Exporting puts your site's writing, pages, comments, and categories into a single file you can keep. It's a good backup to have on hand — and the first step if you ever move your content somewhere else.

## Before you start

- An account that's allowed to export content. Administrators have this by default.
- Somewhere on your computer to keep the download — busy sites can produce a large file.

## Steps

### Step 1: Open the export tool

In the admin sidebar, hover over **Tools** and choose **Export**. The screen opens on the **Choose what to export** options.

![Open the export tool](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTA4NzIsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--a5fff1114bd213f3670a82d288285af4860038fb/block_open-export.png)

### Step 2: Choose what to include

**All content** is already selected, and it covers your posts, pages, comments, custom fields, terms, navigation menus, and custom posts. To export only part of your site, pick **Posts**, **Pages**, or **Media** instead. Selecting **Posts** opens its filters, so you can limit the file to one **Categories:** value, a single **Authors:** name, a **Start date** and **End date**, or a particular **Status:**.

![Choose what to include](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTA5MzEsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--76570a5ad72a4b768d455e4fac3a2d263d03c984/block_choose-what-to-include.png)

### Step 3: Download the file

Click **Download Export File** and your browser saves the file straight to your computer. Put it somewhere you'll remember — you can import it into another WordPress site whenever you're ready.

![Download the file](https://wordpress.supportpages.io/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTA4OTcsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--803132d2c86ec3643b4eb2e3eb235f8d1f4cfb04/step_2.png)

## Tips

- The download is a plain XML file named after your site and the date. This format is called WordPress eXtended RSS, or WXR.
- It holds content only — your themes, plugins, and settings stay behind.
- Exporting changes nothing on your live site, so run it as often as you like.

## Summary

One visit to the Export screen and your content is in a file that's yours to keep. Save it as a backup, or use it to bring everything across to a new site.