WordPress has a built-in export function that allows you to save your website's content in a file and then import it into another WordPress installation. This can be used, for example, Posts, pages, comments, categories, tags, and other content data transfer.
The export function is particularly useful when you want to transfer specific content from one WordPress website to another. You can either export all available content or limit the export to specific content types such as posts or pages.
However, the correct classification is important: A WordPress export is not a complete backup of your website. The generated XML file contains content data, but not automatically your complete WordPress installation with themes, plugins, all settings, and all files.
Briefly explained: With Tools → Export data you are creating a file for the exchange of WordPress content. For a complete backup or the complete migration of a website, on the other hand, you need a full backup or a WordPress migration.
Where is the export function located in WordPress? #
First, log in to the WordPress admin area of the website whose content you want to export.
On a standard WordPress installation, you can usually reach the admin area via:
Replace your-domain.ch through your actual domain.
Then open:
Tools → Export data
WordPress will now display the available export options.
What content can WordPress export? #
Which options are displayed on the export page also depends on which content types exist on your website. A standard WordPress installation offers, in particular, the export of all content as well as separate export options for posts and pages.
Plugins or themes can register additional content types. This may cause additional export options to appear on your website.
Typical contents of a WordPress export include:
- Posts
- Pages
- Comments
- Categories
- Keywords
- further taxonomies
- Author information
- custom fields or post meta data
- Information on attachments and media
- custom content types, provided they are included in the export
The exact content of the export file depends on which export option you select and which features are used on your WordPress website.
Export all content from WordPress #
If you want to create the most comprehensive content export possible, you select the option on the export page All contents.
This allows WordPress to create an export file with the supported content data of your website.
Export all WordPress content #
- Log in to your WordPress admin area.
- Open Tools → Export data.
- Choose All contents.
- Click on Download export file.
- Save the generated XML file on your computer.
This option is useful, for example, if you want to transfer content to another WordPress installation and do not just need a specific section.
Export posts only #
You don't always have to export all available content. WordPress also allows you to selectively choose only your posts.
Do you vote Posts, depending on the WordPress version, various filtering options are available. This allows you to restrict the export based on specific properties, for example.
This may include:
- Author
- Category
- Period or publication date
- Post status
This allows you, for example, to export only posts from a specific category or by a specific author.
Export only certain posts #
- Open Tools → Export data.
- Choose Posts.
- Set the desired filters if necessary.
- Check your selection.
- Click on Download export file.
This is particularly useful if not the entire blog is to be transferred to the target website.
Export only pages #
Pages can also be exported separately from the rest of the content.
To do this, choose under Tools → Export data the content type Pages.
Depending on the WordPress version, you can further restrict the export, for example by author, date range, or status.
For example, this allows you to export published pages without including all of your website's blog posts in the export file at the same time.
What is a WordPress WXR file? #
WordPress saves the export in a format called WordPress eXtended RSS (WXR). Technically, this is an XML file.
For example, a file name can look like this:
meine-wordpress-seite.WordPress.2026-08-27.xml
The file contains structured information that can be processed by a compatible importer.
If you want to import this content into another WordPress installation later, you can use the WordPress importer there.
We explain how this works step by step in the article Importing content into WordPress: Correctly transferring posts, pages, and media.
Is the XML file a backup of my WordPress website? #
No. This difference is important.
The export file is intended to exchange WordPress content between systems. It is not a complete backup of the entire website.
A WordPress website consists not only of posts and pages, but also, among other things, of:
- WordPress core files
- the database
- Themes
- Plugins
- Uploads and media files
- Configuration files
- Plugin and theme settings
- User data and permissions
- individual customizations
Therefore, a WXR/XML file does not replace a complete backup of these components.
Important: Never rely solely on the file for your website's data backup at Tools → Export data. It is a content export and not a complete WordPress backup.
What happens to my pictures and other media? #
This point often leads to misunderstandings.
The WordPress export file contains information and references to media attachments, but not simply all image, PDF, video, and other media files as complete file copies within the XML file.
When importing later into another WordPress installation, the WordPress importer can attempt to download the corresponding attachments from the original website.
This means that if the old website is no longer accessible or the original media files have already been deleted, the subsequent media import may fail.
Practical Tip: If you want to transfer content to a new website, do not delete the old website immediately after the XML export. First check on the target website whether posts, pages, and especially media have been transferred completely.
Why doesn't the XML file contain my plugins? #
Plugins are not part of the actual content export of WordPress.
For example, if you have installed a contact form plugin, an SEO plugin, or a page builder, the plugin itself will not be packaged into the WXR file and automatically reinstalled on another website.
The same applies to themes.
The export file may contain data generated or extended by plugins. However, for this data to work correctly on another website, the corresponding plugin or a compatible function may be required there.
We explain how to install WordPress plugins in the article Installing WordPress plugins: What is a plugin and how does the installation work?.
What about page builders like Elementor? #
Page builders sometimes save their content and settings in special data structures. A standard WordPress export is therefore not automatically the best method to faithfully transfer a complete website created with a page builder.
The fact that content is present in an XML file does not necessarily mean that the entire layout will be displayed in the exact same way on another installation.
For this, among other things, the required plugins, the theme used, and, if applicable, further settings must be present on the target website.
If you want to transfer a complete website including design and functions, a full migration is usually the better method.
What about WooCommerce? #
Special care is required with a WooCommerce store.
WooCommerce extends WordPress with numerous additional data structures and functions. These include, for example, products, orders, customer information, product attributes, taxes, shipping configurations, and other store data.
Dedicated import and export functions exist for certain WooCommerce data. A normal WordPress WXR export should therefore not be confused with a complete backup or migration of a live WooCommerce store.
Important: Do not use a standard WordPress content export as the sole backup of a WooCommerce store. During a complete store migration, all relevant files, database contents, and WooCommerce data must be taken into account.
Exporting is not the same as migrating #
If you want to move a complete website to another server or to a different hosting provider, the WordPress export is usually not the right method.
The difference can be easily summarized:
Export, Migration and Backup #
- Export: Save specific WordPress content in a portable file.
- Import: Import exported content into a WordPress installation.
- Migration Transfer a complete website including files, database, and configuration.
- Backup Create a backup that can be used to restore data or the website.
If you only want to transfer selected posts to another website, export and import are very convenient.
If, on the other hand, your existing website is to be moved completely to new hosting, a migration is the right approach.
When is the WordPress export function useful? #
The integrated export function is suitable for various scenarios.
It is useful, for example, if you:
- want to transfer posts to another WordPress website
- want to take over certain pages
- you want to export content of a specific category
- want to transfer posts by a specific author
- want to integrate content from an old website into a new project
- want to store an additional content item in a standardized WordPress format
For a complete backup, you should also use a real backup.
Can I export only a single page? #
The standard export function of WordPress offers filtering options, but it is not equally convenient for every conceivable selection of individual content.
If you only want to transfer a very specific page or a very small individual piece of content, it may be easier, depending on the situation, to work with the available filters or use another suitable transfer method.
With complex content, you should also consider whether the page in question depends on a theme, page builder, or additional plugins.
What happens to categories and tags? #
When exporting corresponding content, related taxonomy information such as categories and tags can also be included in the WXR file.
During a later import, WordPress can use this information to recreate the content structure on the target website.
After an import, you should still check the structure, especially if the target website already has its own categories or tags.
For more information, see our guides on Categories and subcategories in WordPress as well as to Tags and keywords in WordPress.
Are comments exported as well? #
With a corresponding WordPress content export, comments and the associated information can also be included in the WXR file.
This is important, for example, if you want to transfer an existing blog with its previous discussions to another WordPress installation.
After the import, you should check whether comments were correctly assigned to the respective posts and whether the discussion settings of the target website meet your requirements.
We explain how WordPress handles comments, approvals, notifications, and moderation in the article Configure discussion settings in WordPress.
Are user accounts exported completely? #
A WordPress content export can include author information so that posts can be assigned to an author upon later import.
However, you should not equate that with a complete transfer of all user accounts, including all security-related account data and permissions.
During import, you can assign authors to existing users of the target website depending on the situation or create corresponding users.
If you want to transfer a complete website including its user structure, a complete migration is the more suitable method.
Clean up the website before a major export? #
When exporting content for a new website, it can be useful to briefly check beforehand which content should actually be transferred.
However, that doesn't mean you should thoughtlessly delete old content before exporting.
Check, for example:
- Which contributions should be included?
- Which pages are still needed?
- Are there drafts that do not need to be transferred?
- Are categories sensibly structured?
- Are there any duplicate or unnecessary keywords?
- Should comments be included?
When dealing with an existing website, you should not delete content simply because you no longer want to use it on the new website. First, check whether old URLs still have visitors, search engine traffic, or external links.
Store export file safely #
You should save the downloaded XML file in a location where you can clearly identify it later.
When exporting multiple files, descriptive file names can be helpful. WordPress already generates a file name containing information about the website and the export date. You can also organize your storage by project and date.
For example:
wordpress-export-vor-relaunch-2026-08-27.xml
Since the export file may contain content from your website, you should not make it unnecessarily publicly accessible on a web server.
Test export file before deleting the old website #
If you are using the export for an actual website migration, you should not delete the original website immediately.
First, perform the import on the target website and check the result.
Check after import #
- Check the imported posts.
- Check the pages.
- Control images and other media.
- Check categories and tags.
- Check comments and authors.
- Check internal links.
- Check the permalinks and URLs.
- Test the most important pages in the frontend.
Only when you are sure that all required content has been correctly transferred should you take further steps on the old website.
Check internal links after an import #
An exported post may contain links that still point to the original domain.
Such a link could look like this, for example:
If the content on the new website is available under a different domain or URL, this link may need to be updated.
Therefore, after a major content migration, you should check whether internal links still point to the correct destinations.
Take into account the permalinks of the target website #
The export itself does not simply determine that all content on another WordPress installation will receive the exact same URLs.
The URL structure of the target website depends, among other things, on its permalink settings.
When transferring existing content with already known and indexed URLs, you should carefully plan URL changes and set up redirects if necessary.
You can find more about this in our guide Configure permalink settings in WordPress.
Reimport WordPress content #
You can import the generated WXR/XML file into another WordPress installation using the WordPress Importer.
There you open:
Tools → Import data
Then you select the WordPress importer, upload the XML file, and determine, among other things, the author mapping and how attachments are handled.
We explain the complete process in the corresponding article. Importing content into WordPress: Correctly transferring posts, pages, and media.
Complete switch to CURIAWEB #
If you don't just want to export individual content, but want to migrate your entire WordPress website to CURIAWEB, a manual export via Tools → Export data usually not necessary.
During a complete migration, not only the content but also the database, themes, plugins, uploads, and other components of the existing WordPress installation must be taken into account.
CURIAWEB offers a free moving service This allows the existing WordPress website to be completely transferred to the new hosting, instead of having to reassemble it via individual XML exports and imports.
Typical errors during WordPress export #
The export function itself is easy to use. Problems usually arise because its purpose is misjudged.
Common mistakes include:
- keep the XML file for a complete WordPress backup
- assume that images are completely stored in the XML file
- expect plugins and themes to be exported as well
- wanting to perform a complete website migration using only export and import
- delete the old website before the media import was checked
- Ignore page builder or plugin dependencies
- do not check old internal links after import
- Missed permalink and URL changes
- treat a WooCommerce shop like a simple blog
Note: Tools → Export data is great for exchanging WordPress content. However, for a complete backup or migration of your website, this feature alone is not sufficient.
Summary #
You export WordPress content under Tools → Export data. You can export all available content or limit the export to posts or pages, for example. WordPress will create a file in WXR Format (WordPress eXtended RSS), which is downloaded as an XML file.
This file may contain posts, pages, comments, categories, tags, author information, and other content data. It is intended for later import into another WordPress installation.
However, the XML file is not a complete WordPress backup. Themes, plugins, the complete database, configurations, and all media files are therefore not saved as a complete website backup. For a complete hosting transfer, you should therefore use a proper WordPress migration.
If you want to import the exported content back into WordPress, you can find the complete process in our guide. Import content into WordPress. You can find further important basics at WordPress permalink settings, the Categories and subcategories as well as the Tags and keywords in WordPress.
