---
title: "Database Install - Restore the database only"
url: https://phatdev.net/en/docs/sl-migrations/database-install
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-20
alternate:
  vi: https://phatdev.net/docs/sl-migrations/database-install
markdown: https://phatdev.net/en/docs/sl-migrations/database-install.md
---

# Database Install - Restore the database only

Part of the doc set: [SL Migrations](https://phatdev.net/en/docs/sl-migrations.md)

> Restore only the database from a backup, leaving the current site files untouched.

## Database Install

Use this when you only want to restore the database and leave the files untouched (because the files are already synced through rsync, git or some other way).

## Common scenarios

- The current database is corrupt but the files are fine
- You have rsynced the files from staging to production and only need to sync the database
- You are testing a data migration without wanting to affect the files

## How to do it

### 1. Back up the current database

Make a copy of the current database before overwriting it. Most hosting providers offer a tool for this in cPanel/Plesk, or use `mysqldump` if you have SSH.

### 2. Upload the installer + archive

Upload them to the `wp-content/backups-slm/` folder of the running site.

### 3. Run the installer in "Database Only" mode

Open `installer.php` in your browser. In step 1, choose **Install Database Only** in the deployment mode dropdown.

The installer skips the file extraction step and only runs:
- Drop existing tables
- Import SQL dump
- Search & replace URL

### 4. Verify

- Log in to wp-admin
- Check Posts, Settings and Options
- The Plugin/Theme lists stay the same (the files are not touched)

## Warnings

- **Plugin version mismatch**: if a plugin version recorded in the database differs from the version of the files on the site, it can cause errors. Back up the plugins first.
- **Custom tables**: the SQL dump only contains tables with the `table_prefix` set in `wp-config.php`. Custom tables outside that prefix will NOT be dumped.

## See also

- [Fixing database write errors](https://phatdev.net/en/docs/sl-migrations/how-to-fix-database-write-issues)
- [Classic Install](https://phatdev.net/en/docs/sl-migrations/classic-install)