Lovable ZIP to WordPress: Step by Step

Get the ZIP out of Lovable

Lovable offers two ways to hand you the code. Download codebase gives you a ZIP and needs a paid plan. GitHub sync works on every plan and gives you a repository instead.

If you are on the free plan, you do not need to upgrade to convert. The IQDesk converter accepts a GitHub repository as input too, and the result is identical. Connect the project to GitHub in Lovable, then point the converter at the repo.

A longer walkthrough of both routes, including what Lovable puts in the archive, is in our guide to exporting Lovable code.

Open the project in Lovable and find the code export option in the project menu.
Choose Download codebase to get the ZIP, or connect GitHub if you are on the free plan.
Save the ZIP somewhere you can find it. Do not unzip it; the converter reads the archive as it is.
Check the size. If the archive is unusually small, the export may have failed. Re-run it before you continue.

What is inside the archive

The ZIP is a normal front-end project, not a WordPress export. It holds React and TypeScript source styled with Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui, plus a package.json, config files and a public/ folder.

Where the pages live depends on when the app was created. Older React + Vite apps keep pages in src/pages and routes in src/App.tsx. Apps created from 13 May 2026 use TanStack Start with file-based routes in src/routes, each with a head() holding the title, description and JSON-LD.

That difference matters for metadata. The converter reads TanStack Start heads and writes the per-page title and description into Yoast, Rank Math or SEOPress. Older Vite apps have no per-page meta to read, so you write titles and descriptions yourself in WordPress.

If you want to build the project locally first to confirm it is complete, run npm install and then npm run build on Node 22. A dist/ folder means the export is sound. This step is optional; the converter does not need it.

Convert the ZIP to a block theme

Open the converter and upload the ZIP. The conversion runs in your browser. Nothing is installed and no server account is needed to see the result.

The output is a WordPress block theme: templates, header and footer template parts, one pattern per page, a theme.json carrying your Tailwind palette, type scale and Google Fonts, and your images copied into the theme folder. Page routes become WordPress pages with matching titles and slugs.

The converter also handles the parts people expect to lose. Header navigation, site logo, buttons and hover colors, accordions, lists, quotes, images and aspect ratios all come across. Contact forms map to Contact Form 7. Product listings and pages map to WooCommerce. Redirects in public/_redirects are carried over, as are page language and hreflang. Blog-like data arrays become real posts and categories behind a query loop.

Each account includes two free AI-fix attempts. The fix agent can read the source project, compare both pages and edit the theme. Instructions are capped at 2,000 characters and each fix runs up to 20 tool steps. Pricing covers credit packs if you want more.

Review before you download

The review screen shows the converted site next to the original inside WordPress Playground, in your browser. Scroll both panes together and look for the things that are known to shift.

Some patterns are approximated rather than reproduced. Fixed-height cropped boxes, carousels, decorative div mockups, animations and definition lists land in a simplified form. Tabs, modals and dropdowns appear in their default state only. Responsive layout uses desktop values; WordPress stacks columns on mobile.

Some things are not converted at all. Absolutely positioned decorations, video and audio without a static src, iframes, canvas, Lottie, custom React state and event handlers, Supabase, authentication, dashboards, API calls and third-party widgets have no block equivalent. Open Graph tags and per-page meta of older React + Vite apps are not carried over. Screens behind a login are reported, not converted.

The full breakdown is on supported features. Knowing the list before you review saves you from chasing a difference that was never going to convert.

Fonts and colors — check headings, body text and buttons against the original.
Navigation — every menu item present, pointing at the right page.
Images — present, right aspect ratio, not stretched.
Forms — fields and labels match; the plugin wiring comes later.
Known gaps — note anything from the not-converted list so you can plan a replacement.

Install the theme in WordPress

Download the theme ZIP from the review screen. It installs like any other WordPress theme.

Activation creates the pages from your Lovable routes and sets the front page for you. You can change that later under Settings → Reading → "Your homepage displays".

Install the plugins your site needs before you judge the result. A converted contact form needs Contact Form 7. A converted shop needs WooCommerce. An SEO plugin is needed if you want the imported titles and descriptions to show up in a settings screen.

Go to Appearance → Themes → Add New → Upload Theme in your WordPress admin.
Choose the theme ZIP and install it.
Click Activate. Pages are created and the front page is set.
Install Contact Form 7, WooCommerce or an SEO plugin if your site uses forms, products or imported meta.
Open Appearance → Editor to adjust templates, template parts and patterns in the Site Editor.
Check permalinks under Settings → Permalinks and edit any slug that does not match the old URL.

Before you point the domain at it

Build on a staging site with Settings → Reading → "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" checked. Uncheck it on launch day. A live site left checked will not be indexed.

Editing happens in the Site Editor at Appearance → Editor. Templates and template parts are HTML files with block markup, patterns live in /patterns, and the design tokens sit in theme.json. Change a color there once and it applies everywhere.

Anything the converter could not bring across needs a decision. A carousel can become a static grid or a slider plugin. A dashboard or an authenticated app screen stays in Lovable, or a developer rebuilds it. An API-driven section needs a plugin or custom code.

If you would rather keep the Lovable app running and only move the marketing pages, that is a valid split. Our comparison of a converter, a manual rebuild and headless walks through the trade-offs. For anything about Lovable itself that is not covered here, check Lovable's documentation.

FAQ

Do I need a paid Lovable plan to get the ZIP?

Yes. The "Download codebase" option that produces a ZIP requires a paid Lovable plan. GitHub sync works on every plan, including free. The IQDesk converter accepts either a ZIP or a GitHub repository, so free-plan users can convert without upgrading.

Can I upload the Lovable ZIP straight into WordPress?

No. The Lovable ZIP is a React and TypeScript project, not a WordPress theme, so WordPress will reject it. It has to be converted into a block theme first. The converted theme ZIP is what you upload under Appearance, Themes, Add New, Upload Theme.

Should I unzip the Lovable archive before converting?

No. The converter reads the archive as it is, so upload the ZIP unchanged. Unzipping it is only useful if you want to inspect the code or run a local build with npm install and npm run build on Node 22.

What happens to my pages when I activate the theme?

Activation creates a WordPress page for each converted route and sets the front page automatically. You can change the front page later under Settings, Reading, Your homepage displays. Slugs can be edited per page, and the URL structure sits under Settings, Permalinks.

How much does converting a Lovable ZIP cost?

Conversion, the side-by-side review and the theme download are free, and every account includes two free AI-fix attempts. If you need more fixes or saved projects, Starter is 20 dollars for 666 AI credits and one saved project, and Studio is 60 dollars for 2000 credits and five saved projects.

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