WordPress site owners can use Reprint, a free tool, to copy their files and database to another host or a computer for testing. The open-source tool uses PHP, and its plugin and command-line client are available through the WordPress.org Plugin Directory. It transfers data straight to the destination computer or server without routing the copy through an external service.
Unlike WordPress's existing export option for posts and pages, Reprint brings over the broader site, including settings, uploaded content, plugins and the theme. Transfers proceed in chunks, so the original host does not need spare capacity to hold a complete site archive before copying starts. An interrupted transfer can pick up from its most recent saved point instead of beginning again.
During a host move, the original site can remain open to visitors while its owner checks the copy at the destination. WordPress recommends checking page loading, images and forms before directing visitors to the replacement site. For the final switch, its migration process calls for pausing changes at the original, taking a final copy and then directing the domain to the destination host.
Reprint can also replace links to the previous address when the user supplies a different site address. That database rewriting extends to links within blocks and shortcodes, as well as settings and more complex stored content such as custom fields and serialized data. For repeated copies, Reprint identifies changes and transfers only the files that need copying.
Owners can use a local copy to experiment with a layout using their existing pages, assess a plugin or check compatibility after updating WordPress. WordPress recommends beginning with a test site under the user's control when first trying Reprint with their own content and settings. A separate experimental option in WordPress Playground lets people copy a sample site inside the browser without installing anything or connecting their own site.
The testing use case follows this week's WordPress 7.2 Beta 5 release, which is intended for development and testing. WordPress directs users to a local site or test environment for that beta and warns against running it on production websites or those essential to operations.
