Title: Backup versus Export?
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Backup versus Export?

 *  [graphitegolem](https://wordpress.org/support/users/graphitegolem/)
 * (@graphitegolem)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/backup-versus-export/)
 * I’m not sure what the difference is. I had my current WordPress on another domain/
   hosting setup, and I set up the one I’m using now on a new one, exported (some
   of) the old posts, then imported them to the new site, and everything works, 
   except for a few things that are probably the result of changing themes and non-
   relative linking.
 * Now I want to back up my current WP, and have read and re-read the backup pages
   in the Codex to no avail. I have Filezilla, but don’t know what I need to save.
   Everything?
 * I guess I just don’t understand what I need to be doing, since the Export command
   seemed to do what I needed it to, whereas the backup documentation seems far 
   more dense and less than casual-user-friendly.
 * tl;dr: is the “Export” option a viable backup, or do I need to do something additional/
   else?

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [maoski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maoski/)
 * (@maoski)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/backup-versus-export/#post-2101085)
 * put simply, Export/import relies on you having wordpress already installed on
   the new host. Basically you are exporting/importing all the posts, categories,
   menus from the old site to the new
 * A full backup, backs up all your custom themes, plugins, database, the whole 
   site can be restored by copying the files and database back to the server without
   having to reinstall wordpress to it.
 *  Thread Starter [graphitegolem](https://wordpress.org/support/users/graphitegolem/)
 * (@graphitegolem)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/backup-versus-export/#post-2101227)
 * I’m sorry, but I’m still not seeing the difference.
 *  Wouldn’t I want to have WP installed if I am restoring the site anyway, whether
   I have to install it again because of a server crash, or because a WP update 
   ate my posts? Or is there something in the database that I’m overlooking?

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Backup versus Export?’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [export](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/export/)
 * [ftp](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/ftp/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [graphitegolem](https://wordpress.org/support/users/graphitegolem/)
 * Last activity: [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/backup-versus-export/#post-2101227)
 * Status: not resolved

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