To move or preserve a WordPress site, download both parts of it: the files in your hosting account and the MySQL or MariaDB database. Files alone contain the WordPress core, themes, plugins, uploads and configuration, but the database contains posts, pages, settings and users. Download the files, export the database, keep the two together in more than one location, and verify that you can restore the copy before cancelling the old hosting account.
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What you must download from the old host
A complete WordPress backup is a matched set of an archive of the site files and an SQL export of its database. Treating either one as optional can leave you with an incomplete site.
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The WordPress files
The installation is usually in public_html, although a host may use a different document-root name or a subdirectory. The download should include:
- WordPress core files
wp-content, including installed themes, plugins and theuploadsmedia librarywp-config.php, which records the old database connection details- Any other files in the installation directory, including custom configuration files and web-server rules
A media-heavy site can take a long time to download because the uploads directory may contain many large files. Do not assume that a progress bar finishing quickly means every item was copied; verify the result after the transfer.
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The WordPress database
The MySQL or MariaDB database stores the content and settings that are not represented by the file tree, including posts, pages, comments, users and site configuration. A site can have more than one database on a hosting account, so identify the one referenced by wp-config.php rather than exporting an arbitrary database.
Choose the download method that fits your access
| Method | What it downloads | Technical effort | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting File Manager | Files in the WordPress installation directory | Lowest | The database still needs a separate export unless the host provides a full-backup tool. |
| FTP or SFTP client | Files and folders selected from the server | Moderate | You need the host, username, password and port; the database still needs a separate export. |
| Backup plugin | Usually a package containing files and database | Low for non-technical users | It adds a plugin dependency and must finish creating a usable archive before access to the old host ends. |
File Manager is convenient for a one-off download. FTP or SFTP is useful when the browser-based manager cannot create a large archive or when you need to resume a transfer. A backup plugin can be simpler when you want one downloadable package, but confirm that the package includes both the files and the database.
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How to download WordPress files with the host File Manager
Use this route when the old hosting dashboard still opens and provides a File Manager. Menu labels vary between hosts, but the process is generally the same.
- Sign in to the old hosting dashboard. Open its File Manager. If the account contains several domains, first identify the domain whose WordPress site you are preserving.
- Open the document root. Go to
public_html, or the directory shown as the domain’s document root. If WordPress was installed in a subfolder, open that folder instead of downloading an unrelated site. - Select the complete installation. Include hidden files if the File Manager has a setting for showing them. Select all files and folders belonging to the installation, including
wp-contentandwp-config.php. - Create an archive if the interface allows it. A ZIP archive can preserve the directory structure and reduce the number of browser downloads. Name it clearly, such as
wordpress-files-2026-10-14.zip, so it can be matched with the database export later. - Download the archive or the selected files. Keep the browser window open until the transfer reports completion. For a large uploads directory, allow extra time and avoid cancelling a transfer merely because it appears idle.
- Check the local copy. Open the ZIP, confirm that it contains the expected top-level folders and files, and note its size. If the host shows a file or folder count, compare that count with the extracted copy.
If the File Manager cannot archive the directory, download the folders and files in smaller groups, beginning with wp-content. Do not omit a folder simply because it appears to contain cache or temporary data; retain the original copy so a later restoration can decide what is safe to remove.
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How to download WordPress files with FTP or SFTP
An FTP client such as FileZilla can copy the installation to your computer. SFTP is a different protocol and normally uses the SFTP connection details supplied by the host; select the protocol and port specified by that host rather than guessing.
- Collect the connection details. You need the hostname, FTP or SFTP username, password and port from the old host. Some hosts provide separate accounts for each domain or directory.
- Create the connection in the client. Enter the supplied protocol, hostname, credentials and port. If the host offers SFTP, use it as specified; do not silently switch to plain FTP when the account requires SFTP.
- Open the WordPress directory. In the remote pane, navigate to
public_htmlor the documented installation directory. Confirm the path by locatingwp-admin,wp-includes,wp-contentandwp-config.php. - Choose a local destination. Create a dated folder on a drive with enough free space for the entire site, including media.
- Download every file and folder. Select the complete WordPress directory and start the transfer. Keep the client open until its queue shows no failed transfers.
- Review transfer errors. If the client reports skipped or failed files, retry them and inspect the final error list. A backup is not complete while any required item remains in a failed state.
- Compare the result. Check that the local copy contains the same major directories and that
wp-config.phpis present. Keep the client log if you need to investigate missing files before cancellation.
FTP/SFTP transfers can take longer than a single archive download when a site contains thousands of small files. That is normal; completeness matters more than the apparent speed of the first progress estimate.
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A backup plugin can package the database and files into downloadable archives. Plugins such as UpdraftPlus or Duplicator are examples of tools described for this purpose. This approach is often easier for someone who does not want to work directly with File Manager, FTP or phpMyAdmin.
- Install or open the backup plugin while the old site still works. Use the plugin’s backup or package function, not WordPress’s post-export function.
- Select a complete backup. Confirm that the job includes the database, themes, plugins, uploads and other site files. A database-only or files-only package is not a complete migration backup.
- Wait for the job to finish. Large media libraries can make packaging slow. Do not close the browser or cancel the job until the plugin reports completion.
- Download every generated component. Some tools create multiple archive parts or a separate installer and archive. Save all components together in one dated folder.
- Test the package. Check that the files are readable and that the plugin identifies a non-empty database backup. A package that exists in the dashboard but was never downloaded will disappear when the old account is removed.
A plugin backup is a convenience, not a reason to skip an independent database check. If possible, also export the database through phpMyAdmin and keep that SQL file with the plugin package.
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How to export the WordPress database in phpMyAdmin
The standard cPanel route is cPanel → phpMyAdmin. The exact labels can differ, but the export settings below describe the normal full-database download.
- Find the database name. Open
wp-config.phpin the downloaded files and note the value associated with the WordPress database name. Do not publish the file; it contains connection credentials. - Open phpMyAdmin. In cPanel, launch phpMyAdmin and locate the matching database in the left sidebar. If the name is not visible, ask the host which database belongs to the domain before exporting.
- Open the Export tab. Select the database itself, not an individual table.
- Choose Quick. Use the Quick export method and select SQL as the format, as described for the normal WordPress export.
- Start the export and save the file. Give it a descriptive name such as
wordpress-database-2026-10-14.sqland store it beside the files archive. - Check that the SQL file is not empty. Its exact size depends on the site’s content, but a zero-byte file or a download that opens as an error page is not a usable export.
Do not substitute WordPress Dashboard → Tools → Export for a database export. That built-in exporter covers selected posts, pages and comments; it does not contain the full site configuration, users, plugin data or other database tables required to recreate the installation.
Keep the files and database together safely
After downloading, create one clearly named backup set containing the files archive and the .sql export. You can put both into a ZIP archive, or keep them in one folder if the files are already archived. Store at least one copy on an external drive and another in cloud storage so a failed disk does not become the only copy.
Protect configuration credentials
wp-config.php contains the old database name, username and password. Keep it with the backup because it helps identify the database and configuration, but treat it as sensitive information. Do not email it casually, upload it to a public repository or paste its contents into a support forum.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Use a dated naming scheme
Include the domain, date and backup type in names. For example, a folder could contain example-site-files-2026-10-14.zip and example-site-database-2026-10-14.sql. If you create more than one backup, the date makes it possible to match the correct files with the corresponding database.
Verify the backup before cancelling the old account
A download is only useful if it can be opened and restored. Perform these checks while the old host can still provide another copy.
- Open the files archive and confirm that the WordPress directories,
wp-content, media folders andwp-config.phpare present. - Open the SQL file in a text editor or database tool and confirm it contains SQL statements rather than an HTML error page. Do not edit it merely to inspect it.
- Compare the local file or folder count with the host’s displayed count where the host provides one.
- Check that the downloaded archive and SQL file can be copied to a second storage location without errors.
- Restore the set to a local, staging or new-host environment and confirm that the site loads, pages and posts appear, media opens, users are present and the administration area can be reached.
The restoration test is the strongest check because it tests the relationship between the files and the database, not just whether two downloads exist. A copy that cannot be restored should be treated as incomplete until the cause is fixed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if the old host has no cPanel or File Manager
Hosts use different dashboards and menu names. Look for equivalent entries such as File Manager, Website Files, Backups, Database Manager or phpMyAdmin. If the host provides only FTP/SFTP credentials, use the client method for files and request database access or an SQL export procedure from the host.
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Before starting, check whether the host permits downloads after cancellation and whether it charges for transfer or backup retrieval. These policies are host-specific and can change, so obtain the answer for your account rather than relying on a generic promise of continued access. If access ends immediately on cancellation, finish and verify the backup first.
Troubleshooting an incomplete download
The archive is smaller than expected
First open it and inspect its contents; size alone does not prove that a copy is missing. If major folders or uploads are absent, create a fresh archive or download the missing directory with FTP/SFTP. Check for a browser timeout, a File Manager archive limit or failed transfer entries.
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Some files fail in FTP/SFTP
Review the client’s transfer queue and retry failed items. Confirm that the local drive has enough free space and that the connection did not drop. Compare the final local tree with the remote tree before declaring the backup complete.
phpMyAdmin exports an empty or unusable file
Make sure the correct database is selected, that you exported the database rather than a single table, and that the browser downloaded the SQL response instead of an error page. If the database name from wp-config.php does not appear, ask the host to identify the account’s database before cancelling.
The plugin backup stops or creates only one component
Check the plugin’s job report and download list. A multi-part package may require every part plus an installer file. If the job cannot complete, use File Manager or FTP/SFTP for the files and phpMyAdmin for the database instead of relying on a partial package.
The restored site shows a database connection error
The old wp-config.php values describe the old server and are not necessarily valid on a new host. During restoration, use the new host’s database name, username, password and server value while preserving the downloaded content and SQL data. Keep the original file unchanged as a reference.
Final pre-cancellation checklist
- Files from the correct WordPress document root are downloaded.
wp-content, uploads, themes, plugins andwp-config.phpare present.- The matching database was exported from phpMyAdmin as SQL.
- The WordPress Tools → Export file was not mistaken for a full backup.
- The archive opens and the SQL file is non-empty and readable.
- The files and database are stored together on an external drive or in cloud storage.
- A restore has worked in a local, staging or new-host environment.
- You know how long the old host keeps account data after cancellation and whether download fees apply.
- You have removed public sharing access to the backup and protected the credentials in
wp-config.php.
Only after these checks pass should you cancel the old hosting account. Cancellation can delete the account’s files and database, so a verified independent copy is your safeguard against losing the site.
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