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Whether you're migrating a site or just want a safety net before a risky change, backing up your database takes just a couple of minutes.
Exporting a Backup
Open phpMyAdmin, select your database from the left sidebar, click the Export tab, choose the "Quick" export method with SQL format, and click Go to download a complete backup file.
What's in the Backup File
The exported .sql file contains the structure of every table plus all the data within them — everything needed to recreate the database exactly as it was.
Restoring From a Backup
To restore, open phpMyAdmin, select the target database (create a new empty one if needed), click the Import tab, choose your .sql backup file, and click Go.
Restoring Into an Existing Database
Importing into a database that already has data can cause conflicts or duplicates. For a clean restore, it's often safer to import into a fresh, empty database.
Automate Regular Backups
Manual exports are great for one-off situations, but Plesk's scheduled backup feature automates the process so you're not relying on remembering to do it yourself.
Large Databases
Very large databases may need a command-line export (via mysqldump) if phpMyAdmin's upload limits get in the way — your hosting provider's support team can assist if you hit this wall.
