How to Export a Database using phpMyAdmin

When you export a database, you are creating a backup file of the database. This backup file is usually a .sql file, and can be used to copy the database to another server. In this article we'll show you how to export your database. Generally when you export a database, one day you'll need to restore it (import). You can find more information on how to restore the export you're creating in this article here: How to Import a MySQL Database using phpMyAdmin.

To export your database, the first thing you'll need to do is log into phpMyAdmin.

After you have logged into phpMyAdmin:

1. Click the database you are working with in the left menu
2. Click "Export" in the top menu
3. Under the "Export" heading, ensure that all of your tables are selected and that the "SQL" option is selected.
4. Under the "Options" heading, ensure that you have selected, "Add DROP TABLE / VIEW / PROCEDURE / FUNCTION"
5. Under the "Save as file" heading, ensure "Save as file". If you think you database is quite large, choose either "zipped" or "gzipped" to compress the file so it will be easier to download. If you choose none, you will be save the file without compression (which is OK, you don't have to compress the file).
6. Click "Go"
7. You will be prompted to either open or save the file. Please select the option to save the file and then save the somewhere you'll remember (such as directly on your desktop).

Congratulations, you have just exported a copy of your database!