Cross Site Copy Field for ACF

Description

Cross Site Copy Field for ACF is the ultimate productivity tool for WordPress developers and site builders using Advanced Custom Fields. It allows you to seamlessly duplicate, export, and transfer ACF field definitions, layouts, and entire field groups across different WordPress installations or within the same site.

Whether you are migrating custom fields from a staging environment to production, sharing complex layouts with your team, or just duplicating repetitive fields within a project, this plugin saves you hours of manual configuration. By utilizing an intuitive JSON-based clipboard and file export system, you can migrate field settings, location rules, and nested sub-fields with a single click.

Paste fields from as many places as you like: pasted fields appear in the field group editor as unsaved, and everything is saved together, in the same order, when you click “Save Changes”.

It also works for content: copy a filled-in Flexible Content layout row from one page and paste it into another page (or another site), or replace an existing section with it, without retyping a single field.

Features

  • One-Click Copy – Copy any field, layout, or entire Field Group with its complete configuration
  • File Export/Import (New) – Bypass clipboard limits by downloading and uploading field data as .json files
  • Selective Paste Preview (New) – Review a recursive checklist of all fields before pasting and deselect the ones you don’t want
  • Smart Paste – Paste fields with automatic key generation
  • Paste Many, Save Once (New) – Pasted fields are added to the field group editor without saving or reloading, so you can copy and paste from several places and then click “Save Changes” once
  • Cross-Site Transfer – Transfer fields between different WordPress sites via JSON payload or file upload
  • Missing Field Type Detection (New) – Halts imports and warns you if the destination site is missing a required add-on field type
  • Nested Field Support – Full support for Repeaters, Groups, and Flexible Content
  • Context-Aware – Automatically detects paste location (top-level or inside containers)
  • Copy Flexible Content Layouts Between Pages (New) – Copy a layout row with all its content from one page and paste it into another page or another site
  • Copy Flexible Content Layouts Between Websites (New) – Copy a section from one WordPress website and paste it into a page on another website, with the same simple Copy and Paste flow
  • Replace Layout (New) – Overwrite an existing section with copied content of the same layout, in the same position
  • Paste Layout Button (New) – Add a copied layout next to “Add Row”, even when the Flexible Content field is empty
  • Automatic Media Import (New) – When a layout is pasted on another website, its images and files are imported into the Media Library with their title, alt text, caption and description. Media that already exists is reused, so no duplicates are created
  • Field Order Preserved (New) – Pasted fields keep the order they were copied in, and “Paste Field” places them right below the field you clicked
  • All Field Types FREE – All 30+ ACF field types are completely free

Supported Field Types

All ACF field types are supported for FREE:

  • Basic: Text, Textarea, Number, Range, Email, URL, Password
  • Content: Image, File, WYSIWYG Editor, oEmbed, Gallery
  • Choice: Select, Checkbox, Radio Button, Button Group, True/False
  • Relational: Link, Post Object, Page Link, Relationship, Taxonomy, User
  • Advanced: Google Map, Date Picker, Date Time Picker, Time Picker, Color Picker
  • Layout: Message, Accordion, Tab, Group, Repeater, Flexible Content, Clone

How It Works

  1. Open any ACF field group
  2. Click the “Copy” button on any field (or use the “Copy Field Group” button)
  3. Copy the JSON from the popup or download the .json file
  4. Navigate to another field group (same site or different site)
  5. Click “Paste” (or “Paste Field Group” on the list screen) and paste the JSON or upload the file
  6. Review the fields in the Selective Paste checklist and uncheck any you don’t need
  7. The fields are added to the editor (marked “Unsaved”). Paste more fields if needed, then click “Save Changes” to save them all

Copying Flexible Content layouts between pages (content):

  1. Edit a page and hover a Flexible Content layout row
  2. Click the Copy icon in the row header and copy the JSON (or download the .json file)
  3. Open another page (same site or a different site)
  4. Click the Paste icon on a row to insert it below, the Replace icon to overwrite that row (same layout only), or the “Paste Layout” button next to “Add Row”
  5. Review the pasted section and click Update to save the page

Copying Flexible Content layouts from one website to another website:

  1. On website A, hover a Flexible Content layout row, click the Copy icon, then click “Copy to Clipboard” (or “Download .json”)
  2. On website B, edit a page and click the Paste icon on a row (or the “Paste Layout” button next to “Add Row”)
  3. Press Ctrl+V in the popup to paste the JSON (or click “Upload .json file”)
  4. Click “Paste Layout” (or “Replace Layout”) and then Update to save the page

Note: The plugin must be active on both websites, and the Flexible Content field on website B must have a layout with the same layout name. Images and files in Image, File and Gallery fields are imported into website B’s Media Library automatically (with title, alt text, caption and description). Only fields inside the copied layout row are copied; fields outside the Flexible Content field are not included.

Requirements

  • WordPress 5.8 or higher
  • Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) or ACF PRO 5.0+
  • PHP 7.4 or higher

Note: Complex field types like Repeater, Flexible Content, and Group require ACF PRO.

External services

This plugin connects to a third-party service at https://dashboard.wordpress-plugins.pro/ for the following purposes:

  • Deactivation Feedback: When you deactivate the plugin, an optional feedback form allows you to share why you are deactivating. If you fill this out, it sends the reason, site URL, plugin/WordPress/PHP versions, and active theme information. This helps us improve the plugin.
  • Usage Tracking (Telemetry): If you explicitly opt-in via our settings or the activation modal, the plugin will occasionally send anonymous site diagnostics (site URL, plugin/WP/PHP versions, and active theme info) to help us prioritize compatibility updates and features.

This service is provided by “WordPress Plugins Pro”: General Conditions, Privacy Policy.

Privacy & Data Collection

Your Privacy Matters

This plugin respects your privacy and operates with full transparency:

  • No Automatic Data Collection – The plugin does not collect or transmit any data without your explicit consent
  • Opt-In Telemetry – You can optionally enable anonymous usage tracking from Custom Fields > Copy Field Settings to help improve the plugin
  • Deactivation Feedback – When deactivating, you can choose to share feedback to help us improve. This is completely optional
  • No Personal Content – We never collect your post content, user passwords, or sensitive information
  • What We Collect (Only if you opt-in):
    • Plugin version and settings
    • WordPress and PHP versions
    • Theme information
    • Site language and multisite status
    • Anonymous site URL (for duplicate detection only)

Deactivation Feedback

When you deactivate the plugin, a feedback modal appears asking for your reason. This helps us improve the plugin:

  • Completely Optional – You can skip and deactivate immediately
  • Contact Consent – Check the consent box only if you want us to follow up with support
  • Your Choice – Your name and email are only sent if you check the consent checkbox

Screenshots

Installation

  1. Upload the plugin files to /wp-content/plugins/cross-site-copy-field-for-acf/
  2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen in WordPress
  3. Ensure Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) or ACF PRO is installed and activated
  4. Open any ACF field group to see the “Copy” and “Paste” buttons

FAQ

Does this work with ACF Free or only ACF PRO?

The plugin works with both ACF Free and ACF PRO. However, complex field types like Repeater, Flexible Content, and Group require ACF PRO.

Can I copy an entire field group?

Yes! You can copy a full field group (including location rules and settings) using the “Copy Field Group” button on the edit screen, and paste it using the “Paste Field Group” button on the ACF Field Groups list screen.

How do I only import specific sub-fields?

When you paste JSON or upload a .json file, a “Select Fields to Import” preview checklist appears. You can expand it to uncheck specific fields or nested sub-fields before clicking Import.

Can I copy fields between different WordPress sites?

Yes! Copy the JSON from one site and paste it on another. The plugin automatically generates new unique keys to prevent conflicts.

Do I need to save after pasting?

Yes, for fields. Pasted fields are added to the field group editor and marked “Unsaved”, without reloading the page. This lets you copy and paste fields from several field groups or layouts one after another. Click “Save Changes” once to save them all, in the order you pasted them. If you leave the page without saving, the pasted fields are discarded.

“Paste Layout” (a whole Flexible Content layout) and “Paste Field Group” (on the Field Groups list) still save immediately and reload the page.

Are all field types really free?

Yes! All 30+ ACF field types are completely free to use with this plugin.

Will copying affect the original field?

No. Copying creates a completely independent duplicate. The original field remains unchanged.

Are field settings preserved when copying?

Yes. All field settings including conditional logic, validation rules, wrapper settings, and sub-fields are fully preserved.

What happens to media references when transferring between sites?

For field definitions (field groups), media references such as default values are copied as-is.

For Flexible Content layout rows copied on the page editor, images and files in Image, File and Gallery fields (including inside Repeaters, Groups and nested layouts) are handled automatically:

  • On the same website, the same media is used.
  • On another website, the plugin first reuses media that was imported before or that already exists with the same file name and size. Otherwise it downloads the file into the Media Library with its title, alt text, caption and description.
  • If a file cannot be downloaded, the field is left empty and a warning names the file.

Images inserted inside WYSIWYG editor content are not imported and keep pointing to the original website.

What happens if I paste a field that requires an add-on I don’t have?

The plugin features Missing Field Type Detection. If you try to paste a field that relies on a third-party add-on (like ACF Extended or Font Awesome) that isn’t installed on the destination site, the import will safely halt and warn you exactly which field type is missing.

Can I use this to backup my field groups?

Yes! By using the new “Download .json” button when copying an entire field group, you can save the resulting .json file to your local computer as a secure backup of your field group configuration.

Can I copy a Flexible Content section with its content to another page?

Yes. On the page edit screen, each Flexible Content layout row has Copy, Paste and Replace icons. Copy takes the row’s current values (including unsaved edits, WYSIWYG content and nested repeaters). Paste inserts it into any Flexible Content field that has the same layout, on the same site or another site. The pasted section is saved when you click Update.

Can I copy a Flexible Content section from one website to another website?

Yes. The flow is the same as copying between pages: click Copy on a layout row on the first website, then click Paste (or Replace, or “Paste Layout”) on the second website and paste the JSON with Ctrl+V or upload the .json file. The plugin must be active on both websites and the destination Flexible Content field must have a layout with the same layout name. Text, WYSIWYG content, links, selects and repeaters are transferred, and images and files are imported into the destination website’s Media Library automatically.

Why are some fields not copied with the layout?

Copy on a layout row copies only the fields inside that layout. Fields placed directly in the field group (outside the Flexible Content field), such as a separate text field or a Clone field above or below “Page Content”, are not part of the layout and are not copied. Move them inside the layout in the field group editor if they belong to that section.

What is the difference between Paste and Replace?

Paste adds the copied section as a new row below the row you clicked. Replace overwrites the row you clicked with the copied content and keeps its position. Replace only works when both rows use the same layout, and asks for confirmation first.

What if the destination field uses different field keys?

Values are matched by field key first and by field name as a fallback, so layouts with the same structure on another site are filled in correctly. If the destination field does not have the copied layout, the plugin shows a clear error and nothing is changed.

Is there a limit to how deeply nested fields can be?

No. The plugin recursively copies and pastes all sub-fields regardless of depth. Whether you have Repeaters inside Flexible Content layouts inside Groups, the entire structure is perfectly preserved.

Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

Contributors & Developers

“Cross Site Copy Field for ACF” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

Changelog

1.5.0 – 2026-10-23

  • New: Copy a Flexible Content layout row with its content on the page editor and paste it into another page or another site.
  • New: Copy Flexible Content sections from one website to another website using JSON copy/paste or .json file upload.
  • New: Replace icon to overwrite an existing layout row with copied content of the same layout.
  • New: “Paste Layout” button next to “Add Row”, works on empty Flexible Content fields.
  • New: Values are matched by field key, with field name as a fallback for fields with different keys.
  • New: Images and files in pasted layouts are imported into the destination Media Library with title, alt text, caption and description; existing media is reused to avoid duplicates.
  • Fix: Pasted fields now keep the order they were copied in, and “Paste Field” places them directly below the clicked field.
  • Changed: Pasting fields in the field group editor no longer saves and reloads the page. Fields are added to the editor as unsaved, so several pastes can be made before clicking “Save Changes”. “Paste Layout” and “Paste Field Group” are unchanged.
  • Improved: Copy/paste popups now set their content safely, so copied HTML (e.g. WYSIWYG content) can no longer break the popup.

1.4.1 – 2026-10-08

  • Update: Updated telemetry and external services documentation for WordPress.org compliance.
  • Update: Added third-party service declaration for dashboard.wordpress-plugins.pro.

1.4.0 – 2026-08-24

  • New: Bypass clipboard limitations with JSON file Export/Import buttons.
  • New: Copy entire Field Groups including settings and location rules.
  • New: Recursive Selective Paste (Preview) to precisely pick which fields to import.
  • Improved: Better error handling and warnings for missing third-party field types during import.

1.3.0 – 2026-07-17

  • New: Added functionality to copy and paste entire layouts in Flexible Content fields.
  • New: Users can now bulk select and copy/paste multiple fields at once.
  • Fix: Resolved an issue with copying and pasting Clone fields.

1.2.1 – 2026-05-06

  • Fix: Stopped the tracking entry from being sent to the API when disabling tracking.

1.2.0 – 2026-03-26

  • New: Added a professional loader overlay during copy and paste operations for better UX.
  • Improved: Enhanced compatibility with ACF Flexible Content fields, ensuring unique field names across all layouts.
  • New: Added compatibility layer to resolve conflicts with ACF local JSON (acf-json) from themes.
  • Improved: Redesigned the Tracking settings UI for a more premium and consistent experience.
  • Improved: Enhanced the “Disable Tracking” button with a professional design and hover effects.
  • Fix: The “Disable Tracking” link is now intelligently hidden when tracking is already disabled.
  • Fix: Added dashicons to the tracking actions for better visual cues.

1.1.0 – 2026-03-18

  • New: Added initial structure for license management and field type restrictions
  • Improved: Refactored internal code structure for better performance and maintainability
  • Fix: Minor UI alignment issues in the field group editor
  • Updated: Compatibility checks for the latest WordPress and ACF versions

1.0.1 – 2026-02-05

  • Enhanced: Deactivation feedback popup UI with new Dashicons and better hover effects
  • Fix: Moved deactivation logic to separate class for better organization
  • Fix: Resolved security lint errors (escaping, sanitization, nonce verification)
  • Fix: CSS variable usage for easier maintenance
  • Improvement: Made support contact consent optional in deactivation popup

1.0.0 – 2026-02-03

  • Initial release
  • Copy/Paste functionality for all ACF field types (FREE)
  • Context-aware paste (top-level, inside containers)
  • Cross-site JSON transfer
  • Automatic unique key generation
  • Smart parent detection for nested fields
  • Flexible Content layout sub-field support
  • Auto-save and auto-refresh after paste
  • Support for Repeater, Group, and Flexible Content nesting
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