Multisite is where ordinary migration tools give up. A WordPress multisite network is not one site with extra content – it is a shared database with per-site tables, a sites table mapping domains and paths, network-level users with per-site roles, and media spread across site-specific upload directories. The free All-in-One WP Migration plugin backs up a single site; the Multisite Extension is what makes the whole network portable. Related reading: our whole-site export workflow overview covers the adjacent workflow.
If you run a network – client sites under one roof, a university department’s blog farm, a staging network mirroring production – this extension exports the entire installation into a single .wpress archive and restores it on another server with the network structure intact. It also works in the other direction: importing a single-site backup into a network as a new subsite, which is the standard workflow when a standalone site joins your platform.
Competitive Features
Full-network export in one archive. Every subsite – content, users, media, network settings – packs into a single file, so moving hosts is one export and one import rather than a database dump followed by search-replace archaeology.
Selective subsite export. You can export the whole network, or pick specific sites from the network list, including scheduled exports that iterate subsites – useful when only part of a network moves.
Single-site to subsite imports. A standard single-site backup imports into an existing network as a new subsite, with the extension handling the table-prefix and URL remapping that makes this genuinely hard by hand.
Domain and path awareness. The extension understands how multisite stores site addresses – subdirectory and subdomain configurations alike – and rewrites them during import rather than leaving you with a network pointing at the old server.
Multisite-aware scheduling. The backup scheduler lists subsites for inclusion, with retention settings and per-subsite lists in scheduled events.
Same size-limit-free workflow. Paired with the Unlimited Extension, even a large network with heavy media libraries exports without hitting host limits.
Key Features
- Network admin integration – export and import screens live inside the network dashboard, where multisite tools belong.
- Subsite selection on export – checkboxes per site, with subsite lists included in scheduled events.
- User mapping across the network – network users and their per-site roles survive the move.
- Media path rewriting – site-specific upload directories (
/wp-content/uploads/sites/N/) remap correctly on import. - Custom db-prefix support – exports include custom-prefixed tables, added for edge-case installs.
- CiviCRM support – the extension handles CiviCRM data on multisite installs, a rare capability in migration tooling.
- Reset tooling – network-level reset functions for spinning staging networks back to a clean base.
Comparison with Competitors
All-in-One WP Migration Multisite Extension vs Duplicator Pro
Duplicator Pro handles multisite networks through its installer wizard; the Multisite Extension stays inside the familiar export/import flow.
| Multisite Extension | Duplicator Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Network export | Whole network or selected subsites | Full network package + installer |
| Import flow | One-click import in network admin | Guided installer on destination server |
| Single-site → subsite | Native support | Supported with extra steps |
| Learning curve | Minimal | Moderate (packages, builds) |
| Best for | Quick network moves and staging sync | Managed deployment pipelines |
For the “move my network this afternoon” job, the extension is faster to done. For recurring multi-server deployments, the Duplicator Pro machinery amortizes its setup cost.
All-in-One WP Migration Multisite Extension vs UpdraftPlus Premium
UpdraftPlus backs up multisite networks with its Multisite add-on, but its model is backup rotation rather than portability.
| Multisite Extension | UpdraftPlus Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Network migration | Scheduled network backups |
| Restore granularity | Whole network or per-site import | Restore sites from backup sets |
| Portability | Single .wpress archive | Backup archive + restore process |
| Cloud destinations | Via separate extensions | Included across the family |
| Best for | Relocating networks | Ongoing protection |
They complement more than compete: rotation belongs to UpdraftPlus Premium, relocation to this extension.
Recommended Stack: networks concentrate risk – one compromise touches every subsite. After any network restore, running a malware scan with a security layer such as MalCare, which itself understands multisite, closes the gap between migration and hardening.
Official Changelog
Version 4.65
Release Date: July 27, 2026
- Fixed: bugs reported by users in the previous release
- Fixed: compatibility issues with modern WordPress cores
- Improved: performance, stability, and security hardening for production use
Version 4.64
Release Date: June 24, 2026
- Fixed: stored XSS vulnerability in the backups path setting
- Fixed: Restore button failing on the backups page
Frequently Asked Questions
Can it export just one subsite out of a network?
Yes. Subsite selection on export lets you pull a single site out of the network as a portable archive, and scheduled events can iterate subsites individually. Going the other direction – single site into a network as a new subsite – is equally supported.
Does it handle both subdirectory and subdomain networks?
Yes. The extension rewrites site addresses according to the destination network’s configuration, so a subdirectory network can restore onto a subdomain setup with URLs corrected during import.
Do network users and their roles survive a migration?
Yes. Network-level users with per-site role assignments are part of the archive, which is one of the main reasons hand-rolled database dumps fail on multisite – user capabilities metadata is per-site and easy to lose.
Do I need the Unlimited Extension for a big network?
If the network’s archive would exceed your host’s upload or timeout limits, the Unlimited Extension covered above removes those ceilings. Networks with large media libraries typically need it.
What was fixed in the 4.64 security release?
A stored XSS vulnerability in the backups path setting and a broken Restore button on the backups page. If your network runs an older version, updating past 4.64 is the relevant action.
How does this compare to migrating multisite manually?
A manual multisite move means exporting the database, remapping every sites table entry, rewriting per-site upload paths, and reassembling user capabilities – a long, error-prone checklist. This extension packages that logic; the archive imports and the network simply works.
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