This guide shows how to import Newsletter contacts into MailerPress with the Migration Center: lists, profile fields and subscribers from the Newsletter plugin. It is a one-time import from the data on your site, with no ongoing sync.
Free feature, available in MailerPress 2.1.0 or later. MailerPress Pro is not required.
Before you start
- No API key is needed: MailerPress reads the Newsletter data stored on your site.
- Newsletter can be deactivated, but its data must still be in the database. Do not uninstall it with its data.
- Back up your database, or test the import on a staging site first.
- Only import contacts who agreed to receive your emails.
What gets imported
| Newsletter | MailerPress |
|---|---|
| Lists defined in the Newsletter settings | Lists |
| Profile fields | Custom fields. Select fields stay select fields. Other types become text. |
| Subscribers | Contacts, with first name (Name), last name (Surname), status, lists and profile field values. |
| Subscriber details (ID, status, gender, language, country, IP address, dates) | Extra custom fields, such as Newsletter subscriber ID, Newsletter language and Newsletter country. |
| Not imported | Newsletters, forms, automations, statistics and settings (sender, pages). Newsletter has no tags to import. |
A MailerPress list with the same name as a Newsletter list is reused, not duplicated.
Import your contacts
- Go to MailerPress > Tools > Migrations.
- Select Plugins.
- In Import from plugin, choose Newsletter. If it shows Newsletter (not detected), no Newsletter data was found.
- Under Data to migrate, check Lists, Custom fields and Contacts. Each line shows the number of records found.
- Click Start migration.
- Wait for Migration completed. The counters show processed, skipped and failed records.
The import runs in the background, so you can leave the page. Cancel stops it, and records already imported stay in MailerPress. If it does not progress on a low-traffic site, set up a server cron job.
When the setup wizard finds Newsletter data, its Migrate existing data step offers the same import.
Contact statuses
| Newsletter status | MailerPress status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (C) | Subscribed |
| Not confirmed (S) | Pending |
| Unsubscribed (U) | Unsubscribed |
| Bounced (B) | Unsubscribed |
| Complained (P) | Unsubscribed |
- An existing MailerPress contact (same email) takes the Newsletter status. An unsubscribed contact can become Subscribed again.
- New contacts imported as Pending receive your sign-up confirmation email.
- Automations with the Contact Subscribed trigger can run for each new contact. Pause them first if needed.
After the import
- Open a few contacts and check their status, lists and field values.
- Set your sender name and address: Newsletter settings are not imported.
- Choose a sending service for your MailerPress emails.
- Replace Newsletter forms with a MailerPress sign-up form.
- Once everything is checked, deactivate Newsletter so that only one plugin collects and emails subscribers.
- You can run the import again: contacts are matched by email, so no duplicates are created.
For all sources and options, see Migrate your contacts to MailerPress with the Migration Center.