Title: Export .XML vs using phpMyAdmin to export .SQL
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Export .XML vs using phpMyAdmin to export .SQL

 *  [Wheat Williams](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wheat-williams/)
 * (@wheat-williams)
 * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-xml-vs-using-phpmyadmin-to-export-sql/)
 * I would like to hear from moderators or administrators, but if developers have
   some opinions, please share them.
 * When moving or copying a working WordPress installation, or backing it up, what
   is the practical difference between these two methods:
 * 1) Exporting the database as an .xml file from within the WordPress Dashboard
 * 2) using a tool such as phpMyAdmin to export the database as an .sql file
 * Does WordPress 3.2.1 “prefer” one method over the other? What do you recommend?
 * Of course, on the other end, when migrating to a new hosting situation, it’s 
   necessary to create a blank, pristine WordPress installation and then
 * 1) use the WordPress Dashboard’s Import command to read in the .xml file
 * or
 * 2) use phpMyAdmin to import the .sql database to overwrite the existing .sql 
   database that the site was created with.
 * I have successfully used the .sql method with phpMyAdmin with my site. Would 
   it be easier, better or more reliable to use the .xml method?
 * Why do both methods exist in the first place?

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

 *  [4culture](https://wordpress.org/support/users/4culture/)
 * (@4culture)
 * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-xml-vs-using-phpmyadmin-to-export-sql/#post-2193361)
 * I have this same question. I am confused about the difference between the two.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-xml-vs-using-phpmyadmin-to-export-sql/#post-2193363)
 * Method 1 copies only content from one site to another.
    Method 2 copies everything(
   themes settings, plugin settings, urls etc)

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

The topic ‘Export .XML vs using phpMyAdmin to export .SQL’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [database](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/database/)
 * [phpmyadmin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/phpmyadmin/)
 * [sql](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/sql/)
 * [xml](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/xml/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 2 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * Last activity: [14 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/export-xml-vs-using-phpmyadmin-to-export-sql/#post-2193363)
 * Status: not resolved

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