How to Rebuild a WordPress Website Without Losing Content

Redesigning a WordPress site doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch.
The safest and most professional approach is to build the new version in a subfolder, keeping the old site online until launch — and importing only the useful data (pages, posts, products, users, orders) without carrying over the old theme’s options.

Step 1: Install WordPress in a Subfolder

Install WordPress in /public_html/new using a clean database.
You can freely design your new theme and settings here.

Step 2: Export Content and Products

From the old site → Tools → Export → XML, select:

• Pages
• Posts
• Products
• Categories and tags

Then import them on the new site with Tools → Import → WordPress.

Step 3: Migrate WooCommerce Users and Orders

Use plugins like WP All Export / WP All Import to selectively move:

• Products (product)
• Orders (shop_order)
• Users (user)

These tools handle WooCommerce data properly.

Step 4: Export Products via WooCommerce

Use the built-in WooCommerce Export/Import feature for catalog transfer.

Step 5: Transfer Users

Install Import and Export Users and Customers to migrate all registered users with passwords and roles intact.

Step 6: Skip wp_options

Never import wp_options — it includes theme and plugin settings from the old site.
Reconfigure WooCommerce and theme options manually.

Step 7: Move to Root

Once the new site is approved:

• Move files from /new to root
• Update URLs with Better Search Replace

Summary

Goal	Method	Tool
Content & products	XML Export	WP Importer
Media	Include attachments	WP Importer
Users	Plugin	Import Export Users
Orders	Plugin	Advanced Order Export
URLs	Replace /new/	Better Search Replace

Dopstart Tip

Always back up before starting.
Rebuilding your WordPress site this way keeps your content, SEO, and structure, while shedding outdated settings.

Start clean — grow faster.