Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: phpMyAdmin 5.2 in cPanel & WHM 138
Exporting creates an SQL file of a database or table: a backup you can keep or import elsewhere.
Export a whole database
- Open phpMyAdmin (in cPanel: Databases › phpMyAdmin) and click the database in the left panel.
- Open the Export tab.
- Choose Quick and the SQL format.
- Click Export (Go in older versions).
Export selected tables or with options
Choose Custom on the Export tab. You can pick tables, add DROP TABLE statements (useful when replacing a database), and compress the file with gzip.
Tip: For large databases, cPanel's Files › Backup › Download a MySQL Database Backup is more reliable than a browser export.
