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WP Attachment Export

By Pete

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Migration & Cloning

WP Attachment Export Review - In-Depth Analysis

Exports only posts of type 'attachment', i.e. your media library.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.58/10

User Rating

4.6/5 (based on 19+ reviews)

Active Installations

600+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

7.1 / 10 (High Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

WP Attachment Export allows you to export your media library into a WordPress eXtended RSS or WXR file. You can then use the Tools->Import function in another WordPress installation to import the media library.

Note: This feature has been added into the core of WordPress 4.4. You can now export your attachments by going to Tools->Export and select 'Media' as the export type.

If you find a bug, please use the issue tracker on GitHub. For usage instructions, a user has provided a good summary on how to use the plugin.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Attachment Export stands alone in its category with no close direct alternatives available, making it a unique solution for exporting media attachments in WordPress.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Effectively exports media attachments separately from posts.
Simple and straightforward to use once the procedure is understood.
Saves significant time when migrating media between WordPress sites.
Highly rated by users for reliability and functionality.
No direct competitors offering the same focused feature set.

Weaknesses

Lacks detailed in-plugin explanations or guidance for new users.
Requires manual renaming of exported XML files to avoid conflicts.
No pro version or advanced features available.
Security history includes a past vulnerability, though fixed in updates.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong 4.6 out of 5 rating based on 19 reviews, the plugin enjoys overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 89.5% of users giving it 5 stars. Negative feedback is minimal and does not highlight recurring issues.

Positive highlights

'Thank you! This worked great to get all images back into the media library.' — thatryan
'Works as described.' — Terry
'Saved hours of time – fantastic plugin.' — aaronmagnus
'Worked Beautifully, saving me weeks of work!' — JS
'Super duper stuff.. irreplaceable.' — lukaborna

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Limited user guidance within the plugin interface.
No advanced or premium features due to absence of a pro version.
Past security vulnerability, though it has been patched.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users needing a reliable and straightforward tool to export media attachments separately from posts, especially when migrating or backing up WordPress sites.

Not ideal for

Users seeking a plugin with extensive documentation, advanced features, or ongoing premium support might find this plugin lacking. Also, those concerned about past security issues should ensure they use the latest updated version.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full functionality for exporting media attachments without restrictions, providing excellent value for users needing this specific feature.

Final Verdict

WP Attachment Export is a highly effective and well-regarded plugin that fills a unique niche with no direct competitors. Its ease of use and reliability have earned it strong praise from users who needed to export media attachments efficiently.

While it lacks advanced features and has a history of a security vulnerability that has been fixed, it remains a valuable tool for WordPress users focused on media export tasks, especially considering its free availability.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free WP Attachment Export plugin.

media library

attachment export

export media

FAQ

Unzip wp-attachment-export.zip and upload the folder ‘wp-attachment-export’ to the ‘/wp-content/plugins/ directory
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
Navigate to ‘Tools > WP Attachment Export’ and click ‘Download Export File’ to start the export process