Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download and Import WordPress File Attachments

When migrating your WordPress site to a new domain or hosting, one of the most critical aspects is ensuring that all file attachments (images, videos, audio, documents, and so on) are transferred successfully. If you’ve exported your content from the source site using the default WordPress export tool, you have an XML file that includes all posts, pages, comments, categories, tags, and other relevant data. However, this file doesn't contain the actual media files; instead, it provides links to their source URLs.

To get all your file attachments to the new WordPress site, you need to download them separately and then import them into the media library. In this article, we’ll outline the steps to follow to download and import WordPress file attachments.

Step 1: Export Your WordPress Site

Before you can transfer your WordPress site's content to a new location or server, you have to create an XML file that contains all the data. To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to "Tools," and click "Export." You'll see several options to customize your export, including the date range, author, category, and post type. By default, WordPress exports all content, but you may want to limit it to a specific category or time period.

Click the "Download Export File" button to save the XML file to your computer. Remember the folder where you saved it since you'll need to access it later.

Step 2: Extract the File Attachments

As we mentioned earlier, the XML file only contains the metadata about the media files, not the files themselves. To get the actual images, videos, or other attachments, you need to extract them manually. One way to do this is by using a plugin like "Export Media Library." This tool allows you to download all your WP media library files in a ZIP archive and keep the same folder structure.

Once you install and activate the plugin, go to "Media > Export Media." Select the date range for the files you want to export and click the "Export" button. Your browser will prompt you to save the ZIP file to your computer. Note that the file may be quite large, depending on how many media files you have.

Step 3: Import the File Attachments to the New Site

Now that you have the XML export file and the media files ZIP archive, you can start importing them into the new WordPress site. First, go to the "Tools > Import" page on the destination site and select "WordPress" from the list of importers. If you haven't installed the WordPress Importer plugin yet, you'll need to install and activate it from the prompt.

Next, click the "Choose File" button and select the XML file you exported from the source site in Step 1. Click "Upload file and import," and WordPress will prompt you to assign the authors, attachments, and other necessary options. Make sure you check the "Download and import file attachments" box to enable the media files' transfer.

Once the import process finishes, you'll see a summary of the imported content, including the number of posts, pages, and media files. Go to the "Media > Library" section to verify that all your file attachments are in place, with the correct titles, descriptions, and metadata.

Conclusion

Transferring your WordPress site's content to a new location or server requires careful planning and execution, especially when it comes to file attachments. By following the steps we outlined in this article, you can ensure that your media files are downloaded and imported correctly and available to use in your new site. Remember to back up your data before migrating, as well as test the new site's functionality thoroughly before going live.