WordPress Backup: Step-by-Step Guide

This guide walks you through creating a complete backup of your WordPress site, including files and database. You’ll learn both manual methods (using your hosting control panel and an FTP client) and plugin-based methods. By the end, you’ll have a restore-ready backup stored safely offsite.

What You’ll Need

• Access to your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or similar)
• FTP client (like FileZilla) or your host’s file manager
• A backup plugin (optional but recommended, e.g., UpdraftPlus, BackWPup)
• An offsite storage location (Google Drive, Dropbox, or a separate server)

Step-by-Step

1. Log into your hosting control panel. This is usually at yourdomain.com/cpanel or provided by your host. If you’re unsure, check your host’s welcome email.
2. Open the Backup or Backup Wizard tool. In cPanel, look for “Backup” or “Backup Wizard” under the Files section. In Plesk, it’s under “Files” → “Backup Manager”.
3. Back up your home directory (files). Choose “Full Backup” or “Download a Full Account Backup” depending on your host. This includes your WordPress core files, themes, plugins, uploads, and other files. If the option is limited, select “Home Directory” backup.
4. Download the file backup to your computer. The backup will be a .tar.gz or .zip file. Save it to a folder on your local drive. Do not leave it only on the server.
5. Back up your database. In cPanel, go to “Backup Wizard” → “Backup” → “MySQL Databases”. Select the database associated with your WordPress site (you can find the name in your wp-config.php file). Click “Backup” and download the .sql file.
6. Alternatively, use phpMyAdmin. If your host doesn’t have a backup tool, open phpMyAdmin, select your database, click “Export”, choose “Quick” or “Custom” (custom lets you exclude tables), and click “Go” to download the .sql file.
7. Verify the downloaded files. Check that the backup files are not 0 KB and that the database file contains SQL statements (open it in a text editor and look for “CREATE TABLE”).
8. Store the backups offsite. Upload both files to Google Drive, Dropbox, or another server. If you’re using a backup plugin, you can schedule automatic offsite uploads.
9. If using a plugin, install and configure it. For example, with UpdraftPlus: install the plugin, go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups, click “Backup Now”, choose to include the database and files, and select a remote storage destination. Schedule regular backups (daily or weekly) and set retention to keep, say, 4 backups.

Common Mistakes

• Only backing up files, not the database. Your content, settings, and users live in the database. Without it, your backup is incomplete.
• Storing backups on the same server. If the server crashes, you lose everything. Always store offsite.
• Not testing the backup. A backup that can’t be restored is useless. Test by restoring to a staging site or a subdomain.
• Using an outdated backup. If you back up only once a month, you might lose recent posts or changes. Schedule regular backups.
• Forgetting to include the .htaccess and wp-config.php files. These contain critical settings. They are usually in the home directory, but ensure your backup includes hidden files.

Tips

• Automate with a plugin. Plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup can schedule backups and send them to cloud storage. This is the safest method.
• Use a child theme. If you modify your theme, a child theme ensures your changes aren’t lost during updates. Your backup still includes it, but this is a good practice.
• Keep multiple versions. Retain at least the last 3 backups. If a backup is corrupted, you have older ones.
• Document your backup process. Write down where your backups are stored and how to restore them. This helps in an emergency.
• Check your hosting plan’s backup features. Many hosts offer automatic backups, but they are not a substitute for your own.

Troubleshooting

• Backup file is too large. Some hosts limit download size. Use your file manager to compress folders individually, or use a plugin that splits backups into smaller parts.
• Database backup fails. If phpMyAdmin times out, try using the “Custom” export and select only some tables, or use a plugin like UpdraftPlus which handles large databases better.
• Can’t find the database name. Open wp-config.php in your site’s root folder (via FTP or file manager). Look for the line: define('DB_NAME', 'your_db_name');
• Backup plugin doesn’t connect to cloud storage. Double-check your API keys or authentication. Clear the plugin cache and retry.
• Restored site doesn’t work. This is often due to a mismatch in the site URL or file permissions. Check your wp-config.php for correct database credentials and ensure file permissions are set to 644 for files and 755 for directories.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I back up my WordPress site?

At least once a week, but if you publish daily, consider daily backups. Use a plugin to automate this.

Can I back up only the database?

Yes, but that only preserves your content and settings, not your themes, plugins, or uploaded images. For a full restore, you need both.

What’s the difference between a full backup and a partial backup?

A full backup includes all files and the database. A partial backup might include only the database or only certain folders. Full backups are safer.

Do I need to pause my site during backup?

No, but for consistency, it’s recommended to take a backup during low-traffic times. Some plugins can skip this step.

How do I restore a backup?

If you have a full backup, you can restore via your hosting control panel (upload the files and import the database) or use a plugin’s restore feature. Always test on a staging site first.

Is it safe to store backups on Google Drive?

Yes, as long as you use a secure connection and enable two-factor authentication on your Google account. Encrypt the backup if possible.

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