How to change wordpress database table prefix

posted by Dina | Category: Wordpress Tutorial

Hello You! :) If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this blog or choose any categories you like to subscribe in sidebar.

← Previous Entry: Multiple blog posts in WordPress

Why do we want to change this wordpress database table name prefix?

It’s because when you installed WordPress by default, all of your database tables start with wp_. Hackers know it, so they can potentially do SQL injection, putting junk scripts into your database automatically. If you are a blogger who wants to secure your database, you are going to change wp table prefix.

So for example, replacing wp_ to lolol_. I know it is a silly prefix but i want to point out that you can only use letters and numbers, but not special characters such as period, coma, etc.

//Do Back up your database first, as it’s a little bit complicated (see my post about backup wordpress database in 2 minutes). The best way is you try it in your local wordpress installation. If you still don’t have it, you can check this post for mac user and this post for windows user.

It’s really a good idea to change the database prefix while you are installing wordpress, so you will have no hassle to change it later on. But if you already have it installed, we can do it manually.

There is also a plugin called wp prefix changer, i have tried it but it didn’t work, so i do change it manually. For some of you who had experience with this plugin and it works, feel free to leave a comment

Next Entry: How to add youtube to sidebar wordpress →

Was the post helpful? Share it to help others with:

Email Twitter Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Delicious Digg

9 comments

1 Tony { 05.17.10 at 2:47 pm }: Hey there great article.. How long would it take to change the tables on a site that has about 400 articles..

Can you email me please with the answer, thanks for your time

[Reply]
Dina Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Hey Tony, sure i can email you.

[Reply]
2 Tony { 05.17.10 at 6:16 pm }: hey its ok.. i did it.. thanks anyway

[Reply]
Dina Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 6:51 am
Awesome Tony! you are very welcome

[Reply]
3 Jack { 06.02.10 at 1:19 am }: The video worked perfectly, thank you !

[Reply]
Dina Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 am
Hello Jack,

You’re very welcome! So glad it works out, Matilda is sooooo pretty Good luck with new life. If you want to have a picture in your avatar, this video might help you too.

Have fun when family from Aussie comes

[Reply]
4 Jack { 06.02.10 at 1:50 am }: Ah an avatar, that sounds like a great idea. I’ll give it a go tomorrow. Thank you for the kind words!

And yes we look forward to their arrival

[Reply]
Dina Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:16 am
Yes, if you are into blogging community, and want to comment alot in any blogs, it would be much better showing your logo image or any images than default avatar I agree with you, take the time and you will be fine. Greetings!

[Reply]
5 Aspen { 09.06.10 at 5:04 am }: Thank you soo much. You are an excellent trainer

Gratitude
Aspen

[Reply]