What this procedure is
How to create a full PrestaShop backup (files + database) using a typical hosting method: ZIP files + SQL export in phpMyAdmin.
Applies to: PrestaShop 8.x.
Why you would do this
- Before updates.
- Before installing modules.
- Before migrations.
Prerequisites
- Hosting access.
- phpMyAdmin.
- Space to download backups.
Quick diagnosis (before you change anything)
1) Identify the database
Expected result: you export the correct database.
Full backup
Step 1) Export the database
In phpMyAdmin export SQL (use compression for large DBs).
Step 2) Compress store files
Compress the store folder as a ZIP and download it.
Step 3) Store safely
Store ZIP+SQL off-server.
Final verification
- ZIP and SQL are available.
- Files open correctly.
If something doesn’t work (common issues)
Incomplete backup
- Re-export with compression.
- Avoid peak hours.
Best practices
- Name backups with date.
- Keep history.