Overwrite Install

This mode completely deletes the current WordPress on the destination server and then restores from the backup. All current data is lost - use it when you want to roll back or sync a staging site back to production.

Workflow

1. Back up the current site first (important)

Overwrite is not reversible. Create a safe backup before you proceed.

2. Upload the installer + archive

Upload both files to the web root:

The installer.php file
The archive file

You can upload through FTP, SFTP, cPanel File Manager, rsync, or any tool your hosting supports.

3. Open the installer

https://example.com/installer.php

The installer detects that WordPress already exists and asks you to choose a mode. Choose Overwrite - the installer will:

Drop all current database tables
Delete the old WordPress files
Extract the archive
Import the SQL dump
Search & replace URLs

4. When it is done

The installer deletes its temporary files automatically. Log in to wp-admin with the admin credentials of the source site.

Important notes

Back up the database first - overwrite is not reversible
Make sure the database details in the installer point to the right database to overwrite
If DNS does not point to the destination server yet, use the hosts file on your local machine to test first

Common errors

Cannot drop database: the MySQL user has no DROP privilege. Grant ALL PRIVILEGES to the user.
Permission denied when extracting: the web root is not writable. See Fixing permissions.

Overwrite Install - Overwrite the current site