---
title: "Manual or Linked wpDataTables Not Showing After Migration?"
description: "A complete guide to resolving file path and DB prefix issues for manual and linked tables."
url: https://help.wpdatatables.com/en/articles/31-manual-or-linked-wpdatatables-not-showing-after-migration
collection: "Technical issues"
updated: 2026-10-02
language: en
---

# Manual or Linked wpDataTables Not Showing After Migration?

A complete guide to resolving file path and DB prefix issues for manual and linked tables.

If you've migrated your site to a new domain or hosting environment and your wpDataTables tables show up empty or aren't working correctly, you're likely dealing with one of two common issues:

-   The **file path to your data source files** (Excel, CSV, etc.) has changed
    
-   The **database table prefix** is different on the new site
    

This guide will help you resolve both!

* * *

## 🗂 Scenario 1: Linked Tables (Excel, CSV) – File Path Changed After Migration

When you move your site to a new domain or hosting setup, the internal file system path to your uploaded files often changes. This can break tables that are **linked to Excel, CSV, or other file types**, because the plugin can't locate the file in the new path.

### ✅ How to Check and Fix It:

1.  **Create a new test table** on the new site, linked to any Excel or CSV file.
    
2.  Go to your database using **phpMyAdmin** (or another DB tool).
    
3.  Open the table:
    
    `your_prefix_wpdatatables`
    
    > Note: `your_prefix_` will vary — it might be `wp_`, `xyz_`, or something else depending on your site's DB prefix.
    
4.  In the `content` **column**, you’ll see the full server path to the newly uploaded file.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/helparticle/20250523152944_3418.png)
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/helparticle/20250523153004_3468.png)
    
    🔍 Example:
    
    -   New table path:  
        `/var/www/html/your_NEW_site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/file-one.xls`
        
    -   Old table path (from migration):  
        `/var/www/html/your_OLD_site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/file-two.xls`
        

5.  To update the old paths in bulk, run this SQL query:
    

```javascript
UPDATE your_prefix_wpdatatables SET content = REPLACE(content, '/var/www/html/your_OLD_site/', '/var/www/html/your_NEW_site/'); 
```

✅ This will update all references to the correct file path.

* * *

## 🧮 Scenario 2: Manual / SQL-Based Tables – DB Table Prefix Changed

If you're using **Manual or SQL-based tables**, another common issue after migration is that your **WordPress database table prefix** has changed (e.g., from `wp_` to `xyz_`).

wpDataTables stores these prefixes, so the plugin might still be trying to load tables like `wp_wpdatatable_1`, while your actual tables are now named `xyz_wpdatatable_1`.

### ✅ How to Fix It:

1.  Open your database via phpMyAdmin or your host’s DB tool.
    
2.  Run the following two queries on the `your_prefix_wpdatatables` table:
    

### Update stored table names

```javascript
UPDATE your_prefix_wpdatatables
SET mysql_table_name = REPLACE(mysql_table_name, 'wp_', 'NEW_PREFIX_');
```

* * *

### 2⃣ Update stored SQL content

```javascript
UPDATE your_prefix_wpdatatables
SET content = REPLACE(content, 'wp_', 'NEW_PREFIX_');
```

* * *

### 🔁 Replace:

-   `wp_` → your **old site’s database prefix**
    
-   `NEW_PREFIX_` → your **current site’s database prefix**
    

These two queries update all internal table references so wpDataTables can load data correctly again — for **both Manual and SQL-based tables**.

* * *

## 🛠 How to Check Your Current DB Prefix

If you're not sure what your current prefix is:

-   Open your `wp-config.php` file (in your site root folder).
    
-   Look for the line:
    
    ```javascript
    $table_prefix = 'xyz_'; 
    ```
    
-   That’s your current prefix (e.g., `xyz_`).
    

* * *

## 💬 Still Not Working?

If you've followed the above steps and your tables still aren't loading correctly:

➡ **Reach out to our Support Team via the chat box** in the bottom right corner of the site. We're happy to investigate further and help you get everything working smoothly.