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To move widget instances between WordPress sites, use the Widget Importer & Exporter plugin on both sites: export the source site’s active widgets to a .wie file, then import that file on the destination. For supported Customizer settings—not a general widget transfer—use Customizer Export/Import. The two plugins handle different kinds of data.
Choose the right export for what you want to move
| Tool | What it moves | Theme relationship | File and import behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widget Importer & Exporter | Active widget instances, for backup or transfer between WordPress sites | Widgets targeting areas absent from the destination theme are imported as inactive; unsupported widgets may not import. | Exports JSON in a .wie file. Import results are reported per widget. The format is not compatible with other widget import/export plugins. |
| Customizer Export/Import | Supported Customizer theme modifications and settings saved as options | Export is intended for the theme or child theme that produced it; the plugin listing says it currently works with active themes. | Imports Customizer settings and offers an option to download and import images. Its export file is not the widget plugin’s .wie format. |
Use the first tool when the goal is to transfer widget instances. Use the second when the goal is to carry supported Customizer settings with the same theme or its child theme. Although Customizer Export/Import can be extended to export selected option keys, including keys containing “widget” or “sidebar,” that does not make it a substitute for importing active widget instances.
Export and import widget instances with a .wie file
- On the source site, install and activate the plugin. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New, search for “Widget Importer & Exporter,” install it, and activate it.
- Open the export tool. Go to Tools → Widget Importer & Exporter. Dashboard labels can vary by WordPress version and configuration.
- Export the active widgets. Use the export control on that page and save the resulting
.wiefile somewhere you can access from the destination site. The plugin describes its export as JSON; the.wieextension does not make it a general-purpose interchange file. - Install the same plugin on the destination. Activate it there, then open Tools → Widget Importer & Exporter.
- Upload and import the file. Select the source site’s
.wiefile and run the import. - Review the results. Check the per-widget result messages, then open the destination’s widget management screen and inspect both its theme’s widget areas and the inactive widgets area.
The plugin listing describes Widget Importer & Exporter as useful for moving widgets between WordPress sites, backing them up, and giving theme users sample widgets. Its export is intended for use with that plugin, not with other widget import/export plugins.
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An import does not guarantee that the source layout will appear identically on the destination. The active theme defines the widget areas available there, and the plugin reports different outcomes depending on the match:
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- If the source widget targets an area the destination theme does not have, the plugin imports it as inactive.
- If widgets are already present in the same area, the plugin does not duplicate them.
- If a widget is unsupported on the destination, it is not imported.
WordPress also notes that widgets can be found in the Inactive Widgets area after a theme change. Look there if expected widgets do not appear in the destination’s visible areas. The WordPress.org plugin listing does not promise compatibility with every WordPress version, theme, or third-party widget. For an unfamiliar setup, make a site backup and test the import on staging before applying it to a live site.
Where to view and manage widgets
Depending on the WordPress version, theme, and configuration, widget management is available at Appearance → Widgets or Appearance → Customize → Widgets. The Widgets Editor uses blocks alongside widgets in areas defined by the active theme. WordPress also documents the Customizer widget workflow as an alternative to traditional widget management. If a documented location or label is missing from your dashboard, check the active theme and the controls available in your installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Export supported Customizer settings
- Install and activate Customizer Export/Import. Find the plugin in the WordPress plugin directory and activate it on the relevant site.
- Export from the site with the settings. Use the plugin’s Customizer export controls to save its settings file.
- Import on the destination with the intended theme. The plugin listing says the export is meant for the theme or child theme that produced it. During import, choose whether to download and import images if that option is appropriate.
- Check the active theme and result. The listing’s known-issues section says the plugin currently works with active themes; confirm that the intended theme is active when using it.
Developers can add selected option keys to this plugin’s export through the cei_export_option_keys filter. That customization concerns selected settings/options; it does not turn a Customizer export into a .wie file.
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Before you move widgets
- Keep the original
.wiefile as a backup, and use Widget Importer & Exporter to import it. - Expect the destination theme’s widget areas and supported widgets to affect the outcome.
- Read the import results and inspect inactive widgets rather than assuming every item was placed visibly.
- Use a separate Customizer export only when you need supported theme settings and are importing for the same theme or its child theme.
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