SQLite to MySQL Migration for PHP Projects (Step-by-Step 2026)

Why teams start with SQLite

SQLite is perfect for early-stage PHP projects: it’s file-based, fast to set up, and works great for prototypes, internal tools, and MVPs. But as traffic and data grow, you may need MySQL for concurrency, remote access, backups, and better scaling.

When you should migrate to MySQL

Multiple admins/users writing data at the same time
Hosting environment requires a managed database
You need better indexing, reporting, and exports
Operational needs: backups, replication, monitoring

Step 1 — Freeze writes (avoid data drift)

Before migrating, temporarily pause write operations (or schedule a maintenance window). This prevents data mismatch between SQLite export and MySQL import.

Step 2 — Export SQLite schema and data

If you have CLI access:

sqlite3 data/app.db .schema > schema.sql
sqlite3 data/app.db .dump > dump.sql

If you do not have CLI, export via a small PHP script using PDO and generate INSERT statements.

Step 3 — Convert schema differences

SQLite is flexible with types, MySQL is stricter. Common conversions:

INTEGER PRIMARY KEY → INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY
TEXT → VARCHAR(255) or TEXT depending on usage
Date/time stored as TEXT → convert to DATETIME where possible

Step 4 — Create MySQL tables

Create a new database, then apply a cleaned schema. Make sure you also create indexes for frequently queried columns (user_id, created_at, status, etc.).

Step 5 — Import data safely

Import in this order:

Core lookup tables
Users
Transactions / logs

Always validate row counts before and after.

Step 6 — Update your PHP PDO connection

A clean approach is to abstract database connection to one file and switch via environment variables:

// config.php
return [
  'db_driver' => 'mysql',
  'db_host'   => 'localhost',
  'db_name'   => 'scoryon',
  'db_user'   => 'user',
  'db_pass'   => 'pass',
];

Step 7 — Validate critical flows

Login/auth
Write actions (create/update/delete)
Reports and exports
Admin adjustments and audit logs

Common migration mistakes

Forgetting indexes → slow dashboards
Different text collations (utf8mb4 recommended)
Datetime comparisons behave differently
Not validating row counts and totals

Final thoughts

SQLite-first is a smart strategy. A good migration plan keeps your system stable while you scale. If you want a clean migration with minimal downtime, build a repeatable export/import pipeline and validate with audit checks.

Need help migrating a real system? Explore Services or check Projects.

SQLite to MySQL Migration for PHP Projects (Step-by-Step 2026) | Scoryon Design