Design Import/Export – Styles, Templates, Template Parts and Patterns Reviews, Downloads & Maintenance

Ideal for designers and developers working with the Site Editor and a block based full-site-editing theme, who have edited their block based custom styles, templates, template parts and patterns, and now need to copy that design over to a new WordPress installation.

The Design Import/Export plugin allows this to be done with minimal fuss, and can also be used to take regular backups of your block theme based design(s).

Works with any full-site-editing block theme.

License

Licensed under the GNU General Public License v2.0,
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Installation

From your WordPress dashboard

Visit ‘Plugins > Add New’,
Search for ‘design import export’ and install the plugin.
Activate ‘Design Import/Export’ from your Plugins page.

Once the plugin is activated you will find the plugin page in Tools -> Design Import/Export

Frequently Asked Questions

I have activated the plugin. Where is the plugin page?

You will find the plugin page in your Dashboard at Tools -> Design Import/Export.

What theme do I need to make use of the plugin?

You will need any block based (full site editing) compatible theme.

Do I need to install any other plugins?

No.

Where are the import files saved?

Any files that you upload using the import function will be saved as .txt files to the default WordPress media/uploads directory. An example of that directory would be: ../wp-content/uploads/2021/07/.

Review feed

perryrylance

4/27/2022

Superb tool, thanks!

I'm working on a theme who's slug I had to correct, which caused loss of all the template parts. I used this plugin to export the parts from the broken theme, searched and replaced the bad slug with the new slug and then ran the import, worked absolutely perfect. Thanks folks!

Hugh Lashbrooke

4/2/2024

Does what it says and does it well

This plugin fixes a huge hole in WordPress and allows you to easily copy your entire customised theme from one site to another. This is invaluable for moving from a local development site to a live site, for copying your work from one site to another, or simply for backing things up in an easily portable format. I used this on the current latest version of WordPress (v6.4.3) and it worked with zero issues. I was copying a highly customised version of Twenty Twenty Three with some complex templates and it worked without a hitch. I'm definitely adding this plugin to my list of default installs.

Screenshots

The main plugin page, showing the Import function, and the styles, templates, template parts and patterns available to Export.
Importing the custom styles, templates, template parts and patterns from a previously exported file.

Changelog

2.2 – October 2025
– Fix for mis-named js/css assets
– Moved plugin menu item from top level to sub-item in tools

2.1 – October 2025
– Renamed relevant internal files from design-import to design-import-export
– Renamed relevant function prefixes from design_import_ to design_import_export_
– Tested up to WP 6.8

2.0 – December 2024
– Added functionality to import/export custom block patterns
– Tested up to WP 6.7
– Requires WP 6.3

1.1.1 – March 2023
– Remove some unused commented code

1.1 – March 2023
– Tested up to WP 6.2
– Requires WP 6.1
– Check if active theme is a block theme
– Only list block themes in export panel list
– Move current active theme to top of list in export panel

1.0 – February 2022
– Tested up WP 5.9
– Requires WP 5.9

0.1.4 – August 2021
– Updated plugin title to clarify the plugin’s purpose.

0.1.3 – July 2021
– Initial release

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