How to Extract .wpress File on macOS (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)

Migrating or restoring a WordPress website often involves dealing with backup files. If you’ve used All-in-One WP Migration, you’ve probably come across a .wpress file.

Many users get stuck at one point:

“How do I extract a .wpress file on Mac?”

This guide explains everything you need to know, including why normal unzip tools don’t work, and two proven methods to extract .wpress files on macOS, step by step.

What Is a .wpress File?

A .wpress file is a proprietary backup format created by the All-in-One WP Migration plugin.
It contains:

• WordPress database
• wp-content folder
• Themes & plugins
• Media uploads
• Site configuration

❌ It is NOT a ZIP, TAR, or RAR archive
❌ It cannot be extracted using Finder, Archive Utility, or unzip tools

Official Way vs Manual Extraction

✅ Official & Recommended Way

• Import the .wpress file directly into WordPress using the plugin

🔧 Manual Extraction (Advanced)

• Required when:
  • You don’t have WordPress access
  • File size limit blocks import
  • You only need database or uploads
  • The site is broken

This blog focuses on manual extraction on macOS.

Method 1: Extract .wpress File Using Wpress-Extractor (macOS)

Step 1: Download Wpress-Extractor

Go to:

https://github.com/fifthsegment/Wpress-Extractor

https://github.com/fifthsegment/Wpress-Extractor

1. Download the macOS binary (usually named wpress-extractor)
2. Do not rename the file

Step 2: Put Files in One Folder

Ensure both files are in the same folder:

• wpress-extractor
• your-backup-file.wpress

backup-of-site/
 ├── wpress-extractor
 └── site-backup.wpress

backup-of-site/
 ├── wpress-extractor
 └── site-backup.wpress

Step 3: Open Terminal in That Folder

Finder → Right-click folder → New Terminal at Folder

Or manually:

cd ~/Downloads/backup-of-site

cd ~/Downloads/backup-of-site

Step 4: Give Execute Permission

chmod +x wpress-extractor

chmod +x wpress-extractor

If macOS blocks it:

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine wpress-extractor

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine wpress-extractor

Step 5: Extract the .wpress File

./wpress-extractor site-backup.wpress

./wpress-extractor site-backup.wpress

⏳ Extraction may take time depending on file size.

Step 6: Output After Extraction

You’ll get files like:

• wp-content/
• themes/
• plugins/
• uploads/
• database.sql

You can now manually restore the site.

Method 2 (Recommended): Extract .wpress Using Node.js (npx)

This is the easiest and most reliable method on macOS.

Step 1: Install Node.js

Download from:

https://nodejs.org

https://nodejs.org

Install the LTS version.

Verify installation:

node -v
npx -v

node -v
npx -v

Step 2: Go to Folder Containing .wpress

cd ~/Downloads/backup-of-site

cd ~/Downloads/backup-of-site

Step 3: Run the Extract Command

npx wpress-extract site-backup.wpress

✔ No manual binary download
✔ Works on macOS, Windows, Linux
✔ Auto-handles permissions

Step 4: Files After Extraction

Same output as Method 1:

• WordPress files
• Database SQL
• Media uploads

How to Use Extracted Files

Restore Manually:

1. Install fresh WordPress
2. Upload wp-content folders
3. Import database.sql via phpMyAdmin
4. Update wp-config.php
5. Fix URLs if required

Common Errors & Fixes

❌ no such file or directory

✔ Run ls to confirm file names
✔ Ensure you are in the correct folder

❌ permission denied

chmod +x wpress-extractor

chmod +x wpress-extractor

❌ macOS security block

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine wpress-extractor

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine wpress-extractor

What You Should NOT Do

❌ Double-click .wpress file
❌ Try to unzip it
❌ Upload and extract in cPanel
❌ Rename .wpress to .zip

It will never work.

Final Recommendation

👉 Best choice on macOS: npx wpress-extract

Conclusion

A .wpress file is not broken — it’s just not a normal archive.
With the right tools, you can safely extract and restore your WordPress website on macOS.

If you follow the steps in this guide, you’ll be able to:

• Extract .wpress files confidently
• Recover database & uploads
• Manually migrate WordPress sites