Plugin info

Total downloads: 5,239,581
Active installs: 200,000
Total reviews: 117
Average rating: 4.7
Support threads opened: 0
Support threads resolved: 0 (0%)
Available in: 26 language(s)
Contributors: 8
Last updated: 12/1/2025 (30 days ago)
Added to WordPress: 7/15/2013 (12 years old)
Minimum WordPress version: 3.5
Tested up to WordPress version: 6.9
Minimum PHP version: 5.2.4

Maintenance & Compatibility

Maintenance score

Actively maintained • Last updated 30 days ago • 117 reviews

77/100

Is Widget Importer & Exporter abandoned?

Likely maintained (last update 30 days ago).

Compatibility

Requires WordPress: 3.5
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 5.2.4

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Description

Widget Importer & Exporter is useful for moving widgets from one WordPress site to another, backing up widgets and for theme developers to give users sample widgets. See the details on ChurchThemes.com.

Importing

Importing is done by uploading an export file created by the plugin. The results of an import are shown in a nicely formatted table with an explanation of what happened with each widget area and widget.

Importation takes into consideration widget areas not existing in the current theme (widgets imported as Inactive), widgets that already exist in the same widget area (widgets not duplicated) and widgets that are not supported by the site (widgets not imported).

Exporting

Widget Importer & Exporter can create an export file (in JSON format with .wie extension) out of currently active widgets. This file can be imported into other sites using this plugin or used to restore widgets to the same site later.

Developers

The wie_before_import action fires after a file is uploaded but before the data is imported. wie_after_import fires after the data is imported. The wie_import_data filter can be used to filter data before it is imported. Other filters are used throughout. Make a pull request on GitHub if you need another hook.

Please jump on GitHub to report issues and follow development.

Installation

Please see Installing Plugins in the WordPress Codex.

After activation, go to Tools > Widget Importer & Exporter

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the JSON export file use a .wie extension?

The export file contains JSON data that is not compatible with any other plugin. Therefore it has a proprietary file extension. This keeps people from confusing export files from other widget import/export plugins.

Review feed

Vladimir Vassilev
6/18/2019

Awesome!

The plugin did what it described - super-easy and quick to use. It even transferred the custom "Conditional Widgets" settings that I had for a few of the widgets. Well done, mate!
Unreal Themes
1/20/2023

Goode plugin!

Clear and fast plugin

Screenshots

  1. Main import/export screen

    Main import/export screen

  2. Results from an import

    Results from an import

Changelog

See releases on GitHub.