Importing and exporting data in WordPress is an essential feature which allows to transfer content from one website to another. It’s a valuable tool especially when moving a site to a new host, duplicating a site for testing purposes, or archiving posts and pages.
Exporting Data from WordPress:
The first step is to log into the WordPress dashboard. Once you’re in, navigate to “Tools” in the left side menu and select “Export”. This will take you to a new screen where you can choose what type of content you want to export: All content (posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, and tags), Posts (you can selectively export by category, author, date range, or status), Pages (you can selectively export by author, date range, or status), or Media (you can selectively export by date range).
Once you’ve selected the desired options, click on the “Download Export File” button. This will create an XML file that contains your chosen content. The file will be downloaded to your computer.
Importing Data to WordPress:
To import the data, access the WordPress Dashboard of the new site, navigate to “Tools”, and select “Import”. On the Import screen, you will see a list of platforms to import from; since we’re importing from a WordPress site, select “WordPress” at the bottom. If you haven’t done so previously, you will need to install the WordPress Importer plugin. Click on “Install Now”, and when the installation is complete, choose “Activate Plugin & Run Importer”.
In the WordPress Importer screen, you are prompted to upload a file. Click “Choose File”, locate the XML file you exported from the original site, and click “Upload File and Import”. You will then be given the choice to assign the imported content to an existing user or create a new user, also pick whether you want to import file attachments.
Once you’ve chosen the desired options, click “Submit”, and WordPress will start importing your content. Keep in mind that if your file is large, the importing process may take some time.
Remember, while these inbuilt WordPress tools work well, they are not comprehensive site movers. They won’t, for instance, migrate your plugins, themes, or settings.
For a more extensive migration like moving themes and plugins, you may need additional plugins and tools like All-in-One WP Migration or Duplicator.
Sources:
https://wordpress.org/support/article/tools-export-screen/
https://wordpress.org/support/article/tools-import-screen/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/all-in-one-wp-migration/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/
