There are several reasons to export a WordPress site, including moving to a new host, saving as a backup, transferring content to a different WordPress site, creating a staging site, or reducing site development time.
Whatever your reasons are, follow this guide to learn how to export a WordPress site without any problems.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Export a WordPress Site
People export a WordPress site for several reasons, from simply backing up the site locally to migrating a site from one host to another. Let’s look at some scenarios where you might want to export your WordPress site.
Creating Backups for Security
It is important to always keep backups of your WordPress site. Backups are usually saved copies of your site in its last working condition. You should always have at least two recent site backups. When anything happens to your live site, such as security issues, data loss, or server failure, you can quickly remedy the situation by using a backup to restore the site to its last working condition.
Migrating to a New Host or Domain
When you want to move your site from one host to another or to a new domain name, the first step is to export it. You must create a copy of your site at the old location and transfer it to the new destination.
Duplicating a Site for Development or Testing
Suppose you need to clone your site to start a new project faster or to push it to a WP staging environment for testing changes. In that case, you must export a copy of the WordPress site from production to the development or staging environment.
Transferring Content to Another WordPress Site
If you have some content in your old site that you would like to move to a new site on a different domain permanently, you can easily achieve this by exporting the content. It might be some pages, blog posts, etc.
You can export the content and its attachments from the old site to the new site. You must delete them from the old site and set up permanent 301 redirects from the old site to the new site to avoid SEO penalties for duplicate and plagiarized content.
Key Considerations Before You Export a WordPress Site
Exporting a WordPress site isn’t just about clicking a button—it’s a process that requires preparation to ensure nothing breaks or gets lost. Whether you’re moving to a new host, setting up a staging environment, or backing up your website for safekeeping, taking a few precautionary steps can help you avoid common pitfalls.
Here’s what you should keep in mind before initiating the WordPress export process:
1. Define What You Intend to Export
Different export methods handle different parts of your site. Some tools only export your content, such as posts, pages, and media, while others can export your full WordPress database, plugin configurations, theme settings, and even custom post types. If you’re planning to export the entire site—including the WordPress core files and settings—make sure your chosen method supports full-site exports and not just partial data extraction.
Pro tip: If you’re looking to streamline your setup, this might be a good time to remove unused plugins or old media files before you export website content.
2. Pick the Right Time to Export Your Site
When exporting a WordPress site, especially one with steady traffic, timing matters. Performing the export during peak hours can cause slowdowns or even interruptions for your visitors. To minimize disruption, schedule the export during off-peak hours—typically late nights or early mornings—when traffic is low. This ensures better server performance and a smoother export.
3. Prepare for Plugin or Server Conflicts
One overlooked step when planning to export a site is checking for compatibility issues. Outdated PHP versions or poorly coded plugins can cause conflicts during the export process. Before you begin, update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins.
It’s also a smart idea to use a reliable WordPress site management service that can help you update every aspect of your site with one click and avoid common file handling errors.
4. Back Up Before You Export Anything
Although exporting a site sounds similar to backing it up, they serve different purposes. A WordPress export focuses on moving content, while a backup captures your entire site state, including user settings, plugin states, and even cron jobs. Always back up your website completely before starting any export, so you can restore it quickly if something goes wrong during the process.
By following these essential pre-export tips, you ensure your WordPress export process is secure, efficient, and free from surprises. Whether you’re planning to export your WordPress site to another server or simply archiving your content, proper preparation can save hours of troubleshooting later.
How to Export a WordPress Site Using InstaWP
If you’re looking for a fast, full-site export method that includes not just content but also your themes, plugins, and configurations, InstaWP offers one of the most developer-friendly solutions available today. Instead of manually piecing together files or relying on limited XML exports, you can export your entire WordPress site as a .zip file in just a few clicks.
Whether you want to download a WordPress site to your local environment, clone it on another host, or store it as a backup, InstaWP supports three easy export options: LocalWP, InstaWP format, and WordPress Studio.
Let’s explore how to export your WordPress site using each method.
✅ Method 1: Export a WordPress Site to LocalWP
This method is ideal if you want to transfer your site into LocalWP, a popular local development tool for WordPress.
Step-by-step process:
- Navigate to the Sites tab in your InstaWP dashboard.
- Click the three-dot menu (•••) next to the site you want to export.
- Select Export As → LocalWP.
- A permission prompt will appear—click Confirm to proceed.
- Check your email inbox for the download link to your exported
.zipfile. - Download the file and drag it directly into LocalWP to start working locally.
🔔 Tip: If the download doesn’t begin automatically, use the fallback link provided in your email.
✅ Method 2: Export a WordPress Site in InstaWP Format
Use this option when you want to archive or reuse your site within the InstaWP platform. It’s perfect for building reusable WordPress templates, sandbox demos, or backup workflows.
Here’s how:
- Head over to the Sites page inside InstaWP.
- Click on the options menu (•••) next to the target site.
- Choose Export As → InstaWP.
- Confirm the export when prompted.
- You’ll receive an email with a .zip archive of your site, downloadable via a secure link.
- Save the file to your computer, or re-import it to a new InstaWP sandbox later.
This is a great way to reuse your exported site as a base for new projects without repeating setup steps.
✅ Method 3: Export to WordPress Studio
If you’re using WordPress Studio for local development, InstaWP supports direct exports for that environment too.
To export your site in WordPress Studio format:
- Open the Sites dashboard on InstaWP.
- Click the ellipses (•••) next to the site and select Export As → WordPress Studio.
- Click Confirm when prompted.
- InstaWP will email you the site’s
.zipfile in a compatible format. - Download the archive and import it into your WordPress Studio setup.
💡 Pro tip: Exporting in this format preserves your database, plugins, media, and full theme structure—ready to go inside WordPress Studio.
Why InstaWP’s Export is Different (and Better)
Unlike WordPress’s default export tool, which only handles XML-based content like posts and pages, InstaWP’s export methods deliver a full-site archive, including:
- Database and media files
- Theme and plugin configurations
- Custom post types and settings
- WP CLI-compatible structure
This makes InstaWP ideal for agencies, developers, and power users who want to clone, move, or version their WordPress environments without downtime or technical hurdles.
How to Export a WordPress Site Using InstaWP Connect
If your WordPress site is already live and running on another hosting provider, and you want to export it into the InstaWP ecosystem without downtime or FTP setup, then InstaWP Connect is your best choice. This is one of the best WordPress backup plugins that allows you to instantly clone an existing WordPress site—files, database, plugins, settings—into a fully functional InstaWP sandbox or staging environment, with just a few clicks.
This is more than just an export—it’s a live sync operation, perfect for testing, troubleshooting, staging updates, or preparing a site for migration.
✅ When to Use InstaWP Connect for Exporting Your Site
Choose this option if:
- You want to export your live WordPress site into InstaWP without using zip files or backups
- You need a staging site for testing updates, plugin conflicts, or redesigns
- You’re preparing to migrate to InstaWP Live managed WordPress hosting
- You need a fast way to debug or troubleshoot client sites in a secure, isolated environment
- You want to test performance, backups, or vulnerabilities before pushing changes back to production
Unlike traditional export methods, InstaWP Connect doesn’t require manual downloads, backups, or import plugins. Instead, it provides a two-way bridge between your existing site and InstaWP’s infrastructure.
Here is a detailed guide to installing InstaWP Connect on your live site, hosted anywhere.
The tool will create a duplicate staging site on your InstaWP dashboard. After creating a staging site with InstaWP, you can use the InstaWP WordPress migration tool to migrate it to a new hosting provider or domain name or export it to your computer.
Why InstaWP Connect is Ideal for Seamless Export & Staging
🔁 Two-Way Sync: Not just export—InstaWP Connect also supports pushing changes back to your live site
⚡ No Manual Backups Needed: Skip the zip files, FTP access, or database exports
🔒 Secure & Instant: Your site is cloned into an isolated environment for safe testing
🧪 Perfect for Agencies: Troubleshoot client sites, demo changes, or experiment without production risks
📋 Full-Site Copy: Instantly export WordPress files, themes, plugins, and data with one click
💡 Bonus: You can combine InstaWP Connect with InstaWP’s Site Management Tools—like activity logs, performance scanners, or PHP config editors—for a complete testing and optimization workflow.
How to Export a WordPress Site with the Native Export Tool
WordPress offers a built-in export feature that allows you to easily export website content without needing additional plugins. This method is ideal if you want to move blog posts, pages, and taxonomies—but it’s not a full-site export solution.
To begin, log into your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Tools → Export.
Here’s how to use the built-in WordPress export tool step by step:
- Choose What to Export
Select the ‘All Content’ option. This will include your site’s posts, pages, comments, categories, tags, custom post types, and menus in a single export file. Note: This tool only exports content stored in the WordPress database. It does not export your themes, plugins, or actual media files stored in/wp-content. - Download the Export File
Click ‘Download Export File’. WordPress will generate an.xmlfile containing all the selected content. Download this file and save it securely on your computer. This action does not affect your live website—it only creates a copy of your content.
- Import to a New WordPress Site
To move the exported content to a new site, log into the admin panel of your destination WordPress installation. Go to Tools → Import, and install the WordPress Importer tool if it isn’t already available.
Once installed, you’ll see an option to Run Importer.
- Upload and Import the XML File
On the importer screen, click ‘Choose File’, select the.xmlexport file you downloaded, and click ‘Upload file and import’. If your original site is still live, WordPress can fetch associated media files—such as images embedded in your blog posts—during the import process.
Limitations of the Default Export Method
While the built-in export tool is useful for transferring basic site content, it doesn’t cover your full WordPress setup. You’ll still need to manually back up:
- Theme files
- Plugin configurations
- Media files in
/wp-content/uploads(especially for large or image-heavy sites)
For a more complete solution, many agencies and developers rely on WordPress backup plugins or site migration tools provided by modern managed hosting platforms. These options offer full-site export capabilities, including database, themes, plugins, and even user data.
How to Export a WordPress Site Using a Backup Plugin
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive and automated way to export your WordPress site—including your database, themes, plugins, uploads, and other core files—a reliable WordPress backup plugin is your best option.
Among the most popular tools available, UpdraftPlus stands out for its ease of use, automation features, and secure cloud storage options. Unlike the native export tool that only handles content in XML format, UpdraftPlus allows you to export your full WordPress site as downloadable backup archives, which can be restored or migrated anytime.
Here’s how you can export your site using UpdraftPlus:
1. Install and Activate UpdraftPlus
From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New and search for “UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin.” Click Install Now, then Activate the plugin.
2. Access the Backup Settings
Navigate to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups. This is your control panel for all things related to backups and site exports.
3. Configure Your Backup Preferences
Click on the Settings tab to choose what components you want to include in your export:
- Database
- Plugins
- Themes
- Uploads (media files)
- Other content in
wp-content
You can also set up remote storage options like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, or just download the files locally. Select what to include in the backup and click Backup Now.
Why Use a Plugin Like UpdraftPlus for Site Export?
While manual exports and XML tools have their place, plugins like UpdraftPlus offer a far more complete and flexible solution:
🔒 Full-Site Coverage: Includes everything—database, files, themes, and media
☁️ Cloud Integration: Syncs backups to Google Drive, Dropbox, or other remote storage
🔁 One-Click Restore: Allows you to re-import your exported site effortlessly
🧩 Scheduled Exports: Set automatic backups to regularly archive your WordPress site
This method is especially useful for developers managing multiple websites, or agencies offering backup and migration services to clients.
💡 Tip: Combine UpdraftPlus with a WP staging environment to test restored backups before applying them to live sites.
InstaWP also has an in-built Export As option, which allows you to create an archived copy of the staging site and download it to your computer for offline storage.
Select the more options next to the staging site, and go to Export As > LocalWP.
Then, from the pop-up, click Export.
InstaWP also allows you to import site backups from WP Playground, UpdraftPlus, and Duplicator to create staging sites for testing or migration elsewhere.
To import a site from a backup into InstaWP, go to Staging > Import Site. Select the source, upload the backup file, and click Next to continue.
Handling Export Challenges in WordPress
Sometimes, you may encounter some challenges when exporting a WordPress site. Some of these common challenges include:
Exporting a Large Database
You might encounter issues exporting large databases and media files. The export tool might crash, stopping the process halfway. To resolve this, you should identify and exclude
unnecessary database tables to reduce the size before exporting. You can use plugins like Advanced Database Cleaner to remove unnecessary data from your WordPress database, such as post revisions, auto drafts, trashed items, spam comments, etc.
Managing Large Files
If you encounter challenges exporting large media files, you can use media compression plugins like Smush to reduce the size of large images. You can archive large video files to reduce their sizes with plugins like File Manager or exclude them from the export and upload them manually after the export.
If you are using UpdraftPlus, you can install and activate the Exclude Thumbnails from UpdraftPlus Backup plugin to exclude thumbnails from the export and use the Thumbnail Regenerate plugin to regenerate them on the new site.
Ensuring Compatibility with the Target Server
Suppose you are experiencing more technical issues, such as incorrect database configuration, insufficient server resources, or incompatibility with the new host. In that case, you should seek assistance from your hosting provider’s support team or a professional.
Exporting Custom Database Tables or Settings
You might have to use the phpMyAdmin export option to export custom database tables. To do this, log into your hosting account, go to your cPanel, and open phpMyAdmin. Select the database and click the Export tab.
Then, select the custom export option to display all possible options, including your custom database tables or settings. Finally, click the Export button to download the database to your computer.
Best Practices for Exporting a WordPress Site
Exporting your WordPress site is more than just hitting “download.” Whether you’re moving your website to a new host, setting up a staging copy, or creating backups, following best practices ensures your site remains secure, intact, and functional after the export.
Here are expert-recommended practices to follow:
1. Always Back Up First: Before exporting anything, create a full backup of your WordPress site—including files, database, and configurations. This protects you in case anything goes wrong during the export process.
2. Choose the Right Export Method for Your Use Case: Use the built-in export tool for content-only migrations, a plugin like UpdraftPlus for full-site backups, InstaWP Connect for live site cloning, or InstaWP’s zip export if you need a reusable package.
3. Clean Up Before Exporting: Reduce your export file size by deleting unused plugins, themes, and media. This helps improve performance and minimizes unnecessary clutter in the new environment.
4. Keep Track of Dependencies: Make a note of custom code, database table changes, or third-party plugin configurations that might not be covered in a standard export.
5. Test the Exported Site in a Sandbox: Before pushing the exported site live, use a staging or sandbox environment (like InstaWP) to validate everything—URLs, media, forms, and database queries.
🔒 Security Tip: Avoid exporting sensitive user data or admin credentials unless necessary. Always sanitize your exports before sharing or importing on public servers.
Conclusion: Exporting Your WordPress Site the Right Way
Exporting a WordPress site doesn’t have to be complex, but it does require careful planning. Whether you’re moving to a new host, preparing for redesigns, or creating a staging environment, there are multiple ways to export your site based on your specific needs.
Each method offers unique advantages. The key is choosing the one that matches your technical comfort level and project goals. Follow best practices, test before deployment, and keep your data safe at every step.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the easiest way to export a WordPress site?
For beginners, the built-in WordPress export tool is the easiest. But for full-site exports including media, plugins, and theme files, InstaWP or UpdraftPlus offers a more complete solution.
Q2: Can I export everything including my plugins and theme?
No, the default WordPress export tool only exports content (posts, pages, etc.). To export plugins, themes, and media files, you’ll need a tool like InstaWP or a backup plugin such as UpdraftPlus.
Q3: Is InstaWP Connect suitable for exporting large or complex sites?
Yes. InstaWP Connect is ideal for exporting large, live WordPress sites because it securely clones your site to a sandbox environment without downtime or manual file handling.
Q4: Will exporting a site affect my live website?
Not at all. Exporting a WordPress site simply creates a copy. Your live site remains untouched throughout the process.
Q5: What format is used when exporting via InstaWP?
InstaWP exports your site as a .zip archive containing all your database files, themes, plugins, and media. This file can be imported back into InstaWP, LocalWP, or even another hosting platform.
Q6: How often should I export or back up my WordPress site?
Ideally, you should export or back up your site before any major update, redesign, plugin installation, or server migration. For active sites, weekly or daily automated backups are recommended.
