Title: Export vs Database Backup?
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# Export vs Database Backup?

 *  [Matt Blank](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattblank/)
 * (@mattblank)
 * [18 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-vs-database-backup/)
 * Hi guys,
 * Let’s say under Manage, I export my pages and post from Wodpress as an XML. If
   I then did a fresh install of WordPress (new databse), will the site be completely
   as it were (same URL’s etc…) if I simply imported that XML?
 * If so, what are the benefits of doing a complecated Database Backup through myphpadmin,
   compared to just exporting everything as an XML?
 * Please advise, as for regular backups I’m wondering if just exporting it as an
   XML is sufficient.
 * Many thanks,
    Matt

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

 *  Moderator [Samuel Wood (Otto)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/otto42/)
 * (@otto42)
 * WordPress.org Admin
 * [18 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-vs-database-backup/#post-710393)
 * > _Let’s say under Manage, I export my pages and post from Wodpress as an XML.
   > If I then did a fresh install of WordPress (new databse), will the site be 
   > completely as it were (same URL’s etc…) if I simply imported that XML?_
 * No. Exporting saves the post content, the comments, categories, tags, etc. Basically
   just the content of the site, not any of the settings of the site. It also does
   not preserve things like ID numbers and such, so if your theme depends on certain
   ID’s for categories and such, those would not migrate with you properly.
 * The export is a backup of the “important” stuff. Your content. This stuff is 
   pretty much irreplaceable if lost. Settings can be redone. Themes can be remade.
 *  Thread Starter [Matt Blank](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattblank/)
 * (@mattblank)
 * [18 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-vs-database-backup/#post-710399)
 * Thanks for the reply. So as a regular thing you would suggest exporting the xml,
   rather than actually backing up the tables etc… through myphpadmin?
 * While some of my themes rely on id’s, these can obviously be edited.
 * Matt

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

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

## Tags

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

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Matt Blank](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattblank/)
 * Last activity: [18 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-vs-database-backup/#post-710399)
 * Status: not resolved

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