Overview
This plugin allows you to save and restore everything in "Appearance > Customize" with a single click. It is such a fundamental tool for managing "design-only" migrations and backups that you'll wonder why it isn't part of the WordPress core.
Whether you're moving settings from a staging site to production or handing off design from a parent theme to a child theme, it turns a tedious 30-minute manual task into a seamless matter of seconds.
Plugin Page: https://wordpress.org/plugins/customizer-export-import/
Conclusion
This is the optimal solution for anyone looking to instantly transfer design settings to a new environment. If you've ever felt the panic of losing customizer settings during a theme switch, this plugin is a lifesaver.
Recommended Points
- Setting Portability
Simply upload the exported file (.dat) to another site to perfectly recreate your logos, colors, and layout configurations. - Automatic Image Import
If your settings include images (like headers or backgrounds), the plugin automatically fetches them into the media library and re-assigns them upon import. - Fills the Backup Gap
General backup plugins often miss theme-specifictheme_modsburied deep in the database. This plugin ensures you extract exactly what you need for your design. - Lightweight & Simple
No cluttered settings page. It simply adds an "Export / Import" button inside the Customizer, making it completely intuitive.
Key Features
- Setting Export
Download current Customizer settings (theme_mods) as a dedicated file. - Setting Import
Load settings from other sites or past backups to apply them instantly. - Image Asset Syncing
Automatic retrieval and registration of image files into the media library. - Developer Hooks
Provides hooks to include option values outside ofget_theme_modsfor advanced users.
Best Use Cases
Perfect for scenarios where you want to clone a successful design configuration.
- Site Migration
Transfer meticulously tuned colors and fonts from a staging environment (Before) to a production site (After) in seconds. - Child Theme Transition
When you realize you need a child theme after already customizing the parent (Before), restore everything to the new child theme (After) with one click. - Regular Backups
Safely store the exact state of your design locally (After) in case of accidental resets or configuration errors (Before). - Design Trials
Export your safe, current settings (Before) before experimenting with drastic layout changes. If you don't like the new look, revert instantly (After).
Points to Note
- Excludes Non-Customizer Items
Settings managed outside the Customizer, such as original widgets or third-party plugin panels, are not exported. - Theme Dependency
The exported file contains the theme name. While you can "port" settings between different themes, success depends on whether the themes share the same option IDs.
Summary
It may not be flashy, but Customizer Export/Import is a quiet hero of site management. Developed by the reliable Beaver Builder team, it significantly reduces the stress of migrating designs and managing theme transitions.