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WordPress imports usually fail for one of six reasons: the upload exceeds PHP limits, the process runs out of memory, execution time expires, the WXR XML is malformed or incomplete, remote attachments cannot be fetched, or an earlier attempt already imported part of the data. The error text tells you which path to take.
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Back up the destination, record the exact message, verify that the file is a complete WordPress eXtended RSS (WXR) export, and inspect the site after every attempt. Raise only the limit that matches the failure; when the host will not allow that change, split the export or run the import with WP-CLI.
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Start with a safe diagnosis
Do not immediately click Import again. A WordPress import can create posts, users, terms, or media before it stops. The WordPress Administration Handbook warns: “When you resolve the error and try again, you may create duplicate data.”
- Back up the destination. Keep a database backup and a copy of the current uploads directory. If the site is new, record that fact; if it already contains content, note the existing post, page, user, taxonomy, and media counts.
- Copy the exact error text. “The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive,” “Allowed memory size exhausted,” “Maximum execution time exceeded,” a gateway timeout, and “There was an error when reading this WXR file” require different remedies.
- Confirm the file type and integrity. A normal WordPress export is WXR XML. Open a copy in a text editor or XML-aware tool and confirm that it is readable, begins as XML, and ends with its closing tags. Do not edit a large export in a word processor.
- Check whether the failed run was partial. Search for imported posts and pages, review users and taxonomies, and inspect Media. Record what exists before deciding whether to retry.
Match the message to the right fix
| Error class | What it means | First remedy | Access usually required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload or request-size error | The file is larger than the PHP or web-server request allowance. | Compare upload_max_filesize with post_max_size; raise compatible limits or use a smaller export. |
PHP/server configuration or hosting support |
| Allowed memory size exhausted | PHP ran out of memory while parsing records, users, terms, or attachments. | Increase the permitted PHP memory limit, or split the WXR into smaller valid files. | PHP configuration or hosting support |
| Maximum execution time exceeded | The importer did not finish before PHP stopped the request. | Raise the execution limit where permitted, split the job, or use WP-CLI. | PHP/server configuration, hosting support, or SSH |
| Gateway or browser timeout | A proxy, web server, or browser disconnected from a long-running request even if PHP continued or stopped. | Move the job to WP-CLI, or run smaller imports. | SSH for WP-CLI, otherwise hosting support |
| WXR parser or XML-read error | The export is malformed, truncated, or not a readable WXR file. | Regenerate the export and validate it before importing again. | WordPress admin and an XML validation tool |
| Posts imported but media is missing | Attachment fetching was disabled, source URLs were unreachable, or download/size limits blocked the files. | Check attachment settings and source reachability; retry attachments separately or import without them. | WordPress admin, server access, or SSH |
Fix “file too large” upload errors
There are two PHP settings to compare. upload_max_filesize limits an individual uploaded file, while post_max_size limits the entire HTTP POST request. The WordPress.org FAQ states that post_max_size must be larger than upload_max_filesize; otherwise a WXR file can still fail even when the file-specific limit looks high enough.
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The same 2018 FAQ shows these illustrative values: memory_limit = 300M, post_max_size = 200M, upload_max_filesize = 100M, and max_execution_time = 600. They are examples published by WordPress.org, not universal recommendations or a guarantee that a host can process a file of that size.
Check the effective values
Look at the values reported by the site, not only a local php.ini. A hosting panel, a temporary PHP information page, or WordPress’s Site Health information can reveal the PHP configuration actually used by the web request. Shared hosts may ignore overrides in .htaccess or user-level configuration.
Change limits only where permitted
If you control PHP, adjust the relevant configuration, restart the PHP service when required, and verify the new values from the web environment. A managed or shared host may require support to make the change. Ask specifically for enough upload size, POST size, memory, and execution time for the planned import rather than changing every limit indiscriminately.
When the limit cannot be raised
- Export fewer posts, pages, or date ranges at a time.
- Create several smaller WXR files and import them sequentially.
- Use an XML-aware splitter that preserves the WXR header, channel data, item boundaries, and closing tags. Splitting a file at an arbitrary byte position can create another parser error.
After changing a limit, upload a copy of the export and confirm that the error has changed or disappeared. If the same request-size message remains, the web server or proxy may have its own limit that only the host can change.
Fix “Allowed memory size exhausted”
The WordPress Importer README notes that a very large export can exceed the host’s configured PHP memory limit. Parsing a large XML document and processing users, taxonomies, attachments, and image work can consume substantially more memory than the file’s size on disk.
Raise PHP memory when the host allows it
Increase the effective PHP memory_limit through php.ini, the hosting control panel, or the host’s support team. Verify the value in the same web context that runs the importer; a command-line PHP setting and a web PHP setting can differ.
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Reduce the job when you cannot raise memory
- Generate smaller exports, preferably by date range or content group.
- Import one valid WXR file at a time.
- Reduce attachment work if the destination already has the media or if media can be handled separately.
- Use WP-CLI from the server so the job is not tied to a browser request.
The README’s practical fallback is to break a very large exported XML file into several smaller pieces and run the import script one at a time. Each piece must remain valid WXR; keep the original file untouched as your recovery copy.
Fix execution-time and gateway timeouts
“Maximum execution time exceeded” means PHP stopped the request before the importer finished. A gateway timeout can occur earlier in the chain, when a reverse proxy or web server gives up waiting. Increasing only the PHP value will not fix a shorter proxy limit.
Use the browser importer for small, short jobs
The WordPress admin importer is convenient when the export is modest and the server permits a request to run to completion. Keep the browser window open, avoid starting multiple imports, and wait for the completion result before navigating away.
Raise the limit where possible
If you administer the server, increase max_execution_time and any relevant web-server or proxy timeout, then verify that the host accepts the changes. The WordPress.org FAQ’s example of max_execution_time = 600 is an illustrative 2018 setting, not a required value for every site.
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Move long jobs to WP-CLI
WP-CLI runs over SSH and is not dependent on a browser tab. The official command is:
wp import /path/to/export.xmlUse the absolute path when possible, run it from a persistent shell session, and save the terminal output. WP-CLI is especially useful when a proxy or browser disconnects even though the server can continue processing.
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Skip expensive work deliberately
The import command documents attachment handling and the image_resize skip option. For an import where media will be copied separately, you can skip attachments:
wp import /path/to/export.xml --skip=attachmentWhen attachments are needed but thumbnail generation is the bottleneck, skip image resizing:
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wp import /path/to/export.xml --skip=attachment,image_resizeSkipping attachments changes the result: posts may contain references to media that is not present on the destination. Skipping image resizing leaves the original files to be handled later, so confirm that your media workflow creates the required sizes.
Fix “There was an error when reading this WXR file”
The importer source identifies malformed XML as a parser failure and displays “There was an error when reading this WXR file.” Treat this as a file-integrity problem, not a memory or timeout problem.
Verify that the export is complete
- Compare the file size with the size reported by the export process and confirm that the download completed.
- Open the file as text and check for a closing XML and RSS structure rather than an abrupt end.
- Confirm that the file is a WordPress WXR export, not an HTML error page saved with an
.xmlextension. - Run an XML parser or validator. It should identify the line and character where parsing fails.
Regenerate instead of repeatedly retrying
Create a fresh export from the source site and download it again. If only one content range produces an invalid file, export smaller ranges to isolate the damaged section. Do not keep retrying the same malformed file: every successful portion can add another copy of the content.
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Split only at valid boundaries
If the export is too large, use the exporter’s filters or an XML-aware splitter. Preserve the WXR declarations and channel structure in each output and split between complete item records. A text-editor cut in the middle of an item will convert a size problem into a parser problem.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When posts import but images do not
Media attachments are fetched separately from the post records. Missing images therefore do not necessarily mean that the post import failed.
Check attachment fetching
In the browser importer, confirm that the option to fetch and import file attachments is enabled. In WP-CLI, do not use --skip=attachment when you need the files.
Check the original URLs
The importer must reach the source URLs recorded in the WXR file. Confirm that the source site is online, that the URLs resolve from the destination server, and that authentication, firewalls, hotlink rules, or robots controls are not blocking downloads. A URL that works in your desktop browser may still be unreachable from the hosting server.
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Check download and server limits
Attachment-size restrictions, PHP memory, execution time, disk space, and outbound request rules can stop media while text records continue. Review the destination’s PHP and server logs when available. If a few very large files fail, handle those files separately rather than rerunning every post.
Choose an intentional media strategy
- Need a complete migration: enable attachment fetching, ensure the source remains reachable, and allow time for downloads and image processing.
- Already copying media by another method: skip attachments during the WXR import, then verify that the copied files and URLs match the imported references.
- Need originals but not immediate thumbnails: import attachments while skipping
image_resize, then generate image sizes in a separate maintenance step.
Inspect and recover from a partial import
A failed run is not automatically rolled back. Before retrying, inspect the destination in the following order:
- Posts and pages: search by several distinctive titles and check publication status, dates, authors, and slugs.
- Users: look for accounts created by the import and confirm role assignments.
- Taxonomies: review categories, tags, custom taxonomies, and term counts.
- Media: check both the Media Library and the uploads directory for imported files and duplicates.
- Relationships: open representative posts and verify authors, terms, featured images, and internal links.
Record the highest reliably imported item or date range. If the importer supports selecting a smaller export, begin after that boundary. If you cannot establish a clean boundary, restore the backup and perform one controlled import rather than guessing.
Why blind retries create duplicates
The importer may have completed some records before the request failed. A second run can create another copy of those records, users, terms, or attachments. The Administration Handbook’s warning about duplicate data applies even when the visible error appears late in the process.
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| Situation | Browser importer | WP-CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Small WXR and normal server limits | Convenient from WordPress admin; no SSH required. | Works, but setup is unnecessary for a short job. |
| Long-running import | Vulnerable to browser, proxy, and request timeouts. | Better suited to a persistent server-side process. |
| Large attachment workload | May hit memory or execution limits while downloading and resizing. | Allows explicit attachment and image_resize choices. |
| Host limits cannot be changed | Requires smaller files and may still time out. | Can help with browser limits, but cannot override PHP, disk, network, or host policies. |
| Risk of partial duplicates | High if the browser disconnects and you retry without inspection. | Still present; review the destination after every run. |
| Required access | WordPress administrator account. | SSH or equivalent command-line access plus WP-CLI. |
WP-CLI is not a substitute for correcting a malformed WXR or an upload limit. It is the better execution method after the file is valid and the main obstacle is request duration, browser reliability, or attachment processing.
A repeatable import checklist
- Back up the destination database and uploads.
- Save the exact error message and note the time of the failed run.
- Confirm the file is complete, readable WXR XML.
- For size errors, verify that
post_max_sizeexceedsupload_max_filesize. - For memory errors, raise permitted PHP memory or create smaller valid exports.
- For timeout errors, adjust permitted execution/proxy limits or use WP-CLI.
- For parser errors, regenerate and validate the export instead of retrying it.
- For missing media, verify attachment fetching, source reachability, and download limits.
- Inspect posts, pages, users, taxonomies, and media after every attempt.
- Only retry once you know what data already exists and which part of the job remains.
When to ask the host or a migration specialist
Contact hosting support when you cannot change PHP or proxy settings, when the reported web values differ from your configuration, or when outbound attachment requests are blocked. Provide the exact error, WXR file size, effective values for memory_limit, post_max_size, upload_max_filesize, and max_execution_time, and whether the destination already contains partial data.
A migration specialist can be useful for a large, time-sensitive move when you lack SSH access or cannot safely split and verify WXR files. Regardless of who runs the command, keep the backup and the post-failure inspection process under your control.
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