How to Convert WPBakery to Elementor

Learning how to convert WPBakery to Elementor can streamline your workflow, improve design flexibility, and modernize your WordPress website. While WPBakery and Elementor serve similar purposes, switching page builders requires careful planning to maintain layout integrity and content structure. This guide walks you through every step of the process to ensure a smooth transition without losing content or design fidelity.

Why Migrate from WPBakery to Elementor?

Many users choose to migrate WPBakery pages to Elementor due to Elementor's advanced features, user-friendly interface, and broader theme and plugin compatibility. WPBakery has limitations in real-time editing and customization which can hinder scalability as your website grows.

• Drag-and-drop simplicity: Elementor offers a more intuitive live editor that allows real-time editing without switching between backend and frontend views.
• Design freedom: With over 100 widgets and templates, Elementor provides unmatched customization and styling options to match brand aesthetics.
• Regular updates: Elementor’s development cycle is more active, frequently adding new widgets, integrations, and performance enhancements.

Backup and Prepare Your Website

Before making changes, create a complete backup. This ensures you can restore your website if anything goes wrong during the transition. Consider also cloning your website to a staging environment for safe testing.

1. Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or All-in-One WP Migration to back up files and the database. Verify the backup files can be restored.
2. Deactivate WPBakery to avoid conflicts but do not uninstall it yet. Keeping it temporarily allows you to reference existing layouts.
3. Install and activate Elementor and Elementor Pro if you need advanced widgets like forms, popups, or global headers.
4. Check your theme's compatibility with Elementor to avoid layout issues during the redesign.

Rebuild Pages Using Elementor

WPBakery and Elementor are not cross-compatible. You must manually rebuild each page in Elementor using the existing content as a reference. This allows you to improve user experience, update outdated designs, and clean up unnecessary code.

Steps to redesign pages using Elementor

• Open the original page built with WPBakery in a new browser tab to use it as a visual guide.
• Create a new page or post in WordPress and click "Edit with Elementor." Use a blank canvas layout if your theme allows.
• Manually transfer content by copying text, images, and shortcodes. Paste them into the appropriate Elementor widgets.
• Recreate layout and styling using Elementor’s columns, containers, and widgets to match the original design.
• Add any new design improvements like animations, icons, or interactive sections.

Transfer Content from WPBakery

While you can’t automatically convert WPBakery content to Elementor, you can salvage parts of it. The goal is to extract the raw assets like text and images without inheriting the WPBakery formatting and shortcodes.

• Text & images: Copy and paste directly from the WPBakery front-end view. Use a plain text editor to strip any hidden formatting.
• Shortcodes: Identify and replicate their functions using Elementor widgets or alternative plugins.
• Media files: Use the WordPress Media Library for easy access. Rename or optimize images if needed.
• Embedded elements: For videos, sliders, and maps, use Elementor’s native embed tools to improve performance.

Compare Features: WPBakery vs Elementor

Understanding the differences helps plan your redesign effectively and decide which Elementor widgets will replace WPBakery components.

Elementor provides more flexibility, especially for those rebuilding entire websites or looking to implement dynamic content with fewer plugins.

Elementor Compatibility with WPBakery

Both plugins can technically coexist, but this is not recommended for live environments. Coexistence can lead to performance issues and confusing admin interfaces.

• Conflicting shortcodes may appear if both builders are active. Visitors may see raw code instead of formatted content.
• Deactivation of WPBakery can cause layout issues on untouched pages. Only deactivate it after migrating all important pages.
• Use a staging environment to test the migration before final deployment. Check plugin conflicts and theme compatibility.
• Consider exporting your Elementor designs as templates for future use or team collaboration.

Final Steps: Test and Optimize

Once all pages are rebuilt using Elementor:

1. Review every page on desktop and mobile for design consistency. Use Elementor's responsive editing tools to fine-tune layouts.
2. Test all forms, buttons, links, and dynamic widgets to ensure they function properly.
3. Deactivate and delete WPBakery to reduce bloat and avoid confusion for content editors.
4. Optimize speed with caching, database cleanup, and image compression plugins like WP Rocket or Smush.
5. Submit your new XML sitemap to Google Search Console and monitor for indexing errors or layout shifts.

Useful Links

Backing Up Your Website – Learn how to create backups of your WordPress site using cPanel or plugins to ensure data safety before making changes.

Is Elementor Compatible with All WordPress Themes? – Understand Elementor's compatibility with various WordPress themes and how to ensure seamless integration.

Export and Import Elementor Sites – Discover how to export and import your Elementor designs for easy migration and backup.

Convert WPBakery to Elementor Plugin – Utilize this plugin to assist in converting your WPBakery pages to Elementor format efficiently.

Your Elementor Website Can Do Even Better!

Elfsight created dozens of useful widgets to make your website more attractive and boost its performance in so many ways. Try these no-code solutions for free on Elementor!

Conclusion

Knowing how to convert WPBakery to Elementor involves more than installing a new plugin—it requires strategic planning and manual effort. By following the steps above, you can switch from WPBakery to Elementor while preserving your website’s structure and improving its performance. Elementor’s flexibility makes it a worthwhile upgrade for most WordPress users seeking modern design capabilities. The result is a cleaner, faster, and more user-friendly website that’s easier to maintain and scale in the long run.