Import and export theme settings

  • advanced
  • import
  • export
  • customizer
  • sample-data

Updated

To copy your Customizer settings to another WordPress site, or back them up, use Dirigible → Import/Export. It copies the look and setup of a Dirigible site without rebuilding every Customizer panel by hand. Use it to back up before a redesign, move styles onto a staging copy, or add demo content from a plugin.

The page title is Theme Import/Export. It does not copy pages, media, or menus. For a full move, see Move a site or make a staging copy.

Which export do I need?

Card What it downloads When to use it
Export Styles Palette, typography, widths, and related style values, as JSON Copy the look, or back up before you change Styles
Export Settings Header, footer, scripts, blog, pop-up, and other Customizer options, as JSON Copy how the site is set up, not just colors and type
Export Additional CSS The Customizer Additional CSS box, as a .css file Keep a copy of custom CSS, or move it after a child-theme switch

Each export card has an Export → button. There is no import card for Additional CSS. Paste the downloaded file into Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS on the other site.

Export

  1. Go to Dirigible → Import/Export.
  2. Click Export → on Export Styles, Export Settings, and Export Additional CSS if you use custom CSS.
  3. Keep the files somewhere you can find them. Styles and settings are JSON. Additional CSS is a .css file named after the site.

Import styles or settings

  1. On the destination site, open the same Import/Export page.
  2. Under Import Styles or Import Settings, click Choose File and pick the matching JSON export.
  3. The import starts when you choose the file.
  4. Open Appearance → Customize, check the preview, and click Publish.

Import Styles first when you're moving the look, then Settings. Matching values are updated. Groups the file doesn't recognize are skipped.

Plugin settings in the file only apply if that plugin is active on the destination site. Install the same plugins first.

After you import

  • Logos and other images in settings still need to exist in the destination Media Library. Re-upload them if the IDs don't match.
  • Fonts from Dirigible Fonts need that plugin active, with the same families available.
  • Additional CSS is saved per theme. After you switch child themes, paste the exported CSS into the new theme's Additional CSS box.

Import sample data

Import Sample Data lists demo content from active Dirigible plugins. It only appears for plugins that are installed, active, and ship that content.

  1. Click Import → on the plugin's card.
  2. If the card says it needs the WordPress Importer plugin, install that from Plugins → Add Plugin, then try again.

You can run an import more than once. Existing sample posts are updated by slug, not duplicated. Use this on local or staging sites, not as a way to build a live site's real content.

If no plugins with sample content are active, the section says so.

Is Import/Export a full backup?

No. It doesn't replace a host backup of the database and uploads. It's still worth taking a fresh export before a big redesign, so you can roll back styles and settings on their own.

Older Dirigible export files still import when the theme can map them.

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