How to Import / Export Your WordPress Gutenberg Blocks (2 Steps)

We manage multiple WordPress sites, so we know how tedious it can be to rebuild the same Gutenberg blocks over and over again. We used to waste hours copying and pasting content between sites until we found a better way.

After years of working with WordPress and helping beginners through WPBeginner, we’ve discovered that importing and exporting Gutenberg blocks is one of the most underutilized time-saving features in WordPress.

Let us show you our simple two-step process for transferring your Gutenberg blocks between sites. This method works perfectly whether you’re a blogger looking to reuse content or an agency managing multiple client websites.

Why Import / Export Your WordPress Gutenberg Blocks?

The WordPress block editor allows you to add content as blocks and then customize those blocks. For example, you might create a call to action using the Buttons block.

You can then make that button stand out by changing its background color, making the text bigger, and more. If you plan to use this content again, then you can save it as a pattern in WordPress.

However, you can also export these reusable blocks and then use them on other websites. This can save you a ton of time and effort if you own multiple sites or you are a WordPress development agency that creates sites for clients.

With that being said, let’s see how you can import / export Gutenberg WordPress blocks.

How to Import / Export Your WordPress Gutenberg Blocks

If you haven’t already, then you’ll need to save the content you want to export as a reusable block or pattern. With that done, head over to the Appearance » Patterns page from the WordPress dashboard.

You will now be taken to a new page where you can easily manage all the reusable patterns on your WordPress website.

Here, you can edit, delete, import, or even export your blocks to another website. Simply hover over the block you want to export, and then click on the ‘Export as JSON’ link when it appears.

WordPress will now download the block to your computer as a JSON file.

To import the block into another WordPress blog or website, log in to that site and open the content editor. Then, follow the same process described above to open the block management screen.

This time, click on the ‘Import from JSON button’ instead. In the popup that appears, select ‘Choose file.’

You can now select the JSON file you downloaded earlier.

After that, click on ‘Import.’ WordPress will now import the reusable block.

However, if you use a block theme, then the process will be a bit different. In that case, visit the  Appearance » Editor page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

This will open the full site editor, where you must click the ‘Patterns’ tab in the left column to expand it.

On the new screen, switch to the ‘My Patterns’ tab and select all the reusable blocks that you have created using the check box below.

After that, click the ‘Export as JSON’ link to export these blocks.

Now, to import these blocks into another website using the full site editor, open the FSE and head to the ‘Patterns’ tab.

Then, click the ‘Add New Pattern’ button. This will open a dropdown menu from where you can select that ‘Import Pattern From JSON’ button.

Go ahead and choose your downloaded file to import the reusable blocks.

With that done, you can use the imported block on your WordPress website in exactly the same way you use any other reusable block.

Additional Resources on WordPress Blocks

Here are some more useful guides on using and managing WordPress blocks:

• How to Use the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg Tutorial)
• How to Create a Custom WordPress Block (Easy Way)
• Best Gutenberg Blocks Plugins for WordPress (Super Useful)
• How to Bulk Convert Classic Blocks to Gutenberg in WordPress
• Best Gutenberg-Friendly WordPress Themes
• Ultimate Blocks Review: Is It the Right Blocks Plugin for You?

We hope this article helped you learn how to import/export your WordPress Gutenberg blocks to use on other websites. You may also want to see our guide on how to remove a block in WordPress and padding vs margin comparison.

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