Hello there, WordPress aficionados! Welcome to our comprehensive guide where we will be diving deep into the process of exporting large quantities of data from your WordPress website and importing them into a fresh WordPress database. The good news is, WordPress has made it incredibly straightforward to perform these tasks.
Third Party Plugin to Import / Export WordPress Into a New Database
WP All Import isn’t free but it is a feature-rich plugin that simplifies the process of importing large amounts of data into WordPress. With its user-friendly interface, extensive mapping options, and compatibility with various file formats and plugins, WP All Import is an invaluable tool for efficiently managing and populating your WordPress website with external data.
Standard Method to Import / Export WordPress Data
Step 1: Exporting Your Data from WordPress
First things first, you need to export your data. This includes everything – your posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, and tags.
Login to Your WordPress Dashboard
Log into your WordPress dashboard. This is typically located at yourdomain.com/wp-admin. Enter your username and password, then click ‘Log In’.
Navigate to the Export Tool
On the left-hand side of the dashboard, hover over ‘Tools’ and click on ‘Export’. This will bring you to the Export settings page.
Choose What to Export
Here, you can choose what type of content you want to export. If you’re moving everything, select ‘All content’. If you only want to move specific content, choose the appropriate option.
Download Export File
Click ‘Download Export File’ and a XML file will be downloaded. This file, called a WordPress eXtended RSS or WXR file, will contain all the information you’ve chosen to export.
Remember that if your website is very large, you might have to increase the maximum file upload limit in your WordPress settings or break up the file into multiple smaller ones.
Step 2: Importing Your Data into a New WordPress Database
Next, we’ll be looking at how you can import your data into your new WordPress database.
Login to Your New WordPress Dashboard
Similar to before, log into your new WordPress dashboard.
Navigate to the Import Tool
Hover over ‘Tools’ and click on ‘Import’. Here, you’ll see a list of platforms to import data from. Select ‘WordPress’.
Note that if the WordPress Importer is not already installed, you’ll need to install it. Simply click ‘Install Now’ under WordPress and it will do this for you.
Upload Your Export File
Click ‘Run Importer’ under WordPress. Here, you can ‘Choose file’. Select the XML file you downloaded earlier.
Import Settings
Next, you’ll have some options to choose from. You can assign content to existing authors, create new ones, or set up the imported authors in other ways. You can also choose to download and import file attachments.
Start Importing
Once you’re happy with your settings, click ‘Submit’. Your content will then start importing.
Remember to be patient, as the import process may take some time if you’re moving a large amount of data.
Check Your Site
After the import process has finished, you should check your site to ensure that everything is as expected. Check your posts, pages, and other content to ensure they have been correctly imported.
Conclusion on Importing / Exporting a Large WordPress Database
And there you have it – a beginner-friendly guide to exporting large quantities of data from one WordPress site and importing it into a new one. If you found this guide helpful, you might also enjoy our guide on backing up your WordPress site.
Remember, moving large quantities of data can be tricky and time-consuming. Don’t be disheartened if you face difficulties – you’re not alone. The WordPress community is a fantastic resource for finding help, advice, and encouragement.
Related Articles
