Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download a WordPress Website without cPanel

WordPress is an open-source content management system that provides users with the ability to create and maintain websites. Users typically manage their WordPress website through cPanel, a web hosting control panel. However, in certain situations, users may need to download their WordPress website without access to cPanel. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to download a WordPress website without cPanel.

Step 1: Backup Your Website

Before downloading your WordPress website, it is essential to make a backup of all your files and data. This is to ensure that you do not lose your website's content, themes, plugins, and media files. You can make a backup of your WordPress website by using a backup plugin. Some of the popular backup plugins include UpdraftPlus and BackupBuddy.

Step 2: Install and Activate FTP Client

Once you have a backup of your WordPress website, the next step is to install and activate an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client. FTP allows you to upload and download files between your computer and your web server. Some of the popular FTP clients include FileZilla, WinSCP, and Cyberduck.

Step 3: Connect to Your Web Server

After installing an FTP client, the next step is to connect to your web server. To do this, you need to obtain your FTP login credentials from your web hosting provider. Once you have your FTP login information, open your FTP client and enter your FTP hostname, username, and password to establish a connection.

Step 4: Download WordPress Files

After connecting to your web server, navigate to the root directory of your WordPress website. This is typically located in the public_html folder. Once you have located your WordPress files, select all the files by pressing Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac. Drag and drop the selected files to a local folder on your computer. This will start the download process.

Step 5: Export WordPress Database

Apart from the WordPress files, you also need to download your WordPress database. To do this, you need to access phpMyAdmin, a web-based database management tool. You can access phpMyAdmin through your web hosting account dashboard. Once you have accessed phpMyAdmin, select your WordPress database and click on Export. This will prompt you to download a SQL file that contains your WordPress database.

Step 6: Import WordPress Database

After downloading your WordPress database, the final step is to import it into your local server. To do this, you need to create a local database using a tool like MySQL Workbench. Once you have created your local database, open it and click on Import. Browse through your computer and select the SQL file that you downloaded from phpMyAdmin. This will import your WordPress database into your local server.

In conclusion, downloading a WordPress website without cPanel may seem like a daunting task. However, it is relatively easy if you follow these steps. Remember to make a backup of your website before you begin and ensure that you have obtained your FTP login credentials from your web hosting provider. With these requirements in hand, you can successfully download your WordPress website without cPanel.