How to Export and Import a WordPress Blog

WordPress is an open-source blogging platform that is used both privately and on the WordPress.com website. Most blogs are hosted on the WordPress.com site, but many businesses and organizations download the software from WordPress.org for their business or personal blogs, or to use as a content management system (CMS). Blogs often change addresses. For example, you may decide you want your WordPress.com blog to go on your professional website, or you may want to move a self-hosted blog to WordPress.com, while you change domain names. You can do this with the WordPress import and export functions. Read more to find out how to export and import a WordPress blog.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Exporting WordPress Blogs

Click on your blog name, and select "Dashboard" from the menu. You should see a list of options on the left-hand side of your screen.^{[1]XExpert SourceMartin Aranovitch
WordPress Trainer & EducatorExpert Interview. 30 March 2021.}
Choose the "Export" box from the list of options.^{[2]XExpert SourceMartin Aranovitch
WordPress Trainer & EducatorExpert Interview. 30 March 2021.} You will most likely want to export your content first, so you can import it somewhere else.
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3
Decide how much of your content you want to export. The top option is "All Content," and it is the most popular choice. Click "Download Export File" to create an "XML" file of your entire blog on your computer.
- You may see the option "Guided Transfer" on your Export page. This is a service, provided by WordPress.com, for approximately $119. They will export your website and import it onto the site of your choice. If you choose to download the Extensible Markup Language (XML), or website, file, it is always completely free of charge.
- Some uploads, photos, and links may not be exported into your file. You may need to re-upload some of this content onto your new website.
You will need this file to import it later.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Importing WordPress Blogs

1
Go to your WordPress.com or WordPress.org website. Go to the blog page. Find the Tools section of the Dashboard and select the "Import" option.
- You can try to transfer your WordPress.com or .org blog to a non-WordPress platform. Some content that does not match the website format may be lost. WordPress is free and open-source, so if a web programmer can install the WordPress.org software on your new website, it may be the easiest option. You will already have familiarity with how the blog can be changed, leading to fewer problems.
Click "Upload" to upload the XML file to the new blog. Select "Download & import file attachments" to move your media along with the rest of your blog.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Importing and Exporting WordPress Databases

It is important to follow exact instructions to make sure your database stays intact and uploads properly to a new website.
Under WordPress, click the "Structure" tab and then the "Export" option. Click the box for "Add drop table/drop view" and the box to "Save as file."
Open the file in a text editor program. Select the find function to find all of the previous URL (website) addresses.
You can click "Replace All" to do this in 1 step. Check your document to make sure all the URL addresses are changed before saving the file.
Login to your server and go to "MySQL Databases." Create a new database and assign it a new user to serve as an administrator.
Under the "Import" tab, select the file you just downloaded, changed, and saved. Click "Go" to upload the file to your WordPress platform.
Change the database details, replacing them with the new server and domain settings.
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Are there any other ways you can do this?
Martin Aranovitch
WordPress Trainer & Educator
Martin Aranovitch is a WordPress Trainer and Educator and a WordPress Writer for WPMU DEV. With over 18 years of digital marketing and website maintenance experience, Martin specializes in providing comprehensive instruction for people looking to use WordPress effectively. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Technology Studies from The University of New South Wales. Martin is also a digital publisher and the author of multiple WordPress guides and training manuals for people of all learning levels.
Martin Aranovitch
WordPress Trainer & Educator
Expert Answer
Another way to import and export a WordPress blog involves using a migration plugin like Shipper Pro for example. This plugin can be used to move complex WordPress sites (e.g. from one host to another), migrate only certain parts of a site, or move entire Multisite installations (many WordPress sites hosted under one domain).
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If you want to redirect all of your readers to your new site, WordPress.com provides a "Site Redirect Upgrade" that will automatically redirect your fans. The service costs approximately $12 per year, but may the price depend upon the length of time you use it and the URL.
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