How to Transfer WordPress Users from One WordPress Site to Another | HostGator Support
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How to Transfer WordPress Users from One WordPress Site to Another

When you want to move users from one WordPress installation to a brand-new installation of WordPress, it must be done via the database.

Important notes:
  • Only transfer users to an empty database. If you transfer users to a database that already contains users, existing users will be lost.
  • A backup should be made before doing any of the steps below.

Step 1: Export WordPress users

You can transfer your WordPress users from one site to another site by performing the following steps:

  1. Log in to cPanel.
  2. In the Databases section, click the phpMyAdmin icon.

    phpMyAdmin icon

  3. On the left navigation menu, click the database from which the users are being exported.
  4. Once the database is expanded, you'll see a table with the name "_users" in it. (The sample image below shows “wp_users.”)

    Choose a specific database

  5. You should see a list of your existing users for your WordPress site.
  6. From the top navigation menu, click Export.

    phpMyAdmin - users - Export

  7. Select the radio button for Custom to view additional options at the bottom.

    Custom table display

  8. Under the Format section, select SQL.

    Format - SQL

  9. Scroll down a bit and locate the Object creation options section. Put a checkmark on the following:
    • Add Drop Table / Trigger Statement
    • Add Create Table Statement
    • Create Table Options
    • If Not Exists
    • Auto_Increment
    • Enclose table and column names with backquotes
  10. Click Export at the bottom of the page to save a .sql file into your computer.

Step 2: Import users to the destination WordPress site

In the database of the destination WordPress site:

  1. From the top left navigation menu, click the Home icon.

    HostGator cPanel phpMyAdmin Home Icon

  2. From the left navigation menu, select the database to which the users are being imported.
  3. Select the table with the name "_users" in it.
  4. From the top navigation menu, click the Import tab.

    phpMyAdmin - Users - Import

  5. Under File to Import, click the Choose File button.

    File to import - Choose File

  6. Select the previously downloaded file from Step 1, then click Open.
    Please note that this will override your existing "_users" table.
  7. Scroll down the page and click Import.

After completing the steps above, the users from your old WordPress site should have been successfully imported to your new WordPress site.