Import / Export

Back up, restore, and transfer theme options settings as a JSON file.

Last updated: March 11, 2026

Overview

ThemePlus includes a built-in Import / Export system accessible from the options panel. It lets you export all saved theme options to a JSON file and import them back at any time — on the same site or a different one. Use it to back up settings before making major changes, migrate settings between staging and production environments, or share a configuration across multiple sites running the same theme.

The Import / Export panel is located in the last tab of the ThemePlus options panel, labeled Import / Export.

Exporting Settings

Open the ThemePlus options panel — Appearance → Theme Options in the WordPress admin.
Navigate to the Import / Export tab.
Click Export Settings.
A JSON file named themeplus-export-{date}.json is downloaded to your computer.

The exported file contains all currently saved option values as a flat JSON object keyed by option ID.

Example export file structure

json

{
    "primary_color": "#2271b1",
    "secondary_color": "#646970",
    "body_typography": {
        "font-family": "Inter",
        "font-weight": "400",
        "font-size": "16px",
        "line-height": "1.6",
        "color": "#1e1e1e"
    },
    "enable_preloader": true,
    "header_layout": "standard",
    "social_links": {
        "facebook": "https://facebook.com/yourpage",
        "twitter": "",
        "instagram": "https://instagram.com/yourhandle"
    }
}

Importing Settings

Open the ThemePlus options panel — Appearance → Theme Options.
Navigate to the Import / Export tab.
Click Choose File and select a previously exported .json file.
Click Import Settings.
The panel reloads with the imported values applied and saved.

Important: Importing will overwrite all current settings. Export your current settings first if you want to keep them.

Programmatic Export

You can retrieve all saved options in PHP using the helper function:

php

$all_options = themeplus_get_option();
$json        = wp_json_encode( $all_options, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT );

Triggering a download via a custom admin page

php

add_action( 'admin_post_mytheme_export_options', function() {
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
        wp_die( esc_html__( 'Unauthorized', 'your-textdomain' ) );
    }

    check_admin_referer( 'mytheme_export_options' );

    $options  = themeplus_get_option();
    $filename = 'themeplus-export-' . gmdate( 'Y-m-d' ) . '.json';

    header( 'Content-Type: application/json' );
    header( 'Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="' . $filename . '"' );
    header( 'Pragma: no-cache' );

    echo wp_json_encode( $options, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT );
    exit;
});

Programmatic Import

You can import settings in PHP by writing directly to the options table. ThemePlus stores all values under a single WordPress option keyed by your opt_name.

php

function mytheme_import_options( array $new_options ): bool {
    $opt_name        = 'mytheme_options'; // Your opt_name value
    $current_options = get_option( $opt_name, [] );

    // Merge new values over current — remove array_merge to replace entirely
    $merged = array_merge( $current_options, $new_options );

    return update_option( $opt_name, $merged );
}

Importing from an uploaded JSON file

php

add_action( 'admin_post_mytheme_import_options', function() {
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
        wp_die( esc_html__( 'Unauthorized', 'your-textdomain' ) );
    }

    check_admin_referer( 'mytheme_import_options' );

    if ( empty( $_FILES['import_file']['tmp_name'] ) ) {
        wp_safe_redirect( admin_url( 'themes.php?page=mytheme-options&tab=import_export&error=no_file' ) );
        exit;
    }

    $file    = $_FILES['import_file']['tmp_name'];
    $content = file_get_contents( $file );
    $options = json_decode( $content, true );

    if ( ! is_array( $options ) ) {
        wp_safe_redirect( admin_url( 'themes.php?page=mytheme-options&tab=import_export&error=invalid_json' ) );
        exit;
    }

    $opt_name = 'mytheme_options';
    update_option( $opt_name, $options );

    wp_safe_redirect( admin_url( 'themes.php?page=mytheme-options&tab=import_export&imported=1' ) );
    exit;
});

Resetting to Defaults

The Import / Export tab also includes a Reset to Defaults button. Clicking it clears all saved option values and restores the defaults defined in your field registrations.

This action cannot be undone. Always export your settings first if you may want to restore them.

Programmatic reset

php

function mytheme_reset_options(): bool {
    $opt_name = 'mytheme_options'; // Your opt_name value
    return delete_option( $opt_name );
}

After calling delete_option(), ThemePlus will use the default values defined in each field registration on the next panel load.

Use Cases

Before a major redesign — Export current settings, make changes, and restore the export if the new direction does not work out.

Staging to production migration — Configure and refine settings on a staging site, export, then import to production in one step.

Multi-site deployments — Set up one site, export, and import the same configuration across multiple sites running the same theme.

Onboarding a new client — Provide a pre-configured JSON export file alongside the theme so clients start with sensible defaults already in place.

Notes

The export file contains option values only — it does not export media library attachments. Image fields store attachment IDs, which will be different across sites. After importing on a new site, re-upload images and re-select them in Image and Gallery fields.
Always verify the imported JSON file came from the same theme with the same opt_name — importing a file from a different theme or a different opt_name may produce unexpected results.
The Import / Export tab is only accessible to users with the manage_options capability.

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