Published on Jun 28, 2025 4 min read

How to Easily Move Comments Between WordPress Posts

A screenshot of WordPress dashboard interface

Maintaining an organized WordPress site is crucial for enhancing user experience. Sometimes, you might find the need to move comments from one post to another, especially when merging or updating posts. This helps keep the discussion relevant and organized. Although WordPress doesn’t offer this feature by default, you can easily manage it through a plugin or a simple code snippet. Both methods are secure and ensure your comments remain intact.

This guide will walk you through each method step by step. You’ll learn to navigate and move comments effectively, ensuring your site remains tidy and user-friendly. Let’s delve into the methods to seamlessly relocate your WordPress comments.

Why You Might Need to Move Comments

There are several reasons you might need to move comments between WordPress posts:

  • Updated Content: If you’ve updated a blog post, moving old comments to the new version prevents reader confusion and keeps discussions relevant.
  • Split Posts: When dividing a long post into two, ensure comments are correctly associated with the respective content.
  • Merged Posts: Combining posts into one location helps maintain a cohesive conversation, reducing information loss.
  • Misposted Comments: If comments were inadvertently posted on the wrong article, relocating them corrects the oversight and preserves your blog’s integrity.
  • Site Redesign: Align comments with the revised content and structure after a site redesign.

In these scenarios, moving comments ensures orderly discussions and enhances the user experience on your site.

Illustration of comments integration

How to Move Comments Between Posts in WordPress

If you need to reorganize comments after altering your site’s content, here are three methods to consider:

Method 1: Use a Plugin to Move WordPress Comments

Using a plugin is the simplest way to move comments. The Tako Movable Comments plugin is a popular choice that works seamlessly with most WordPress themes.

Step 1: Install the Plugin

  1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Plugins > Add New.
  3. Search for “Tako Movable Comments”.
  4. Click Install Now, then Activate the plugin.

Step 2: Move the Comments

  1. Navigate to Comments in your dashboard.
  2. Hover over the comment you wish to move and click Edit.
  3. Scroll down to the “Move comment to another post” section.
  4. Select the new post from the dropdown list.
  5. Click Update.

Repeat these steps for each comment you want to transfer. This method is straightforward and ideal for beginners.

Method 2: Move Multiple Comments Faster (Bulk Edit Method)

For moving multiple comments efficiently, use the bulk edit feature:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Go to Comments > All Comments in your dashboard.
  2. Use the checkboxes to select multiple comments.
  3. Choose Edit from the Bulk Actions dropdown and click Apply.
  4. Select the destination post from the new dropdown.
  5. Click Update to move all selected comments.

Note: Ensure your plugin supports bulk editing.

Method 3: Move Comments Using a Code Method

Advanced users can opt for code-based solutions for more control.

Important: Always back up your WordPress site before making changes to code or database files.

Option 1: Use phpMyAdmin

  1. Log into your web hosting account.
  2. Open phpMyAdmin from your control panel.
  3. Select your WordPress database.
  4. Locate the wp_comments table.
  5. Identify the comment(s) to move and change their comment_post_ID to the new post’s ID.
  6. Click Save.

Finding a Post ID in WordPress:

  • Navigate to Posts > All Posts.
  • Hover over the post title and note the number in the URL (e.g., post=123).
  • This number is the post ID needed for updating the comment_post_ID field.

Option 2: Use a Custom Code Snippet

If you prefer using code, add this snippet to your theme’s functions.php file:

function move_comment_to_post($comment_id, $new_post_id) {
  global $wpdb;
  $wpdb->update(
    $wpdb->comments,
    array('comment_post_ID' => $new_post_id),
    array('comment_ID' => $comment_id)
  );
  clean_comment_cache($comment_id);
}

You can now execute this function manually. For example:

move_comment_to_post(45, 100);

This moves comment ID 45 to post ID 100.

What If the Comments Don’t Appear?

If comments aren’t visible after moving, try these steps:

  • Clear Cache: Use a caching plugin like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache to clear your site’s cache.
  • Resave Permalinks: Navigate to Settings > Permalinks on your dashboard, then click Save Changes without altering settings.
  • Restart Plugin: Deactivate and reactivate the plugin you used to move the comments.
  • Check Post ID: Use phpMyAdmin to ensure each comment_post_ID matches the correct post ID.
  • Verify Comment: Open the post where comments were moved to check their placement and visibility.

Conclusion

Moving comments between WordPress posts is straightforward once you understand the process. Whether correcting errors, merging posts, or updating content, placing comments accurately is key to maintaining an orderly website. For most users, plugins offer the easiest solution, while advanced users might prefer phpMyAdmin or code snippets. Always verify comment placements post-move and test your site. If comments don’t appear, clearing cache and resaving permalinks often resolves issues. With these strategies, you can ensure your blog’s user experience remains seamless and engaging.

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