Do you want to import and export WordPress users from one website to another? This could be really helpful when you are merging multiple sites and want to automatically shift all users from existing websites. In this article, we will share how you can easily import and export users in WordPress.
Why or When You May Need to Import and Export Users in WordPress?
While there are several use-cases for importing and exporting WordPress users, the most common scenarios when you need to import and export users are:
- When you purchase a website and want to merge the content and user base.
- When you want to consolidate two sites and merge their content and user base.
- When you want to import all users into an email list or your CRM.
On large multi-author sites or a membership site in WordPress, each user profile has tons of useful data (like profile photo, bio information, social links, and more).
While you can surely ask them to recreate their profile, it’s inconvenient and not an ideal user experience.
Let’s take a look at how you can easily import and export users from one WordPress site to another.
Exporting Users in WordPress
First thing you need to do is install and activate the Import Export WordPress Users plugin. For more details, see our step by step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, you need to visit Users » User Import Export page and scroll down to the export section.
On this page, you need to select a user role to export from your website, select fields that you want to export with the user, and more.
By default, all user fields will be exported. If you don’t want to export a specific item, then you can simply uncheck it from the columns section.
After selecting the settings, you need to click on the Export button. It will save a CSV export file in your computer.
You can use this file to import users into another WordPress site.
Importing Users in WordPress
This step will also require the same Import Export WordPress Users plugin that we used above to export users. Make sure that you have this plugin installed and activated on the site where you want to import users.
Next, you need to visit Users » User Import Export page and click on the Import Users button.
On this page, first you need to click on the Browse button and then select the CSV file you want to import. After selecting the CSV file, you need to click the Upload file and import button.
Once done, you will see a success message with details on how many users imported, status message, and more details on the process.
The plugin will not only import users, it will also automatically assign them correct user role and fill in other profile settings.
We hope this article helped you learn how to easily import and export WordPress users. You may also want to see our guide on how to track user engagement in WordPress.
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Im having some issues as i have 81,000 users trying to export to a csv. Which by my guess is several MB it keeps coming up with an error before task can complete.
More than likely it is taking too long, you may want to try the recommendation in our article below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-fix-fatal-error-maximum-execution-time-exceeded-in-wordpress/
If some users already exist – what will happen?
Does it overwrite them?
Regards.
You would want to reach out to the plugin’s support for the specifics on how that would be handled
Thanks I will.
Regards.
Hi there
If I export all users to a new site, will their passwords remain the same?
Thanks!
Unless I hear otherwise, the passwords should remain the same
hello I am lost. I made a website for our club some years ago. the members have passwords to see the content of the page.
now I updated the site and moved the web host (same URL) . Now I want
a) to move / migrate the database including the passwords our members have assigned themselves some years ago (and forgot about them).
b) have them active right away, so there is no problems for the members top go in their page.
Does this work?
Michael
For moving hosts you could take a look at our guide here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-move-wordpress-to-a-new-host-or-server-with-no-downtime/
When you move the site and users over, they can use the reset password option to get their passwords back or you could use the plugin in our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-reset-passwords-for-all-users-in-wordpress/
Can i use this on a multisite? I tried to export users in a subsite of a multisite, and the export button takes me to the dashboard without downloading the export file.
You would want to reach out to the plugin’s support for the specifics of how to use it on multisite.
Thank you so much! This plugin was awesome for moving users from a main site to a subdomain prior to transfer.
You’re welcome
Will the plug in create new users, assign passwords, and email them?
Yes, it’s doing all those options.
How can I import absolute new users. So they don’t exist yet. Is the email and first and last name enough?
So I have a page made on WordPress and no WooCommerce. It’s just a page.
Does you plugin enable you to IMPORT Gmail and Yahoo contact lists into a WordPress site ?
Many thanks
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
It can do that. First you will need to export your contacts list in CSV format. Now install the plugin and export your current users, the plugin will generate a CSV file. You need to open this file in a spreadsheet program like Google Sheets or Excel. Notice the arrangement of columns. Now open your contacts list CSV file and arrange the columns in the same way using spreadsheet software. Now save this CSV file and try importing this file using the plugin.
Hello
Same problem as Alan , getting this error
keep getting cant insert user without email
Doesn’t work! keep getting cant insert user without email
Hello, I was wondering if this plug-in also exports/imports usermeta data
Hi Paul,
The pro version will be able to do that, please plugin website for details.