The .com installation of WordPress is great for beginner bloggers or web developers. When you’re ready to make the move and have more options, the .org installation of WordPress is the way to go. Follow these instructions to move all of your blog posts and media files from one WordPress install to another:
Step 1: Export from WordPress.com
- Login to your .com WordPress dashboard at [yourdomain]/wp-admin
- Locate your Tools menu
- Click Export
- This will create your XML file, which is your content packaged into a single file to be used for importing
- Save this file to your desktop
Step 2: Import to WordPress.org
- Login to your .org WordPress dashboard at [yourdomain]/wp-admin
- Locate your Tools menu
- Click Import
- Select from which platform you will be migrating files
- When the Install Importer window pops up, click Install Now
- This will install the plugin called WordPress Importer
- Click Activate Plugin and Run Importer
- In the Import WordPress window, click the Choose File menu and select your XML file
- Click Upload File and Import
