When running a WordPress website, it’s essential to have regular backups—not just of your files and databases but also of your content, like posts and pages. Whether you’re migrating to a new host, creating a staging site, or just want a personal archive, manually exporting your content gives you control and peace of mind.

In this article, we’ll show you how to export WordPress posts and pages without any plugins, explain the file format used, and help you understand how to safely store and restore your content when needed.

Why Exporting Posts and Pages Manually Matters

While many backup plugins can export your full website, including themes, plugins, and media, sometimes you just need the written content your article posts, pages, and custom content types. Reasons to do this include:

• Content migration to another site

• Creating a writing portfolio

• Offline backups

• Troubleshooting content loss or database issues

Exporting posts and pages separately keeps things lightweight and focused on what matters most your words.

Understanding the Export Format: What You Get

When you export posts and pages using WordPress’s native tools, it gives you an XML file (with a .xml extension). This file contains structured data like:

• Post/page titles

• Content (HTML format)

• Excerpts

• Authors

• Categories and tags

• Publish dates

• Custom fields (if any)

This file is designed for easy import back into WordPress, so you’re not just backing up you’re creating a restorable copy.

How to Manually Export Posts and Pages from WordPress

Here’s the simple step-by-step process from the WordPress Dashboard:

Step 1: Log in to Your WordPress Admin

Go to:
https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin
Log in using an admin account.

Step 2: Navigate to the Export Tool

• In the left sidebar, go to Tools > Export

This screen allows you to choose exactly what kind of content to export.

Step 3: Choose What You Want to Export

You’ll see three main options:

• All Content – Includes posts, pages, custom post types, comments, menus, and more.

• Posts – Export only blog posts. You can filter by category, author, date, or status.

• Pages – Export only static pages.

Tip: You can run the export multiple times once for posts and once for pages if you prefer to keep them separate.

Step 4: Click “Download Export File”

After selecting your content type, click the “Download Export File” button.

Your browser will download an XML file—typically named like:
wordpress.YYYY-MM-DD.xml

Save it somewhere safe, ideally with your other backups.

Where to Store Your Exported Files

Once you’ve downloaded the XML file, treat it like any backup:

• Store it in a secure folder on your computer.

• Consider uploading it to Google Drive, Dropbox, or a secure USB drive.

• If you manage multiple sites, label the file with the site name and date.

Best Practice: Always make sure your backup files are stored in more than one place.

How to Restore Posts and Pages from a Backup

If you ever need to restore your content:

1. Go to Tools > Import in your new WordPress site.

2. Install the WordPress Importer (if not already installed).

3. Upload your .xml file.

4. Assign posts to an existing user or create a new author.

5. Choose whether to import media attachments (if available).

Once imported, your content will appear in the Posts or Pages section, just like before.

What This Export Does NOT Include

Be aware that the manual export:

• Does not include your theme or plugin files

• Does not include your media files unless chosen during import

• Does not include full database entries (like plugin settings)

For complete site backups, you’ll still want to export your database and files through cPanel, FTP, or your hosting dashboard. But for content-only backups, this method is perfect.

Final Thoughts: Content First, Always

Your posts and pages are the heart of your website. Themes and plugins can be replaced, but your content is unique. Manually exporting it gives you control, reduces reliance on plugins, and ensures you’re prepared for migrations, rebranding, or emergencies.

By following the steps above, even non-technical users can create a lightweight backup in just a few minutes no coding or complex tools needed.

Bonus Tips

• Set a monthly reminder to export posts and pages.

• Keep a versioned folder of all exports by month/year.

• Use this export method before testing new themes or migrating hosts.