How to Back Up a Single MySQL Database

You don't need a full account backup every time you want to protect a database. If you're about to run a plugin update, import new data, or make any change directly in phpMyAdmin, a quick database-only backup takes seconds and gives you something to restore from if the change goes wrong.

In cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel and open the Backup tool.
2. Under Download a MySQL Database Backup, click the database you want to back up.
3. Your browser downloads a .sql file containing the database structure and data. Save it somewhere you'll remember.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin and open MySQL Management.
2. Click the database you want to back up to open its details.
3. Look for a Backup or Export option, or use phpMyAdmin from the same page: open the database, click the Export tab, keep the default Quick export method and SQL format, then click Go to download the file.

phpMyAdmin is available from both control panels and works identically either way if you prefer using it directly: open the database, go to Export, and download the SQL file.

Rename the downloaded file to include the date, such as shop_db_2026-07-23.sql, so you can tell backups apart later. A folder full of files all named the same way is easy to mix up when you actually need to restore one.

To restore this file later, use the Import tab in phpMyAdmin on the target database, or the Restore option in your control panel's Backup tool described in our guide on restoring a website backup.