phpMyAdmin: export and import a database with a recovery plan

phpMyAdmin manages MySQL or MariaDB data. It does not manage an application’s SQLite database; use the application’s supported backup tools for that storage engine.

Export first

1. Identify the application’s exact database from its private configuration.
2. Open phpMyAdmin through cPanel and select that database.
3. Choose an export suitable for the recovery task, including structure and data where required.
4. Store the file privately and verify it is non-empty. Coordinate the export with file backups and ongoing writes.

Import into the intended destination

Create a separate test database when possible. Confirm its name before using Import, and inspect what the SQL file will do. Statements that drop or replace tables can remove existing records. Back up the destination before importing.

Afterward, check table presence, application connectivity, character encoding and important records. A successful upload message does not prove that the website works correctly.

Large imports can exceed browser or PHP limits. Ask support for an appropriate controlled CLI or provider-assisted method instead of repeatedly submitting a half-completed import. Do not run SQL copied from an untrusted source. Remove exported files from web-accessible locations and keep a record of who performed the operation.