How to Export Your Joomla! Database with phpMyAdmin

Written by Cory | September 25, 2006 | Add Comment (23)

I had a request from a reader to provide more detailed instructions on "database wrangling" with your Joomla! database. This article is an attempt at honoring that request. I will add an article later that explains how to import your Joomla! database using phpMyAdmin.

To perform the tasks in this article, you will need phpMyAdmin installed on your server. I am using version 2.8.0.2 of phpMyAdmin and version 4.1.21 of MySQL. For the sake of brevity, I have assumed that you have access to your MySQL server and left out details on how to gain that access. If you are unsure about how to gain access to your MySQL server, you should contact your hosting provider.

phpMyAdmin Main Screen

Once you have logged into phpMyAdmin on your server, you should see a screen that looks like this:

phpMyAdmin Screen 1

In the left column, there should be a listing of the databases available. Click on the link to your Joomla! database. In this example, the database is simply called "joomla".

phpMyAdmin Table List Screen

Once you have clicked on your Joomla! database, you should come to a screen that looks like this:

phpMyAdmin Screen 2

This screen lists off the tables that are in your Joomla! database. Click on the tab labelled "Export".

phpMyAdmin Export Screen

That should take you to a screen that looks like this:

phpMyAdmin Screen 3

Export Steps

This is where the magic happens. Follow these simple steps, and you will have your database exported to an SQL file.

  1. Select all of your Joomla! tables from the list of tables.
  2. In the list of export types, make sure "SQL" is selected. (This makes it easier to re-import your data later.)
  3. Leave your SQL options like they are (unless they are different from what you see in the picture).
  4. Make sure "Save as file" is checked.
  5. Click the button labelled "Go".
  6. Save your ".sql" file to your system and make note of where you saved it.

That's all there is to it. You should now have a file on your system that is an exact copy of your Joomla! database.

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Comments (23)Add Comment

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written by Huner, October 02, 2006
hi, I had a
question, how can
I take my website from a server to
another server?? can all my files work like from the first server ??

or I want install my old copy of joomla I have to the new server. can I copy the all of joomla with all contents ??

please I need an answer..

thnx Huner Norway
honerkurd@hotmail.com
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written by Cory, October 02, 2006
0
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written by Huner, October 02, 2006
thnx Cory.. smilies/grin.gif
0
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written by Nick, March 18, 2007
Hi Cory,

Great articles, I've read many of them and they have really helped my understanding of Joomla.

Following one of your links re Joomla 1.5 and hence to backward compatibility, I came across

First a word of warning! The popular tool, ‘phpMyAdmin’ performs unrequested and usually incorrect encoding conversions during export of site data. There is currently no way to control this. For this reason it is NOT recommended to use phpMyAdmin for migration.
at

http://dev.joomla.org/componen...,33/p,107/

Do you agree with this view?
62
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written by Cory, March 18, 2007
Hi Nick,

That's a great question. To be honest, I do not know the answer to that. I assume that the writer of that article knew what he was talking about, so I have no reason to disagree with that view. I personally have never experienced a problem exporting a database with phpMyAdmin for Joomla! 1.0.x, but I've never tried it with Joomla! 1.5. The best advice I can give when working directly with your database is to take every possible precaution. If you are uncertain about the possible ramifications, I recommend hiring a professional to do it for you.

Cory

0
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written by Hasanul, June 23, 2007
I late write this great article. Just make a fresh install in new host. Just wondering, how to export just content database to my new database? Thanks before smilies/grin.gif
0
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written by Hasanul, June 23, 2007
Oops, I mean read, not write smilies/shocked.gif
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written by Vince, October 25, 2007
I have a script to backup and restore any database - takes seconds to run.
I'll try and make it a Joomla add-on soon. smilies/smiley.gif smilies/smiley.gif smilies/smiley.gif
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written by Masi, December 25, 2007
Great! smilies/grin.gif
0
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written by Gabriel, March 10, 2008
I just stumbled on your site.

From my experience I have not had issues with moving database with phpmyadmin. Actually I like it a lot. But thats me.

With regards to your artcle you said
Leave your SQL options like they are (unless they are different from what you see in the picture).


I think its a good idea to check if you are running the same version of mysql or both servers. If not, you migh need to need to select the export compatibilty to the version of mysql you want to export to.

Also if you already have same tables in the destination joomla database it is important to check "add drop table" and add if not exist"

And also select export type insert, update or replace accordingly.

Always backup your orginal database before importing anything!

Long live Joomla!
0
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written by mark, June 08, 2008
is it ajax based comment box ?
0
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written by Vince, June 28, 2008
I finally put up a great backup script to manage any and multiple MySQL databases.
www.MySQLBackup.info
Next step is that I need to see if it can be made into a Joomla plugin.
0
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written by rafi michael, July 04, 2008
Hello evry one looking for export to make my site videobabylon.ca frindly with google and also same more thinks done on the website. contact me
0
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written by webdesign, October 08, 2008
Thx for the tutorial helped me out just fine !
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written by Joomla Webdesign, November 24, 2008
Great tutorial! Love this one! Exporting is so important
0
Umm
written by okinawa, April 01, 2009
How do you export it, so that when you import it into the new database that it "amends" and doesn't overwrite what is already there?
0
Two designers
written by منتديات, April 05, 2009
I have a script to backup and restore any database - takes seconds to run.
0
CEO
written by Robert Kash Jr, August 05, 2009
This tutorial isn't displaying the screen shots, so please post the information that is needed on step: "phpMyAdmin Export Screen." I'm crossing my fingers at this point. thanks in adv. smilies/smiley.gif
0
pictures
written by dusan kolar, August 31, 2009
Hi,

For any reason, I don't see pictures on this very interesting website. Please, advise what to do. I am using IE7.

Regards,
Dusan
0
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written by منتديات, September 22, 2009
I've tried changing bluetooth stacks, adapters, and reverting to the earlier version, as suggested in the post.
0
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written by مركز تحميل, September 22, 2009
Also if you already have same tables in the destination joomla database it is important to check "add drop table" and add if not exist"

And also select export type insert, update or replace accordingly.

Always backup your orginal database before importing anything!
0
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written by ندى الورد, September 22, 2009
thanks so much
0
script to backup joomla site
written by avanzaweb, October 05, 2009
I have access by ftp and I wonder how to export all database to a sql or csv file

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