Exporting your WordPress site can be daunting, particularly for beginners. Whether changing hosting providers, setting up a staging site, or just needing a backup, exporting your site is an essential first step. There are many tools available to help you export your WordPress website safely. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know on how to easily export a WordPress website.
Understanding WordPress Export
Exporting a WordPress website involves creating a package that includes all your site’s content, themes, plugins, and settings. This package can then be imported into a new WordPress installation or used as a backup.
Why Export WordPress website
Exporting your WordPress site can be beneficial for several reasons:
1. Backup
Creating a backup ensures that you have a copy of your content and settings in case of data loss or site issues.
2. Migration
If you’re moving to a new host or domain, exporting helps transfer your content easily.
3. Site Duplication
Exporting allows you to create a duplicate of your site for testing or development purposes.
4. Content Management
You can selectively export posts, pages, or media, making it easier to manage specific parts of your site.
5. Compliance and Archiving
Exporting your site can be part of a compliance strategy or for long-term archiving.
How To Export WordPress Website
#1. Backing Up Your Website
Before embarking on any significant changes to your website, it is imperative to perform a comprehensive backup. This process safeguards all critical components of your site, ensuring that you can restore it to its original state if needed. A complete backup should encompass:
a). Database
This includes all your posts, pages, comments, and various site settings. The database is the backbone of your content management, so it’s vital to secure it.
b). Theme Files
Any customizations or modifications made to your website’s theme should be backed up to preserve its design and functionality.
c). Plugins
Ensure that you have copies of all plugins in use, as these can be integral to your site’s performance and features.
d). Uploaded Media
All images, videos, and other media files uploaded to your site should be saved, as losing these can affect your content significantly.
This backup acts as a crucial safety net during the export or import process, allowing you to revert to the original setup if something goes awry.
Methods for Backup
1. WordPress Plugins:
Utilizing dedicated plugins like BackupBuddy or Duplicator simplifies the backup process significantly. These plugins automate the task, allowing you to schedule backups, store them in secure locations, and even facilitate easy restoration if needed.
2. FTP Client:
For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, using an FTP client such as FileZilla allows you to manually download all website files, including themes and media. Additionally, you’ll need to export your database through a tool like phpMyAdmin, ensuring a full backup of your site’s content.
3. Hosting Control Panel:
Many hosting providers include built-in backup features within their control panels. These options can range from automated backups to one-click restore functionality. It’s advisable to check with your host to leverage these tools effectively.
#2. Choosing an Export Method
When it comes to migrating or exporting your website, selecting the right method is essential for ensuring a smooth transition. Here are several common export strategies you might consider:
1. How to Export a WordPress Site Using the Built-in Export Tool
WordPress offers a native export tool that allows you to export your content in XML format. This method is straightforward, but it primarily focuses on posts, pages, comments, categories, and tags. It may not include all settings or customizations, so additional measures may be necessary
To access it, go to Tools » Export in your WordPress admin dashboard.
1. Select the All Content option
This exports your posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, tags, navigation menus, and custom posts.
Note: This method only exports your WordPress database content and does not include plugins or theme files.
2. Click Download Export File
This will create a copy of your site without affecting its current state.
3. Download the resulting .xml file to your computer.
To import this data to a new site, log in to the WordPress admin of your new website. Then, navigate to Tools » Import and install the WordPress importer.
Once installed, you’ll see a Run Importer option. Click this link.
On the next page, select your exported file and click Upload file and import. If your original site is still online, WordPress will also import your media files, such as blog post images.
Keep in mind that the default export tool requires several manual steps, including backing up plugin and theme files, and possibly some media files.
2. How to Export a WordPress Site from WordPress.com
Many readers often want to switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org to access more features and gain full control over their websites. Fortunately, exporting your site from WordPress.com is a straightforward process.
Step 1: Log In to Your WordPress.com Account
Begin by logging into your WordPress.com account. Once you’re in, go to the Tools » Export section in your admin dashboard.
Step 2: Export Your Content
On the Export page, click the Export All button. This will allow you to export all your text content, including pages, posts, and feedback (like survey results).
Step 3: Download Media Files
In addition to text content, you can also download all your media files, such as images used in your posts.
Step 4: Download the Export File
After the export process is completed, WordPress will provide a download link for your export file. Click this link to download the files to your computer.
Step 5: Import to Another WordPress Site
If you plan to upload this export file to another WordPress.com site that you own, use the Tools » Import feature on that site to complete the process.
Important Note for WordPress.org Users
If you’re moving to WordPress.org, you’ll first need to set up your website and install the WordPress.org software.
3. How to Export a WordPress Site Manually Using phpMyAdmin
Exporting a WordPress site manually using phpMyAdmin can be a useful method for those who want to create a backup of their database or migrate their site to a new host. This process involves exporting the database that WordPress uses to store all its content. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to do this effectively.
Step 1: Access phpMyAdmin
1. Log in to Your Hosting Account:
Use your credentials to log into the control panel of your hosting provider (e.g., cPanel, Plesk).
2. Find phpMyAdmin:
In the control panel, look for the Databases section and click on phpMyAdmin.
This will open the phpMyAdmin interface in a new tab.
Step 2: Select Your WordPress Database
1. Locate Your Database:
In phpMyAdmin, you will see a list of databases on the left sidebar. If you’re unsure which one corresponds to your WordPress site, you can find the database name in the wp-config.php file located in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
Open the wp-config.php file (you can access this via FTP or the file manager) and look for the line that reads:
define(DB_NAME, your_database_name);
2. Click on Your Database:
Once you identify your database, click on its name in the left sidebar. This will display all the tables associated with your WordPress site.
Step 3: Export the Database
1. Go to the Export Tab:
After selecting your database, look for the Export tab at the top of the phpMyAdmin interface and click on it.
2. Choose Export Method:
You will see two options for the export method:
Quick: This option exports the database using default settings and is suitable for most users.
Custom: This option allows you to choose specific tables and other settings for your export. You may want to use this if you only need certain tables or want to change the output format.
3. Select Output Format:
Typically, you will want to keep the output format as SQL, which is the standard format for MySQL databases.
4. Advanced Options (Optional):
If you selected the Custom option, you can choose additional settings such as:
Which tables to export?
Compression (e.g., zip or gzip).
The format of the output file.
Adjust these settings based on your needs.
5. Start the Export:
Once you’ve made your selections, click the Export button. This will start the export process, and phpMyAdmin will generate an SQL file containing your database.
6. Download the SQL File:
Your browser will prompt you to download the SQL file. Choose a location on your computer to save this file, and make sure to keep it secure.
Step 4: Export WordPress Files (Optional)
While exporting the database is essential, you may also want to back up your WordPress files, such as themes, plugins, and media uploads. Here’s how:
1. Access File Manager or FTP:
Use the File Manager in your hosting control panel or an FTP client to connect to your website.
2. Locate Your WordPress Directory:
Go to the root directory where WordPress is installed (usually public_html or a specific subdirectory).
3. Select Files to Download:
Select all the files and folders related to your WordPress installation, including:
wp-content (where your themes and uploads are stored)
wp-admin
wp-includes
Any other custom files you may have added.
4. Download Files:
Compress these files into a zip folder for easier download, then download the zip file to your local machine.
Step 5: Verify Your Backups
1. Check Database File:
Open the downloaded SQL file with a text editor to ensure it contains your database structure and data.
2. Verify Files:
Ensure that all essential WordPress files and folders have been downloaded correctly.
Conclusion
Exporting your WordPress website can be a simple process with the right approach. By following these steps and taking necessary precautions, you can ensure a smooth transition and minimize downtime. Remember to back up your website before any changes and test thoroughly after the import to ensure everything is working as intended.
