All-in-One WP Migration is the industry standard for exporting a WordPress website. Whether you are backing up your site before a major update, preparing to move to a new hosting provider, or sending a copy of your site to a developer, this step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to export your WordPress website safely. By the end of this article, you will know how to create a complete backup file, use the advanced find-and-replace features, and ensure your data is ready for a seamless import.

Why Use All-in-One WP Migration for Exports?

There are dozens of backup plugins available for WordPress, but All-in-One WP Migration remains the preferred choice for many developers and business owners because it exports the entire site—database, media files, plugins, and themes—into a single, highly compressed .wpress file. It bypasses your host’s file size limits by exporting data in small chunks, which prevents timeouts on shared hosting environments. It also handles database serialization automatically, meaning your URLs and links will not break when you move the site to a new domain.

Install the All-in-One WP Migration Plugin

To begin the export process, you first need to install the plugin on the website you want to copy. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Plugins → Add New. In the search bar, type All-in-One WP Migration.

Look for the plugin developed by ServMask. Click Install Now, and then click Activate. Once activated, a new menu item labeled All-in-One WP Migration will appear in the left-hand sidebar of your WordPress dashboard.

Configure the Export Settings

Navigate to All-in-One WP Migration → Export. Before you click the export button, you have the option to configure advanced settings. For a standard full-site backup, you do not need to change anything. However, if you are exporting the site for a specific purpose, the Advanced Options dropdown provides several useful exclusions:

• Do not export spam comments — Check this to reduce your backup file size if your site has accumulated a lot of spam.
• Do not export post revisions — WordPress saves multiple versions of every page and post you edit. Excluding these can significantly shrink your database size.
• Do not export media library — Only check this if you are moving the database and theme files but plan to migrate the /wp-content/uploads/ folder manually via FTP.
• Do not export themes or plugins — Useful if you are only migrating content to a site that already has the correct theme and plugins installed.

Using the Find and Replace Feature

One of the most powerful features of the All-in-One WP Migration export tool is the built-in Find and Replace function. If you are exporting your site to move it to a new domain (for example, from a staging URL like staging.yourdomain.com to the live URL yourdomain.com), you can enter the old URL in the “Find” field and the new URL in the “Replace with” field.

The plugin will automatically update all database references, image URLs, and internal links during the export process. This ensures that when you import the file on the new server, no links will point back to the old staging site.

Run the Export Process

Once your settings are configured, click the green Export To button. A dropdown menu will appear with several destination options. Select File.

The plugin will begin archiving your database, media files, plugins, and themes. A progress window will appear showing the current status. Do not close this browser tab or navigate away from the page. Depending on the size of your website, this process can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour.

Download and Store Your Backup File

When the export is complete, a large flashing button will appear prompting you to download the file. The button will display the final size of your backup. Click it to download the .wpress file to your computer.

Once the download finishes, click the Close button on the popup window. It is highly recommended that you store this file in a secure location, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or an external hard drive. If your live website ever crashes or gets hacked, this single file contains everything needed to restore it completely.

Exporting Directly to Cloud Storage

While the free version of All-in-One WP Migration only supports exporting to a local file, ServMask offers premium extensions that allow you to export your WordPress website directly to cloud storage services. This eliminates the need to download the backup file to your computer first and then manually upload it to a cloud provider.

The available cloud export destinations include Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Microsoft OneDrive, Box, and Backblaze B2. Each extension is purchased separately from the ServMask website. Once installed, the cloud destination appears as an additional option in the Export To dropdown menu alongside the default File option.

Cloud exports are especially useful for businesses that maintain large WordPress websites where the backup file exceeds several gigabytes. Downloading a file that size to your local machine and then re-uploading it to a cloud provider wastes time and bandwidth. A direct cloud export completes the transfer server-to-server, which is significantly faster and more reliable. It also reduces the risk of a corrupted download caused by an unstable internet connection.

If you manage multiple WordPress websites for clients, the Google Drive or Dropbox extension can streamline your backup workflow. You can organize client backups into separate folders and maintain a clear archive of every export without cluttering your local hard drive. For agencies and freelancers handling ongoing website maintenance, this is a significant time saver.

Setting Up Scheduled Backups

One of the most overlooked aspects of WordPress site management is maintaining a consistent backup schedule. Exporting your site manually every time you make a change is not realistic, and relying solely on your hosting provider’s backups can leave gaps if their retention period is short or their restore process is slow.

All-in-One WP Migration does not include a built-in scheduler in the free version, but you can achieve automated backups in two ways. First, if you purchase one of the cloud storage extensions mentioned above, some of them include a scheduling feature that lets you set daily, weekly, or monthly automatic exports to your chosen cloud destination. Second, you can use a companion plugin like WP Crontrol to trigger the export function on a custom schedule using WordPress cron jobs.

For business websites that update content regularly—such as e-commerce stores, blogs, or membership sites—a weekly automated backup is the minimum recommended frequency. For sites that process transactions or collect form submissions daily, a nightly backup ensures that you never lose more than 24 hours of data in a worst-case scenario.

The key principle is simple: your backup is only as valuable as its age. A six-month-old backup file will not help you recover from a hack that happened yesterday. Establishing a routine export schedule, whether manual or automated, is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your WordPress website and your business. If you need help setting up automated backups or a disaster recovery plan, Elite Web Professionals can configure a complete backup strategy tailored to your site’s needs.

Next Steps: Importing Your Website

Now that you have successfully exported your WordPress site, the next step is to upload it to its new destination. The import process requires a fresh WordPress installation on the new server. For a complete walkthrough of the next phase, read our companion guide on how to import a WordPress site using All-in-One WP Migration.

When to Get Professional Help

While exporting a site is generally straightforward, complex websites with massive media libraries, custom database tables, or strict security configurations may encounter timeouts or server errors during the export process. If your export fails repeatedly, or if you are preparing for a critical migration where downtime is not an option, it is best to consult a professional.

Elite Web Professionals provides comprehensive WordPress website migration services. We handle the entire process—from secure exports and server configuration to search engine optimization preservation and post-migration testing. If you need your website moved safely without losing traffic or data, contact our team today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does All-in-One WP Migration save the export file?

By default, the plugin saves a copy of every export in the /wp-content/ai1wm-backups/ folder on your server. You can view and manage these saved backups by navigating to All-in-One WP Migration → Backups in your WordPress dashboard.

Why does my export stop or freeze at a certain percentage?

Exports usually freeze because the server runs out of memory or hits a timeout limit. To fix this, you can ask your hosting provider to increase your PHP memory_limit and max_execution_time. Alternatively, try excluding post revisions and spam comments to reduce the workload on the server.

Can I export only the database?

Yes. In the Advanced Options section before exporting, you can check the boxes to exclude the media library, themes, and plugins. This will result in a very small .wpress file that contains only your database content (posts, pages, and settings).

Is the .wpress file encrypted?

No, the standard .wpress file is an unencrypted archive format specific to ServMask. If your website contains sensitive customer data or e-commerce orders, you should store the downloaded file securely and delete the copy stored in the plugin’s Backups menu on your server.

Can Elite Web Professionals handle my migration?

Yes. We manage WordPress migrations for businesses nationwide, ensuring zero data loss and complete SEO preservation. Contact Elite Web Professionals to schedule your site migration.