How To Backup Your WordPress Site: A Comprehensive Guide

Backing up your WordPress site is one of the most important steps to protect your hard work. A backup ensures that if anything goes wrong, like a hacking attempt, accidental deletion, or technical failure, you can easily restore your website to its previous version without losing valuable data.

In this tutorial, you learn why regular backups are essential for your website’s security and the different types of backups you can create for your WordPress site. We also explore how to back up WordPress sites manually and automatically.

Furthermore, we’ll go through various tips on where to store your website backups safely. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to back up your WordPress site, so you never have to worry about losing your hard work again.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Backing up your WordPress site is important to keep your data safe from problems like hacking, crashes, or mistakes.
2. Regular backups should be scheduled based on how often you update your site, such as daily or weekly.
3. You can back up your site manually or use automatic backup plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup for convenience.
4. Full backups include your site’s files and database, ensuring complete protection.
5. Store your WordPress backups in multiple places, such as cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) and local storage, to avoid losing data.
6. Always test your backups by restoring them to make sure they work properly when needed.
7. Before making major changes, like updates or design changes, always create a fresh backup to avoid losing your progress.

Why Should You Backup WordPress Site?

Imagine you’ve spent hours or even years building your site, adding valuable content, and customizing it. If something were to go

Data Loss:

One of the most important reasons to back up your WordPress site is to protect your data. Websites can crash, and files can get corrupted – even a simple mistake can cause a loss of important data. By having a site backup, you can easily restore it, ensuring that none of your content is permanently lost.

Hacks & Malware:

Unfortunately, websites are often targets for hackers and malicious attacks. Even if you take precautions, your site could still be vulnerable to hacks or malware. If your site is compromised, having a backup means you can quickly restore it to a clean version, minimizing damage and downtime.

Updates & Plugin Conflicts:

Sometimes, installing a new update or plugin can cause unexpected problems on your WordPress site. Incompatible updates or plugins can break your site or cause it to behave oddly. Therefore, having a backup allows you to safely restore your site if anything unexpected occurs during or after an update or plugin installation.

Save Time & Stress:

Imagine rebuilding your entire website after losing all your data. It would take a lot of time and effort, and you might be unable to recreate everything perfectly. For that type of scenario, WordPress backup saves you from this headache. You can restore the backup and have your site running again quickly.

Easy Recovery from Human Error:

Sometimes, mistakes happen. You or someone on your team may accidentally delete an important file, page, or post. Without a backup, it would be challenging to recover what was lost. However, with regular website backups, you can undo these mistakes and restore your website quickly.

Introduction to WordPress Website Backups

A WordPress website backup means a copy of your site’s important data that you save to keep it secure. This backup includes your website’s files, like content, themes, plugins, and the database. A backup is essential because if anything bad happens to your site, you can use the backup to restore it.

However, restoration depends on what backup type you have. There are 2 main types of backups you can make for your WordPress website: full backup and partial backup.

Full Backup

A full backup is when you save everything on your website, including all files, the database, themes, plugins, images, and more. It’s like taking a complete snapshot of your website.  These backups are the safest option because they allow you to restore your entire site to how it was before.

Full backups can be done automatically using backup plugins and hosting provider platforms, and it’s a good idea to do them regularly to keep your site safe.

Partial Backup

A partial backup only saves specific parts of your website. This can be useful if you only want to back up certain files or if your website is large and you want to save time and storage space by backing up only the most important parts. Let’s look at the things you can back up in a partial backup:

Database-only Backup

A database-only backup focuses on just the information stored in your WordPress database. This includes your posts, pages, comments, and any settings you’ve configured in WordPress. It doesn’t back up your themes, plugins, or images.

This type of backup is useful if you’re making frequent changes to your content but not to your website’s design. For example, if you’re regularly adding blog posts or updating pages, a database-only backup ensures you won’t lose that data.

However, it won’t help if something goes wrong with your website’s files, such as a broken theme or plugin. Therefore, you can use this backup type when you’re only concerned about saving content like posts and pages.

File-only Backup

A file-only backup saves all the files on your website, such as your themes, plugins, and media files (images, videos, etc.). Remember: it doesn’t back up the database, so your posts and pages won’t be included in this type of backup.

File-only backups are helpful if you’ve recently installed new themes, updated plugins, or added a lot of media files. For example, if you customize your website’s design or install new features using plugins, a file-only backup ensures you won’t lose those changes.

However, if your website crashes and you only have a file backup, you could lose your content since the database wasn’t saved. This means that file-only backup is only useful to save your website’s design, structure, and functionality (themes, plugins), not your content (posts, pages).

Manual vs. Automatic Backup WordPress Site

As we mentioned at the start of this tutorial, when it comes to backing up the WordPress site, you have two main options: manual backups and automatic backups. Each method works differently, and choosing the right one depends on how much control and convenience you want.

A manual backup is when you back up your WordPress site by yourself. This means you manually save your website’s files and database using tools like phpMyAdmin (for the database) and an FTP client (for the files). While this gives you complete control

On the other hand, automatic backups are handled by plugins or your hosting provider. With automatic backups, everything is done for you. You can schedule regular backups without thinking about it. Plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup can automatically backup your entire site to cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look:

Pros & cons of Manual Backup

• You have full control. You decide exactly when and what to back up.
• You don’t rely on any third-party tools or plugins.
• Manual backups are free since you do it yourself without needing a premium service.
• To manually back up your site takes more effort and time, especially if you do it regularly.
• If you forget to back up or miss a step, you might lose important data.
• You need to understand how to access your database and files.

Pros & cons of Automatic Backup

• Backups happen automatically based on your schedule, so you don’t have to remember to do them.
• Once set up, automatic backups save you time and hassle.
• You’ll always have updated backups without worrying about missing one.
• Since everything is automated, you have less control over the process.
• Some plugins or hosting providers charge for premium backup features.
• You’re dependent on the plugin or service to work correctly.

In short, manual backup WordPress site methods give you more control but require time and effort, while automatic website backups are easier and save time, though they may involve extra costs. So, depending on your requirements, you can select the method that fits your workflow best. Some people even use both, doing a regular automatic backup and a manual one for major updates.

Now that you know what WordPress backup is, why you should do it, and what backup types and ways are available to backup WordPress sites, let’s explore what to be careful of before creating a website backup.

What to do Before Backup WordPress Site

Before you start backing up your WordPress site, there are a few important steps you should follow. These steps help ensure your backup process goes smoothly, and you capture everything you need. Let’s go over what you should do first.

Check Your Website for Updates

Before you backup WordPress site, it’s a good idea to check for any updates. WordPress, themes, and plugins often release updates to improve security and add new features. By updating everything before your backup, you ensure your backup will be up to date with the latest changes.

To update, go to your WordPress dashboard. Then, click on Updates and install any updates for WordPress, themes, and plugins. This way, your backup will include the latest versions of your website components. In our example, we have everything updated.

Clean up Unnecessary Files

Your website might have files or plugins you no longer use, like unused themes or old media files. If this is the case, cleaning up these unnecessary items before creating a backup is required; this helps keep your backup file smaller and more organized.

To remove extra themes, go to Appearance → Themes. Then,hover over the theme you want to delete and click on Theme Details.

A pop-up will appear; click Delete to remove this extra theme.

A prompt will appear requesting confirmation. Click OK to confirm.

You’ll have to repeat the process for each additional theme you don’t use. However, deleting unnecessary plugins is relatively easy and quick. Here’s how you can remove the plugin that you don’t use:

Go to WordPress dashboard → Plugins → Installed Plugins to see a list of all the WordPress plugins currently installed on your site. Remember, the plugin must first be deactivated. If it’s activated but you’re not using it, click the Deactivate button underneath it. If the plugin has already been deactivated, you can skip this step.

Once the plugin is deactivated, you will see a Delete option appear below the plugin’s name. Click on the Delete button. WordPress will ask for verification before permanently deleting the plugin. Confirm by clicking OK.

This way, you can delete unused plugins individually. However, if there are multiple plugins you want to delete, you can do the following:

Check the boxes next to the plugins you want to deactivate. However, to select all plugins at once, click the checkbox at the top of the plugins list. In the bulk actions dropdown menu (above the plugin list), select Deactivate. Then, click Apply to deactivate the multiple plugins.

After disabling the plugins, you can delete them by rechecking the boxes next to the deactivated plugins you want to delete. Then, in the bulk actions dropdown menu, select Delete. After that, click Apply to delete all selected plugins.

Once you remove additional plugins and themes, check the media library for unused images or videos and remove those. For this tutorial, we demonstrate how to remove images – you can follow the same process for videos.

To remove images, go to WordPress Dashboard → Media → Library. Select the media type and date. Then, click on the image and hit Delete permanently.

Remember: to delete images in bulk, click the Bulk select button.

It will allow you to select multiple media files. After that, click Delete permanently to delete them altogether.

This way, when you remove unnecessary themes, plugins, and media files, you can ensure your backup is clean and only includes the important files you need.

Check Your disk Space

Ensure you have enough disk space available to backup WordPress site. A full backup, which includes your database and files, can be large, especially if you have a lot of images or media. Running out of space can cause the backup process to fail. If you’re running low on space, consider removing old backups or upgrading your hosting plan to give yourself more room.

Disable Caching Plugins (If you use any)

If you have a caching plugin installed (like W3TotalCache or WPSuperCache), it’s a good idea to temporarily deactivate it before starting the backup. Caching plugins create temporary files to speed up your site, and these files can make your backup larger and more complicated. You can re-enable the plugin after the backup is complete.

Choose a Reliable Backup Method

Before you begin, decide whether to use a manual or automatic backup method. You can use plugins or remember how to backup WordPress site manually through FTP and phpMyAdmin. Make sure you know which method you will use so you’re prepared and follow the correct steps.

Once you decide on the approach, go through the steps in the corresponding section to create a backup of your WordPress website.

How to Backup WordPress Site Manually

Let’s learn 3 methods to backup WordPress site:

Use an FTP Client

A File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client is a tool used to manage the transfer of files between your computer and a remote server, such as your website’s server. There are multiple FTP client tools that you can choose from; however, for this tutorial, we use FileZilla. Let’s go through the steps to back up your site using FTP.

Important: To use an FTP client, you must download and install it on your computer.

Step 1: Connect to Your Website via FTP

Open FileZilla, and at the top, you’ll see boxes to enter your FTP details. Type in your FTP server address, username, password, and port number (you can find all these details on your web hosting account). Then, click Quickconnect to connect to your site.

Step 2: Find Your WordPress Files

Once connected, you’ll see your website’s files on the right side of the screen. The left side shows the files on your computer. Look for a folder named public_html. Inside this folder, you’ll see several other folders and files, including wp-content, wp-admin, wp-includes, and wp-config.php. These are the main files you need to back up. However, you can also choose others if you wish.

Step 3: Download Files to Your Computer

To backup WordPress site, you need to download all the WordPress files to your computer. To do that, select all the important folders (like wp-content, wp-admin, and wp-includes) and files (like wp-config.php). Then, right-click and choose Download; this will copy all the selected files from your website’s server to your computer.

Depending on the size of your website, this process may take some time. Make sure you save the backup in a folder where you can easily find it later.

Remember, FTP only backs up your WordPress files, not your database (which stores all your posts, pages, and comments). To fully back up your site, you’ll need to back up the database separately using phpMyAdmin in your hosting account. We’ve already covered it in detail here: How to Backup WordPress Site’s Database Using phpMyAdmin

Use Your Hosting Platform’s Hosting Tools

Backing up your WordPress site through your hosting provider is one of the easiest ways to keep your website safe. Many hosting providers offer built-in tools that let you quickly create backups without needing any extra plugins. Let’s walk through the steps so you can back up your site and protect your data.

Step 1: Log into Your Hosting Account

The first step is to log into your hosting provider’s dashboard. If you’re using popular hosts like Hosted.com, they often have a control panel, like cPanel, where you can manage everything related to your website, including backups.

Step 2: Find Backup Option

Once in the control panel, look for the section that says Backups, Backup Wizardor, or something similar. It’s usually easy to find, often under the Files section. Some hosts might have slightly different setups, but most will offer a simple backup tool in this area.

Step 3: Choose what to Backup

Many hosting providers let you choose between creating a full backup (which includes your database and files) or just a partial backup (such as the database only or specific files). For full protection, it’s a good idea to select the full backup option. This way, you’ll have a copy of everything on your website, including all your blog posts, pages, themes, and plugins.

Step 4: Start the Backup Process

Once you’ve chosen the type of backup you want, start the backup process. The backup tool will run, and depending on how large your website is, it could take a few minutes to complete. Some hosting providers will send you an email once the backup is finished.

Step 5: Download Your Backup

After the backup is complete, you’ll usually have the option to download it to your computer. This is important because it gives you a copy stored outside your hosting account, ensuring an extra layer of protection. Always save your backup in a safe place, like an external hard drive or cloud storage, to keep it secure.

However, if you’re a Hosted.com user, we’ve already covered how to create a full and partial backup of your WordPress website. You may refer to the step-by-step instructions here: How to Backup WordPress Site Using Hosted.com

Backup WordPress site Automatically

Web hosting providers offer automatic backups, and you may take advantage of this feature! You can set this up to back up your site daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on how often you update your site. This way, you won’t have to remember to do it manually every time.

Furthermore, you can use WordPress plugins (BackWPup, VaultPress, Jetpack Backup, or UpdraftPlus) to create backups for you automatically. For this tutorial, we use the UpdraftPlus plugin. However, you first need to install whatever plugin you choose. Here’s how you can set up automatic backups in UpdraftPlus:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard to install your plugin. Then, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin. Search for UpdraftPlus. Once you locate the plugin, click Install Now.

Once installed, click Activate. Now, the plugin is ready to use.

After activation, go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups. In the Settings tab, you can configure your backup schedule. Choose how often you want your files and database to be backed up. Daily, weekly, or monthly schedules are common choices. Then, scroll down to select your remote storage option. You can choose from cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.

Once you select your storage option, you can connect your account by following the prompts. For example, if you choose Google Drive, the plugin will ask you to log in to your Google account to link it.

Scroll the page down again, and you’ll see what files you want to include in the backup:

Once you choose, click Save Changes in the top-right to apply your modifications. Now, you’ve successfully set up UpdraftPlus for daily automatic backups.

Important: If you’re not using premium UpdraftPlus, your database backup won’t be encrypted.

Where to Store Your Backups

After creating a WordPress backup, the next important step is deciding where to store it. Storing backups in the right place ensures you can access them easily if something goes wrong with your site. Let’s look at two common storage options – cloud storage and local storage.

Cloud Storage Options

Using cloud storage to store your WordPress backups is one of the best options because it keeps your files safe and accessible from anywhere. Some popular cloud storage services include:

1. Google Drive
2. Dropbox
3. Amazon S3

These services allow you to store your backups online, so even if your computer or server fails, you won’t lose your backup.

Most WordPress backup plugins (like UpdraftPlus and BackWPup) make it easy to connect your website to these cloud storage services. After setting up the plugin, you can choose where to store your backup by selecting a cloud service.

For example, you can link your Google Drive account with UpdraftPlus and have your backups automatically saved. This way, you don’t have to worry about downloading and moving files manually.

Local Storage

Another option is local storage, which saves your backups directly to your computer or an external hard drive. This gives you immediate access to your files without needing the internet. It’s a simple and easy way to store backups, especially if you want quick access.

However, local storage also comes with some risks. If your computer/PC crashes or your external hard drive gets damaged, you could lose your backup. That’s why it’s important to have multiple copies of your backups, especially if you’re only using local storage.

When to Back Up Your WordPress Website

Backing up WordPress site is an important task that helps keep your data safe. But knowing when to back it up is just as important. Let’s consider when you should create a backup to ensure your site is always protected.

Frequency of Updates & Changes:

If you update your website often— add new posts, pages, or change settings—you should back up frequently. Websites that change regularly should have daily or weekly backups. If your website doesn’t change much, a monthly backup might be enough.

Website Activity:

If your website gets a lot of visitors or user activity, like comments or sales (for online stores), it’s smart to back up more often. This way, you’ll always have a fresh copy of your data if something goes wrong. The more active your site is, the more frequently you should back it up.

Content Publishing:

When you publish new content, like a blog post or an article, it’s a good idea to back up your site. This ensures that your latest work is saved and won’t be lost. Backing up after every new post or content update keeps your site current and safe.

Plugin & Theme Updates:

WordPress plugins and themes are regularly updated for new features or security fixes. Before installing any plugin or theme updates, create a backup. Sometimes, updates can cause conflicts or errors, so having a backup lets you restore your site if something breaks.

Major Design or Structural Changes:

If you wish to redesign your website or make major changes, always back it up first. Whether changing your theme, adding unique features, or adjusting your layout, a backup will give you peace of mind if something doesn’t go as planned.

Pre-Update Backups:

Before updating WordPress, it’s essential to back up your entire site. Major updates to the WordPress core can sometimes cause compatibility issues with plugins or themes. A pre-update backup ensures you can easily roll back your site if the update causes problems.

Remember, it’s crucial to not only back up your site but also to test the backups. Periodically, try restoring a backup to make sure it works properly. This way, if you need to restore your website, you’ll be confident the backup will function correctly.

Important:

At this point, you might wonder how often you should backup WordPress site. The answer depends on when you update or change your site. You should backup daily in case of frequent updates and modifications. However, for moderate updates, weekly backup might be enough. Also, for websites that don’t change much—maybe just a few updates per month—a monthly backup should be fine.

Common Backup Mistakes to Avoid

While creating backups is essential, there are some common mistakes people make that can lead to problems. Let’s explore what to avoid when backing up your WordPress site.

Not Backing Up Frequently Enough:

One of the biggest mistakes is not backing up your site often enough. If you only back up once a month but add new content weekly, you risk losing all your recent changes if something goes wrong. Make sure your backup frequency matches how often your site gets updated.

Store Backups Only on the Web Server:

Many people store their backups only on their website’s server – this can be risky. If your server crashes or gets hacked, you could lose your site and the backup. Always store your backups in multiple locations, such as on a cloud service or external hard drive, to ensure your data is safe.

Overlook Database or File Backups:

A complete backup should include your database and files. The database contains all your posts, pages, and settings, while the files hold your themes, plugins, and media. So, overlooking one part means your backup might not be complete, and restoring your site could be difficult. Always make sure you back up both!

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