How do I export a database using phpMyAdmin?

Everyone’s setup is different so first you’ll have to get to the phpMyAdmin section on your web hosting server. With Dreamhost it was easy, under “Goodies” click “MySQL Databases” and then in the right column you’ll see a link for PHPMyAdmin, click that and login.

When you’re there, you’ll see an “Export” tab at the top.

Click the database you want to export, do not select information_schema unless you want to overrite your default MySQL database, which isn’t recommended.

Check off the box for Structure and the following:

Add DROP TABLE / VIEW / PROCEDURE / FUNCTION / EVENT

Add IF NOT EXISTS

Add AUTO_INCREMENT value

Enclose table and field names with backquotes

Check the box for data and the following:

Complete inserts

Extended inserts

Maximal length of created query

Use hexadecimal for BLOB

Select “Insert” from drop box.

Check off the box “Save As File” and give your file a name, I like to use an uncompressed version of my database so I’m going to select “none” for that.

Press “Go” and you’ll see the SQL file start to download.