{"id":4422,"date":"2014-05-29T12:00:04","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T17:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?post_type=support&#038;p=4422"},"modified":"2026-04-08T04:54:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:54:41","slug":"downloading-wp-content-folder-previous-host","status":"publish","type":"support","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/downloading-wp-content-folder-previous-host\/","title":{"rendered":"Download WP-Content Folder"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After migrating your database, you will need to transfer the <code>wp-content<\/code> folder from your current host to WP Engine. This process begins with downloading the <code>wp-content<\/code> folder to your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two primary methods for accessing your existing websites files at your previous host. Use the links below to find the guide for each method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#32373c;background-color:#00d1b2\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-notice gb-font-size-18 gb-block-notice\" data-id=\"10de4b\"><div class=\"gb-notice-title\" style=\"color:#fff\"><p>NOTE<\/p><\/div><div class=\"gb-notice-text\" style=\"border-color:#00d1b2\">\n<p>If you don\u2019t have a <em>File Manager<\/em> tool available, and aren\u2019t sure how to connect to FTP\/SFTP, we suggest you contact your current web host for assistance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Video Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/medias\/e0i9r3weec.jsonp\" async><\/script><script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/assets\/external\/E-v1.js\" async><\/script><div class=\"wistia_responsive_padding\" style=\"padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;\"><div class=\"wistia_responsive_wrapper\" style=\"height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;\"><div class=\"wistia_embed wistia_async_e0i9r3weec videoFoam=true\" style=\"height:100%;position:relative;width:100%\"><div class=\"wistia_swatch\" style=\"height:100%;left:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;transition:opacity 200ms;width:100%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/medias\/e0i9r3weec\/swatch\" style=\"filter:blur(5px);height:100%;object-fit:contain;width:100%;\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" onload=\"this.parentNode.style.opacity=1;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<a name=\"cpanel\"><\/a><a name=\"option1\"><\/a>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">File Manager<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first option is to use your hosts built-in file manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access the <strong>File Manager<\/strong> on your previous host<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/export-content-cpanel-1024x344.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99999\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"2\">\n<li>Navigate to the <em>wp-content<\/em><em>directory<\/em>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>File Manager<\/strong> allows you to work with your files on your current host. It is similar to using the <em>Explorer<\/em> or <em>Finder<\/em> applications on your computer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you cannot see a folder in the panel called <code>wp-content<\/code>, you may be able to find it in a different location in the left pane. This folder might be called <code>public_html<\/code>, <code>\/home\/your_account_name<\/code> or <code>\/wordpress<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Select All<\/strong> at the top\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This ensures all directories and assets are migrated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/export-content-select-1-1024x471.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100001\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\">\n<li>Click <strong>Compress<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Zip Archive<\/strong> as the compression type<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/export-content-compress-1024x295.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100002\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"6\">\n<li>Scroll down in the Compress dialogue box to locate a name text field. Be sure the file name reads <code>wp-content.zip<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Compress File(s)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/export-content-rename-1-1024x280.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100005\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"8\">\n<li>Select <code>wp-content.zip<\/code> so it\u2019s highlighted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Download<\/strong> at the top\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take note of the directory the archive saves in, as you will need to locate it later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/export-content-download-1024x293.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100003\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you have the content for your website, <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/transferring-the-wp-content-folder\/\">proceed to this guide for uploading your wp-content to WP Engine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a name=\"ftp\"><\/a><a name=\"option2\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FTP\/SFTP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your previous host does not provide a built-in file manager, they should still offer FTP or SFTP access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#32373c;background-color:#00d1b2\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-notice gb-font-size-18 gb-block-notice\" data-id=\"10de4b\"><div class=\"gb-notice-title\" style=\"color:#fff\"><p>NOTE<\/p><\/div><div class=\"gb-notice-text\" style=\"border-color:#00d1b2\">\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to export your <code>wp-content<\/code> directory from WP Engine, you can do so using our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/restore\/\">backup<\/a> system, <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/sftp\/\">SFTP<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/troubleshooting-ssh-gateway-issues\/\">SSH Gateway<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use SFTP to connect to your current host\u2019s file system.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you\u2019re not sure how to connect to your host in this way, reach out to your hosts\u2019 support team. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Typically you will see the <code>wp-content<\/code> folder somewhere in the right panel of the web page straight away.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you cannot see a folder in the panel called <code>wp-content<\/code>, you may be able to find it in a different location in the left panel, such as: \/<code>public_html<\/code>, <code>\/home\/your_account_name<\/code>, or <code>\/wordpress<\/code>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Download the <code>wp-content<\/code> folder to your local computer by dragging it from the right side to the left, just like you would on your computer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/3-drag.png\" alt=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Good job! At this point you have successfully downloaded your <em>wp-content<\/em> folder to your computer and are ready to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/transferring-the-wp-content-folder\/\">Proceed to this guide for importing your wp-content to WP Engine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NEXT STEP: <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/migration-process\/#steps\">View the manual migration process<\/a><\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;ll walk you through downloading your WP Content folder from your current host. This will be required when migrating to the WP Engine platform.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":126216,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"mediapress_authors_byline":[],"mediapress_draft_name":"","_mediapress_is_draft_copy":false},"support-categories":[37,21],"support-tag":[29,22],"mediapress_author":[],"class_list":["post-4422","support","type-support","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","support-categories-migrations","support-categories-setup","support-tag-migration","support-tag-video"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Download WP-Content Folder - Support Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"WordPress sites have two main parts: the database and the wp-content folder. 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