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How to Export WordPress Theme

Exporting a WordPress theme allows you to reuse the same theme design and customizations on another WordPress site. You can also share the theme with other users or create a backup of your current theme.

There are a few ways to export a WordPress theme:

Using the Built-in WordPress Exporter

The easiest way to export a theme is by using the built-in exporter in WordPress:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Themes
  2. Activate the theme you want to export
  3. Click on the theme to open the theme details screen
  4. Under “Theme Actions”, click on Export Export WordPress Theme
  5. In the export screen, select the content you want to export:
    • All content – Exports all theme files, customizations, widgets etc.
    • Theme file only – Only exports the theme stylesheet and template files
    • Theme customization only – Exports just your theme customizer settings
  6. Click Download Export File to download the exported theme as a .zip file

The default WordPress exporter allows you to easily export the active theme with your customizations. However, it does not export plugins, images, or other media files.

Using a Backup Plugin

Another option is to use a WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus to fully export your active theme, including all related files and data:

  1. Install and activate UpdraftPlus
  2. Go to Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups
  3. Click on Backup Now
  4. In the backup screen, enable these options:
    • Themes
    • Include your files in the backup
  5. Click Backup Now and wait for the backup to complete
  6. Once finished, download the backup .zip file which contains your fully exported theme

Backup plugins like UpdraftPlus allow exporting your entire site including themes, plugins, uploads etc. This complete backup can then be imported into a new WordPress site.

Manually Downloading via FTP

You can also manually download your active theme files via FTP:

  1. Access your site’s files using an FTP client
  2. Navigate to wp-content/themes/
  3. Locate the folder for your active theme
  4. Download this folder to your computer
  5. Compress the folder into a .zip file

Manually exporting your theme files allows you to fully backup that particular theme including any customizations you have made to its files.

Why Export Your Theme?

Here are some common reasons for exporting a WordPress theme:

  • Create a backup – Exporting allows you to create a complete backup of your current theme including styles, templates, and settings. This acts as a restore point if something goes wrong.
  • Migrate to another site – You can seamlessly migrate to another WordPress site by importing the exported theme. This allows reusing the same design and customizations.
  • Share with other users – The exported .zip file can be shared with other WordPress site owners allowing them to use the same theme.
  • Sell your theme – Developers can export custom themes they have created and sell them to other users.

Best Practices When Exporting Themes

Follow these best practices when exporting themes:

  • Test the exported theme by importing it into a staging site before migration.
  • Delete any demo content or media files that you may not need before exporting.
  • Export themes using a backup plugin to include all related files.
  • Make appropriate changes if migrating an exported theme across different domains.
  • Document any customizations or plugins needed for the theme to work properly.
  • Keep a recent backup of your theme files in case something goes wrong.

Conclusion

Exporting themes in WordPress allows you to reuse the same theme design and customizations on other sites. You can use the built-in exporter, backup plugins, or manual FTP download.

Just remember to test imported themes, delete unnecessary demo content, and keep backups. Migrating or sharing themes can save a lot of time and effort compared to building a new theme from scratch.

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