Have you ever had to move content from one WordPress blog to another? At first glance, it might seem like a difficult task, but really you just need something called WordPress Importer which will do all the work for you.
What is WordPress Importer?
This is a WordPress import tool used to migrate content from one existing WordPress site to another. You can also use this tool to transfer a site from your to an online server.
You can migrate different types of data with WordPress Importer, for example:
- Posts, Pages, and Other Custom Post Types
- Comments
- Custom fields and metadata of your posts
- Categories, tags, and custom taxonomy terms
- Authors
Also keep in mind that the WordPress importer also allows you to import from other blogging platforms. This will come in handy if you decide to switch to WordPress because other platforms no longer fit your needs.
How to use WordPress Importer
Now you know what WordPress Importer is, but how to use it? It’s not as hard as it looks.
Instead of transferring the data manually, you will use a tool that will do it all for you. Great, isn’t it?
To help you understand our instructions a little better, we’ll refer to the old site you want to import content from as Site A, and the new home of your old content will be called Site B.
Step 1: On site A, decide what content to move and export the file
One great thing about using the built-in WordPress import tool is that it allows you to select which data to transfer. You can move the entire page or just individual pieces of content, pages, etc.
In the WordPress dashboard for Site A, go to Tools -> Export.
On this page you can choose what to export. If you want to export everything, check the “All content” option.
However, if you only want to export some parts of your old content, this image shows you how to choose what to move:
There are several options to choose from, for example, if you want to move posts (entries), you can choose to export only posts from a specific category, posts written by a particular author, posts created in a specific date range, etc.
When you’re happy with your choices, click “Download Export File” and save the XML file to your computer.
That’s all there is to do on Site A. For the next step, go to the Site B WordPress dashboard.
Step 2 – On site B, install WordPress Importer
To successfully import data from Site A, you must first prepare the tool on Site B. In the dashboard, go to Tools -> Import to access the import page.
Click “Install Now” below WordPress if you haven’t installed the WordPress importer before. After installation, click “Run Importer”.
Tip: WordPress Importer also allows you to import from other blogging platforms.
Step 3: Import the exported XML file
Find the exported XML file and upload it to your new site.
To do this, first click on “Choose File” and choose the XML file you saved earlier. Second, click on “Upload file and import” and wait for the process to finish.
Loading time may vary depending on file size.
Tip: If your exported XML file is larger than 128 MB, check out our other page to learn how to increase the maximum file upload size in WordPress.
Step 4: Assign Authors
Your new WordPress site may not have the same authors as your old one. Then you will have to assign them.
Then click Import Attachments if you want to download the image attachments.
Click Submit when you’re done and wait for the process to finish. You will then be redirected to the next page.
Congratulations, you have successfully imported your old content to a new home. However, this will only work for importing blog content. If you want to move things other than content, it might be worth looking at third-party tools.
There are great tools that can help make the transfer easy and stress-free.
WordPress Import Plugins
As a bonus, we’re going to include a list of several WordPress import plugins that go beyond content import. Each plugin is different, and we suggest you take a quick look at each overview to find the one that works best for you.
These plugins are useful for those looking for more advanced features in WordPress data import and export. Some may seem a bit intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, they will substantially improve your workflow.
1.
Don’t worry that the built-in WordPress Importer tool can’t import and export widgets, as this plugin will do the work for you.
Aside from creating an export file in JSON format instead of XML, the export and import process is the same. Forget re-entering widgets manually!
two.
For those who love the idea of editing data with Excel, this plugin is a must have.
Furthermore, it allows you to export specific parts of your posts, using a drag and drop interface. This simplifies an otherwise complicated process.
And even if you don’t plan on moving your content elsewhere, you can still take advantage of the plugin’s freedom to edit and reorganize your data.
3.
The Ultimate CSV Importer plugin gives you the option to export data in CSV format. Also, it has great features that will help you save time managing import data.
You can import images directly from external URLs in the CSV files, which will save a lot of time for bloggers whose content is full of photos, videos, etc.
Four.
This CSV import plugin allows you to import users along with their metadata easily. It can be useful if you own an online store with many registered customers.
This will allow you to move the site without having to re-enter the entire user database.
This plugin works just like any other import tool. You can export user data to a CSV file and import it to your new site in no time.
Summary
Moving content from one site to another is a simple yet rewarding task.
The WordPress Importer tool saves you time when migrating data: it eliminates all the unnecessary steps and makes the migration process easy and stress-free.
Gustavo is passionate about creating websites. He focuses on the application of SEO strategies at for Spain and Latin America, as well as the creation of high-level content. When he is not applying new WordPress tricks you can find him playing the guitar, traveling or taking an online course.
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