup before running it so you can restore if something goes wrong. One-click undo with history is a PRO feature, and PRO also includes database backup and import.
Is free search and replace case-sensitive?
Yes. Free matching is case-sensitive and finds only the exact text you enter, so Example.com and example.com are treated as different values. There is no case-insensitive option in the free version. PRO adds a Case-Insensitive toggle for when you need it.
Can the free version replace text that is not a URL?
Not reliably. In the free version, Search For and Replace With are processed as URLs, so it is intended for URL changes. To search and replace arbitrary text or target a specific database table, use the PRO version, which accepts any search string and lets you pick tables.
Does the free version handle serialized data?
Yes. For the Custom (post meta) target, Update URLS unserializes the data, replaces the value inside it, and re-serializes it so the stored lengths stay valid. This avoids the broken options and meta you would get from running a raw SQL replace against serialized fields.