### [How to Save WordPress Form Data to a Database (Easy Guide)](https://wpforms.com/how-to-save-your-contact-form-data-in-wordpress-database/)

**Published:** September 13, 2021
**Author:** Hamza Shahid

**Excerpt:** When someone fills out a form on your WordPress site, where does that data actually go? If you're using the right form plugin, the answer is: straight into your WordPress database, automatically.

With WPForms, every form submission is stored in your site's database the moment a visitor hits submit. You don't need to configure anything extra. 

From there, you can view entries, search and filter them, export to CSV or Excel, sync with Google Sheets, and even generate PDFs.

In this guide, I'll show you exactly where your WordPress form data lives, how to access it, how to manage your entries from the dashboard, and what you can do with all that stored data.

**Content:**

When someone fills out a form on your WordPress site, where does that data actually go? If you’re using the right form plugin, the answer is: straight into your WordPress database, automatically.

With WPForms, every form submission is stored in your site’s database the moment a visitor hits submit. You don’t need to configure anything extra.

From there, you can view entries, search and filter them, export to CSV or Excel, sync with Google Sheets, and even generate PDFs.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly where your WordPress form data lives, how to access it, how to manage your entries from the dashboard, and what you can do with all that stored data.

[Build Your WordPress Form Now](https://wpforms.com/pricing/)

## How to Save Form Data in WordPress Database

As you’ll learn below, you should be able to access and view your WordPress database even if you don’t have a technical background. Let’s start with where the data actually lives, then move into how you access and manage it.

- [Where Is the WordPress Database Stored?](#where-is-the-wordpress-database-stored)
- [How Do I Access My WordPress Database?](#how-do-i-access-my-wordpress-database)
- [How to Manage Form Entries in WordPress](#how-to-manage-form-entries-in-wordpress)
- [Viewing Payments in WPForms](#viewing-payments-in-wpforms)
- [What to Do With Your Stored Form Data](#what-to-do-with-your-stored-form-data)
- [Bonus: Keeping Your Stored Form Data GDPR Compliant](#keeping-your-stored-form-data-gdpr-compliant)

### Where Is the WordPress Database Stored?

Even though you might not see it on the frontend, WordPress automatically creates a database for you when it’s first installed.

The name, host, username, and password data are stored in the configuration file called [wp-config.php](https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-edit-wp-config-php-file-in-wordpress/) under MySQL database settings.

[WPForms](https://wpforms.com/pricing/) stores all submitted form data in 6 tables in your native WordPress database:

- **wp\_wpforms\_entries**: The field values from your form submissions are stored here.
- **wp\_wpforms\_entry\_meta**: Meta information about your entries like associated IDs and dates.
- **wp\_wpforms\_entry\_fields**: Encoded entry information from your forms.
- **wp\_wpforms\_tasks\_meta**: Information about background tasks processed by WPForms.
- **wp\_wpforms\_payments**: Payment details including status, amount, any [discounts applied](https://wpforms.com/coupon-code-field/), currency, gateway, and transaction ID.
- **wp\_wpforms\_payment\_meta**: Additional payment information such as the customer’s IP address and other internal data.

Note that the `wp_` prefix is the default. The actual prefix is set in your `wp-config.php` file, so it may look slightly different on your site.

Most [WordPress hosting providers](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wordpress-hosting/) include **phpMyAdmin**, a web-based database management tool that lets you browse and manage your database entries through a visual interface.

If you’re using [Bluehost](https://wpforms.com/refer/bluehost/), you can find phpMyAdmin by scrolling to the bottom of your dashboard under **Helpful Links » Advanced » phpMyAdmin**.

[![how to access wordpress database](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/how-to-access-wordpress-database.jpg)](https://wpforms.com/refer/bluehost/)

### How Do I Access My WordPress Database?

To view your form entries directly in the database using phpMyAdmin, select your WordPress database and click on the **wp\_wpforms\_entries** table.

![Opening the wp_wpforms_entries table in phpMyAdmin](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wp-wpforms-entries-table.png)You’ll find all your form entries in the **fields** column. You can browse, search, and create tables from here. For more details, check out this [beginner’s guide to WordPress database management with phpMyAdmin](http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-wordpress-database-management-with-phpmyadmin/).

![fields column-wordpress database](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/fields-column-wordpress-database.jpg)That said, most people don’t need to touch phpMyAdmin at all. WPForms gives you a much easier way to manage everything from your WordPress dashboard, which is what we’ll cover next.

### How to Manage Form Entries in WordPress

**Important**

WPForms Lite sends form submissions via email. To save entries to the database and manage them from your dashboard, you need WPForms Basic ([$49.50/year](https://wpforms.com/pricing/ "$49.50/year")) or higher.

Not sure which version you need? Check out this guide to learn about [WPForms Lite vs Pro](https://wpforms.com/wpforms-lite-vs-pro/ "WPForms Lite vs Pro").

If you’re wondering [where does WPForms data go?](https://wpforms.com/where-does-wpforms-data-go/) —it goes right into your WordPress dashboard under **WPForms » Entries**. You don’t have to dig through phpMyAdmin or database tables.

[![The WPForms homepage](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/WPForms-Website.png)](https://wpforms.com/pricing/)Let’s walk through how to view and manage your entries. First, you’ll need a form. If you don’t have one yet, check out our guide on [how to create a simple contact form](https://wpforms.com/how-to-create-a-contact-form-in-wordpress/). You can build one from scratch or pick from [2,100+ templates](https://wpforms.com/templates/).

![search templates](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/search-templates-1024x543.png)Before moving on, make sure entry storage is enabled. Go to your form builder and click **Settings » General**. Under the **Advanced** section, confirm that **Disable entry storing information in WordPress** is turned off.

![Disable entry storage](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Disable-storing-entry-information-in-WordPress-1024x457.png)After [publishing your form](https://wpforms.com/how-to-add-wpforms-to-a-page-in-wordpress/), submit a test entry so you have data to work with. Then navigate to **WPForms » Entries** in your dashboard.

![View SendFox WordPress form entries in WPForms](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/wpforms-entries.png)From here, you can favorite entries, mark them as read, or delete the ones you don’t need. You can even classify specific entries as spam.

![wpforms entries preview](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wpforms-entries-preview-1024x456.png)You can also search and filter your entries. Use the broad **Any form field** search, or set conditions across specific fields to find a particular submission.

![wpforms entries search option](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wpforms-entries-search-option-1024x354.png)If you want, you can also filter form entries by date, which is really useful when you want to trace entries that probably got lost among others.

![wpforms filter entries by date](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wpforms-filter-entries-by-date-1024x434.png)To open the individual entry page for a particular submission, open the Form Entries page and click **View** next to the entry you’d like to look at in more detail.

![click to view individual entry](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/click-to-view-individual-entry-1024x512.png)From an individual entry page, you can see a ton of information, including the user’s field input and selections, the date of submission, and user details, if applicable.

![](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/single-entry-screen-1024x752.png)### Viewing Payments in WPForms

If you’re collecting payments through your forms, you can [accept credit card payments with the free version](https://wpforms.com/how-to-accept-credit-card-payments-online-for-free/) or with WPForms Pro.

Payment details are stored in the WordPress database regardless of which version you use. Access your payment data on the **Payments** screen in the WPForms settings area.

![WPForms payments settings](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wpforms-payments-settings.png)Here, you’ll find a list of all the payments made on your site with their details and the specific form used to make them.

At the top of the Payments page, you’ll immediately see a visual representation of your payment information through a graph. This graph provides an overview of your payment data.

![Payments screen for online order form](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/payments-page-overview.gif)If you’re a [WPForms Pro](https://wpforms.com/pricing/) user, you can also [add coupon codes to your forms](https://wpforms.com/coupon-code-field/). Coupon details show up in the Payments area alongside your revenue and transactions.

### What to Do With Your Stored Form Data

Once your form entries are saved in the database, WPForms gives you several ways to put that data to work beyond just viewing it in the dashboard.

#### **Export to CSV or Excel**

You can export entries directly from the Entries screen as a CSV or XLSX file. This is useful for offline analysis, sharing data with your team, or importing into other tools. See our guides on [exporting form entries to CSV](https://wpforms.com/how-to-export-wordpress-form-entries-to-csv/) and [exporting to Excel](https://wpforms.com/how-to-export-wordpress-form-entries-to-excel/) for the full walkthrough.

![export entries](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/export-tools-1024x540.png)#### Send Entries to Google Sheets Automatically

With the [Google Sheets addon](https://wpforms.com/features/google-sheets-addon/) (requires a Pro license), every new form submission syncs to a Google spreadsheet in real time. No manual exports needed. This is useful if your team already works in Google Workspace and wants live access to form data.

![access google sheet data](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/click-link-to-access-google-sheet-1024x623.png)#### Generate PDFs from Entries

The [PDF addon](https://wpforms.com/features/pdf-addon/) (requires a Pro license) lets you auto-generate styled PDF documents from form submissions. You can use this for contracts, receipts, applications, or any scenario where you need a formatted document from form data. You can also [save form submissions as PDF files](https://wpforms.com/how-to-print-your-wordpress-form-submissions-to-pdf/) and send them as email attachments.

![PDF financial template](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PDF-financial-template-1024x554.png)#### Automate Entry Management

The [Entry Automation addon](https://wpforms.com/features/entry-automation-addon/) (requires an Elite license) lets you schedule automatic entry exports, deletions, and notifications. For example, you could [automate your entry exports](https://wpforms.com/how-to-automate-your-wpforms-entry-export/) to run every Monday morning, or auto-delete entries older than 90 days to keep your database clean.

![add new task](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/add-new-task-1024x531.png)#### Connect to 10,000+ apps

With the [Zapier addon](https://wpforms.com/features/zapier-addon/) or [Make addon](https://wpforms.com/features/make-addon/) (requires a Pro license), you can send form data to virtually any external tool: CRMs, project management apps, email platforms, spreadsheets, and more.

![wpforms integrations](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/wpf_integrations-1024x495.png)### Bonus: Keeping Your Stored Form Data GDPR Compliant

If you’re collecting personal information from visitors in the EU, GDPR compliance is a requirement. The good news is that WPForms stores all entry data on your own server.

Your data never passes through WPForms’ servers, and they have zero access to your entries. That’s 100% data privacy by default.

Beyond that, WPForms includes built-in GDPR tools across all license tiers. Here’s what you can do: **Enable GDPR Enhancements.**

Go to **WPForms » Settings » General** and toggle on **GDPR Enhancements**. This unlocks additional privacy controls:

- **Disable User Cookies:** Stops WPForms from assigning a UUID cookie to visitors. (This also disables Related Entries, Geolocation, and Form Abandonment features.)
- **Disable User Details:** Prevents collection of IP addresses and user agent data. You can apply this site-wide or on a per-form basis under **Settings » General » Advanced** in the form builder.

#### Add a GDPR Agreement field

When GDPR Enhancements are enabled, a dedicated **GDPR Agreement** checkbox becomes available in the form builder. This field is always required, has no default checked state, and provides the explicit consent that GDPR requires before collecting personal data.

For a detailed walkthrough, see the full guide on [creating GDPR-compliant forms](https://wpforms.com/docs/how-to-create-gdpr-compliant-forms/) in the WPForms documentation. And if your forms handle sensitive data, consult with legal counsel to make sure your setup meets your specific compliance obligations.

**A Note on Email Notifications**

If you’re seeing entries saved in your dashboard but not receiving email notifications about new submissions, that’s an email delivery issue, not a database problem. See our guide on [how to fix WordPress contact form email issues](https://wpforms.com/how-to-fix-wordpress-contact-form-not-sending-email-issue/) for the full solution.

### FAQs About Saving WordPress Form Data to a Database

Here are answers to common questions about WordPress form data storage.

#### Does WPForms Lite save form entries to the database?

No. WPForms Lite sends submissions via email only. It does not store entries in your WordPress database or dashboard. To save entries to the database, you need WPForms Basic ($49.50/year) or higher. See our guide on [how to see entries for free in WPForms](https://wpforms.com/how-do-i-see-entries-for-free-in-wpforms/) for alternatives.

#### Where does WPForms data go?

WPForms stores all form data in 6 tables in your native WordPress database (wp\_wpforms\_entries, wp\_wpforms\_entry\_meta, wp\_wpforms\_entry\_fields, wp\_wpforms\_tasks\_meta, wp\_wpforms\_payments, and wp\_wpforms\_payment\_meta). You can access entries from **WPForms » Entries** in your dashboard, or view the raw data through phpMyAdmin. Your data stays on your server and is never sent to WPForms’ servers.

#### Can I export WordPress form entries?

Yes. WPForms lets you export entries as CSV or XLSX files directly from the Entries screen. With the Pro plan, you can also auto-sync entries to Google Sheets in real time, generate PDFs, or connect to external tools via Zapier or Make.

## Next, Export and Save Your Form Entries

Now you know exactly where your WordPress form data is stored, how to manage it from your dashboard, and how to put it to work with exports, integrations, and automation.

If you want to take the next step, check out our guides on [how to export WordPress form entries to CSV](https://wpforms.com/how-to-export-wordpress-form-entries-to-csv/) and [how to save form submissions as PDF files](https://wpforms.com/how-to-print-your-wordpress-form-submissions-to-pdf/).

[Build Your WordPress Form Now](https://wpforms.com/pricing/)

Ready to build your form? Get started today with the easiest WordPress form builder plugin. [WPForms Pro](https://wpforms.com/pricing) includes lots of free templates and offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.

If this article helped you out, please follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/wpforms) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/easywpforms) for more free WordPress tutorials and guides.

**Categories:** WordPress Tutorials

**Tags:** entry management, form entries, form notification

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