If your team is moving from Trello, you can bring a board across with its structure intact. The importer reads Trello’s JSON export and builds a new KanbanWP board from it.
Before you start
- You need the KanbanWP manage permission.
- Make a list of your Trello members’ usernames. The importer matches them to WordPress users by username, so it helps if the same people already have accounts on your site, with a login equal to their Trello username.
- Decide whether you want a different board name. The default is the name of the Trello board.
Step 1: export from Trello
- Open the board in Trello.
- Open the board menu and find the option to print, export and share.
- Choose the export to JSON option and save the file.
Trello changes its menus from time to time, so if the wording differs, look for a JSON export of the whole board.
Step 2: import into KanbanWP
- Go to KanbanWP > Import / Export.
- In the Trello card, optionally type a New board title.
- Choose the
.jsonfile. - Click Upload & import.
A notice appears when it finishes, with the number of stages and tasks created and the new board ID. Open KanbanWP > Boards to find the board.
How Trello data maps over
| In Trello | In KanbanWP |
|---|---|
| Board | A new board with the same name and description |
| Lists, in their original order | Stages |
| Cards | Tasks, with title, description and due date |
| Labels | Board labels, with matching colors |
| Checklists | Added to the task description as a task list, with checked items kept as checked |
| Card members | Task assignees, when a WordPress user has the same username |
| Comments | Task comments, with the author matched the same way |
Members who do not match a WordPress user are not lost. Their Trello usernames are listed in the task description, so you can assign the right person later.
What is skipped
- Archived lists and cards are left out. The Import / Export screen does not offer a way to include them.
- Attachments, covers, custom fields, power-up data and board background are not imported.
After the import
- Open the new board and scan each stage for missing cards.
- Assign unmatched members.
- Add WIP limits and swimlanes if you used them in Trello.
- Invite your team: see permissions and roles.
If the import fails
- Confirm you uploaded the board JSON, not a CSV or a different Trello export.
- Large exports can hit PHP upload or time limits on small hosts. Ask your host to raise them, or run the import with WP-CLI.
- Run the import again. Each run creates a new board, so delete a partial one first to avoid confusion.