Import WordPress Users from CSV? A How-to Guide

This article will show you an easy way to import users to WordPress from a CSV file using a free plugin.

Do you have a spreadsheet file of WordPress users and want to import them on your website?

Whether you are migrating to a new store or managing users on multiple stores, importing user data one by one can be tedious. This is why we have written this quick and easy guide on importing users to WordPress without the hassle.

Currently, WordPress does not have a built-in feature to import users by default. Fortunately, there’s a solution. You can use a third-party plugin on your WordPress site that supports this feature. This can save you much time and effort, otherwise spent manually importing users.

Here, we will examine how to quickly and efficiently import your users from a CSV file using a free plugin.

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Key Takeaways:

  • Manually importing WordPress users from a CSV file is a time-consuming task that often results in inaccuracies.
  • Relying on dedicated plugins like the WordPress User Import plugin by WebToffee helps you easily import WordPress users from a CSV file.
  • The plugin offers both quick and advanced methods for swiftly importing user data in bulk to WordPress.

Why Do You Import Users to WordPress?

Following are some situations where you might need to import users to your WordPress site.

  • Migration from Other Platforms: When you migrate from your old site to a new site, from a staging site to a live site, or vice versa, importing users ensures that you can continue using your website as before.
  • Updating User Information: If you need to update specific information for multiple users, importing a CSV file with the updated data can be a more efficient approach than manually editing each profile.
  • Data Restoration: If you’ve lost user data because of a technical problem or accidental deletion, you can restore your user base by importing from a backup.

Specialized plugins are the best way to achieve an effortless and accurate import of user data. A valuable option for this is the free and popular WordPress user import-export plugin, which makes importing and exporting user data for WordPress users hassle-free.

In this guide, we will explore why this plugin is a good fit for importing users and the other features it offers.

Check out this video for a quick and easy overview of the plugin. It gives all the details you need to get started in no time.

How to Import WordPress Users from CSV? Step-by-Step Guide

Follow the below steps to import users to WordPress using a CSV file.

Step 1: Install & Activate WebToffee WordPress User Import Plugin

From your WordPress dashboard,

  • Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin.
  • Search for “WordPress User Import Export Plugin by WebToffee.”
  • Once you find the plugin, click on Install Now to install it, and then activate it on your WordPress dashboard.
install wordpress user import export plugin
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Did You Know?

The WebToffee User import Export plugin has 70,000+ active installations with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on WordPress.org.

Step 2: Select Users as the Post Type to Import

  • Go to the WebToffee Import Export (Basic) and select Import.
  • Choose User/Customers as the post type to import.
select a post type for import

Step 3: Choose Quick Import

Choose Quick import as the import method and upload the CSV file with user data.

Quick Import WordPress Users

If you want advanced options like column mapping, you can proceed to step 3. You can skip this step if the CSV file is exported using this plugin.

  • Now, click on Import to import users to your WordPress website.

The plugin will import the users on your WordPress website from the CSV file. Once the import job is complete, you can see a detailed log report of the import.

view progress log of imported users

This WordPress User Import Export plugin also has a premium version packed with additional features. This includes support for custom fields and hidden meta support, email notifications, multiple file formats, FTP & URL import, scheduled import, and more.

WordPress Users and WooCommerce Customers Import and Export – Making Imports Smooth & Error-Free

WordPress Users and WooCommerce Customers Import and Export is one of the most trusted free plugins on WordPress when it comes to importing users.

This plugin simplifies importing and exporting WordPress users and WooCommerce customers from your site. Whether transferring users between stores or updating information, it ensures everything runs smoothly and without errors.

You can manage user and customer data through CSV files, eliminating the need for manual entry. Just upload your CSV, and you’re ready to migrate or update everything in one easy step!

With the plugin, you can import and export user data as well.

Key Features:

  • Import and export WordPress users
  • Import and export WooCommerce customers
  • Bulk update user and customer data
  • Map and transform fields while importing user data
  • Option to retain user passwords on import to ensure seamless login experience for imported users on new site.

More Plugins that can Help you Import WordPress Users

Here are a few other plugins to import users to your WordPress site.

Import and export users and customers

Developer: Codection | 4.5/5 Rating | 80,000+ Active installations

This Import and Export Users and Customers plugin is another great choice for importing users to your WordPress site. The plugin allows you to import custom fields associated with user data and the default user fields.

With the plugin, you can also export and update user data. Another major feature of the plugin is sending emails to users on import. You can choose to send the email to newly imported users and users updated during import. The email template is customizable, with options for adding attachments.

WP All Import

Developer: Soflyy | 4.5/5 Rating | 100,000 Active installations

WP All Import is an all-in-one import plugin. With the plugin, you can import all WordPress data including users. However, to be able to import users, you need to purchase the pro user import add-on.

This plugin comes with a drag-and-drop mapping and lets you import users from CSV and XML files. You can either upload the file or import from URL or FTP. Its step-by-step wizard-like interface makes the import process easier for users.

WP Import Export Lite

Developer: VJInfotech | 4/5 Rating | 40,000+ Active installations

WP Import Export Lite is another free plugin for importing users to your WordPress site. The plugin allows you to upload the CSV from your computer or download it by specifying the URL.

Using the plugin, you can import and update user data. It offers filters for import. By applying rules, you can create custom filters for any column within the CSV. Another important feature supported by the plugin is the import of user metadata.

User Import with Meta

Developer: Smackcoders | 3/5 Rating | 5000+ Active installations

User Import with Meta is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to import users with custom fields and metadata. With the plugin, you can import users in bulk using a CSV file. The plugin automatically generates passwords if you leave the password column empty for users.

Wrapping Up

Users play an essential role in any WordPress site, and effectively managing them is vital for smooth operations. We trust this article has provided you with the insights necessary to choose the ideal plugin for your user import requirements.

If you have any questions or feedback, please drop them in the comments below. We’re here to help and will be sure to address any queries or thoughts you have!

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WebToffee Team is a group of WordPress and WooCommerce enthusiasts consisting of expert developers, testing engineers, technical support engineers, and SMEs.

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