To move a WordPress design, export the Customizer settings from the source site and import them on a destination running the same theme or its child theme. The free WordPress.org Customizer Export/Import plugin provides this general workflow. It transfers Customizer data—not your theme files, content, plugins, or a complete site backup—so preview the destination before publishing.
What the Customizer export actually moves
WordPress does not store every appearance-related value in one universal package. The Customize API supports two relevant storage types:
- Theme modifications: values associated with a particular theme.
- Options: values stored in the
wp_optionsdatabase table that apply independently of the active theme.
WordPress Developer Resources describes the Customizer as a framework for live-previewing changes and the canonical way to add theme options. That guidance does not mean every theme exposes the same controls or supports the same export method.
The general Customizer Export/Import plugin says it exports both theme modifications and Customizer settings saved as options. Developers can extend its option list with the cei_export_option_keys filter, but arbitrary plugin data is not included automatically.
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Check compatibility before exporting
Use the same theme or a child theme
The plugin’s export files are named for the originating theme and are intended for that theme or its child theme. A file created for one unrelated theme should not be expected to recreate that theme’s controls or design in another.
Confirm that the Customizer is available
Open Appearance > Customize on the source and destination sites. WordPress documentation notes that block themes may hide the Customizer unless a plugin requires it. Block themes generally use the Site Editor instead, so this workflow is for themes that actually provide Customizer controls.
Check the theme’s own documentation
Some themes provide a dedicated migration tool. Astra, for example, has a separate theme-specific import/export plugin. Beaver Builder documents a Customizer Export/Import workflow that produces a .dat file. Use the theme’s current instructions when they supersede the general plugin, and verify maintenance and compatibility with your installed WordPress and theme versions.
General workflow with Customizer Export/Import
1. Prepare both sites
- Back up both sites using your normal hosting or backup system.
- Record the active theme and whether it is a parent theme or child theme.
- Install the same theme (and child theme, if applicable) on the destination.
- Make sure the destination has the Customizer Export/Import plugin installed and activated.
2. Install the plugin
In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for Customizer Export/Import from WordPress.org, then install and activate it. Compatibility and maintenance can change, so check the plugin listing against the WordPress version running on each site.
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3. Export from the source site
- Go to Appearance > Customize.
- Open the separate Export/Import section added by the plugin.
- Choose the export command and save the downloaded settings file.
Keep this file as a transferable Customizer settings file. It is not a full backup and does not contain your theme’s PHP, CSS, JavaScript, plugins, pages, posts, users, menus, widgets, or general site configuration unless a particular theme documents those items separately.
4. Import on the destination
- Open Appearance > Customize on the destination.
- Select Export/Import.
- Choose the saved export file.
- Enable the image-download/import option when the settings refer to images that are not already in the destination Media Library.
- Run the import and wait for it to finish.
Image handling depends on what the destination already contains. Importing referenced images can add media to the destination; it does not turn the settings file into a general media-library migration.
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5. Review before publishing
- Use the Customizer preview to inspect colors, typography, spacing, logos, backgrounds, and other controls.
- Check the live front end at desktop and mobile widths.
- Test menus, widgets, header and footer areas, and any template-specific sections.
- Publish only after confirming that the destination theme renders the intended design.
What is and is not included
| Item | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Theme modifications | Exported by the general plugin for the originating theme or its child theme. |
| Customizer values stored as options | Exported by the plugin’s documented current behavior; theme or developer-specific handling can vary. |
| Theme files | Not included. |
| Plugins and plugin settings | Not included unless a theme-specific tool explicitly documents them. |
| Posts, pages, users, and other content | Not included. |
| Menus, widgets, and media | Do not assume they transfer; image import only addresses images referenced by imported settings. |
| Full database or site configuration | Not included; use a backup or migration tool for that scope. |
Theme-specific routes and limitations
Active versus previewed themes
The general plugin documents a limitation for inactive themes and themes being previewed through Theme Test Drive or the Customizer’s theme preview. Activate the intended source theme before exporting, rather than relying on a previewed theme.
Beaver Builder
Beaver Builder’s documented process uses the Customizer’s Export/Import section and exports a .dat file. Its documentation describes the transfer as Customizer settings only, so use a separate site backup when you need content or broader configuration.
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Astra and other themes
Astra provides a separate theme-oriented import/export plugin. Themeisle documentation directs users to the general Customizer Export/Import plugin. These examples illustrate why the correct route depends on the active theme; follow the current documentation for your exact theme and installed versions.
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Troubleshooting failed or incomplete imports
The Export/Import section is missing
- Confirm the plugin is activated.
- Confirm you are in Appearance > Customize, not the Site Editor.
- Check whether the active theme supports the Customizer.
The import is rejected or controls do not appear
- Verify that the destination uses the same theme or its child theme.
- Activate the target theme instead of previewing it.
- Check the theme and plugin documentation for a dedicated importer or changed file format.
Images or branding are missing
- Retry with the image-download/import option enabled when appropriate.
- Confirm that the destination can reach the referenced media and that the images are not restricted.
- Re-select a logo or background image in the destination Customizer if the original media is unavailable.
The design looks different after import
- Check whether the destination has different fonts, plugins, widgets, menus, or content.
- Look for theme-version changes that renamed or removed Customizer controls.
- Review the browser front end as well as the preview; imported values cannot compensate for missing templates or theme files.
Choosing the right method
| Situation | Best starting point | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Same theme on another site | WordPress.org Customizer Export/Import plugin | Customizer settings and supported option values. |
| Astra site | Astra’s current import/export plugin or documentation | Theme-specific settings according to Astra’s implementation. |
| Beaver Builder theme settings | Beaver Builder’s documented .dat workflow |
Customizer settings only. |
| Complete site move | A full backup or migration solution | Files, database, content, plugins, and configuration, depending on the tool. |
| Different theme | Manual recreation or a theme-specific conversion path | No general guarantee that one theme’s Customizer controls map to another. |
Safe operating checklist
- Identify the active source and destination themes.
- Back up both sites.
- Install the same theme and, where relevant, its child theme.
- Use the theme’s own importer when one is documented.
- Export only after activating the source theme.
- Keep the settings file separate from full-site backups.
- Consider image import when destination media is absent.
- Preview and test the destination before publishing.
- Use a full migration method when you need content, plugins, files, or database data.
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