Imagine losing all your website content overnight—years of hard work gone in seconds. It’s a nightmare no WordPress site owner wants to face. That’s why knowing how to back up your WordPress site is essential, whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or hobbyist.
In this article, we’ll walk you through simple, effective ways to protect your site. You’ll learn practical steps, helpful tips, and insights to make regular backups easy and stress-free.
How to Back Up Your WordPress Site: Complete Guide for Beginners
Backing up your WordPress site is essential to keep your hard work, content, and customer data safe. A good backup protects you against accidental mistakes, security threats, failed updates, or even hosting issues. In this guide, you’ll discover easy-to-follow methods for backing up your WordPress site, including manual and automatic options, practical tips, and clear answers to common questions.
Why You Need to Back Up Your WordPress Site
Imagine waking up to find your website hacked or mistakenly deleted. Without a backup, your content, images, and configurations could be gone forever. Backups act like safety nets, ensuring you can restore your site to its previous state quickly and easily.
Key Benefits:
– Disaster Recovery: Restore quickly after hacking, malware, or accidental changes.
– Peace of Mind: Know your data is safe—no matter what happens.
– Experiment Freely: Try new plugins, themes, or updates knowing you can undo changes.
What to Include in a WordPress Backup
A complete WordPress backup should have two main parts:
-
Website Files
These include themes, plugins, images, and code that make your site run and look the way it does. -
Database
This stores your posts, pages, comments, settings, and user data—the heart of your content.
It’s important to back up both to ensure a complete restoration if needed.
Backup Methods: Manual vs. Plugin-Based
There are two major ways to back up your WordPress site:
1. Manual Backups
Manual backups give you full control, but they require more technical knowledge and time.
How to Back Up Manually
A. Back Up Website Files
- Use FTP/SFTP:
- Download and install an FTP client (like FileZilla).
- Connect to your web server using your FTP credentials.
- Locate your WordPress folder (often named
public_html
or after your site). - Select all files and download them to your computer.
B. Back Up the Database
- Access phpMyAdmin:
- Log in to your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.).
- Find and open phpMyAdmin.
- Select your site’s database.
- Click “Export” and choose “Quick” export method.
- Download the
.sql
file.
Pros and Cons:
- Pros:
- Full control over the process.
-
No need for extra plugins.
-
Cons:
- Time-consuming, especially for frequent backups.
- Higher risk of mistakes for beginners.
- Requires access to hosting tools.
2. Plugin-Based Backups (Recommended for Most Users)
Plugins offer the easiest, fastest, and most foolproof way to back up WordPress, even for beginners. They automate the process, require minimal technical skill, and often include scheduling and offsite storage.
Popular WordPress Backup Plugins
- UpdraftPlus: User-friendly, widely used, free option with paid upgrades.
- Jetpack: Offers real-time automated backups along with security features.
- BlogVault: Premium service with daily backups and easy site restoration.
- BackWPup: Good free alternative for scheduled backups.
- Duplicator: Well-known for creating complete site copies and backups.
How to Back Up Using a Plugin
- Install and Activate Your Chosen Plugin:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Visit Plugins > Add New.
-
Search for your preferred plugin and click Install, then Activate.
-
Configure Your Backup Settings:
- Set backup frequency (daily, weekly, or as needed).
- Choose what to back up (files, database, or both).
-
Select where your backups will be stored (cloud, email, local storage, etc.).
-
Run Your First Backup:
- Start a manual backup to ensure everything works.
- Schedule future automatic backups if your plugin supports it.
- Test Restores Regularly:
- Use the plugin’s restore feature to make sure backups work.
Pros and Cons:
- Pros:
- Easy to set up and use.
- Automation saves time and reduces risk of forgetting.
-
Offsite storage integration (Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, etc.) for extra safety.
-
Cons:
- Some features may be premium (paid).
- Can sometimes conflict with other plugins if not maintained.
- Relies on WordPress functioning correctly (if your site breaks, some plugins may not run).
Where to Store Your Backups
Keeping backups just on your hosting provider’s server isn’t enough. For maximum security:
- Download Copies: Save backups to your local computer or an external drive.
- Cloud Storage: Use Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, or other secure cloud accounts.
- Email: Some plugins send backups to your email—use this as a secondary option.
- Remote Server: Store backups on another hosting provider or remote server.
- Multiple Locations: The rule of thumb—never keep all your eggs in one basket!
Best Practices for WordPress Backups
Follow these practical tips to keep your backups reliable and useful:
1. Backup Regularly
- Active sites: Daily or weekly backups recommended.
- Smaller/static sites: Weekly or monthly may be enough.
2. Automate Where Possible
- Use plugins to automate backups, so you never forget.
3. Test Your Backups
- Occasionally restore a backup to a test site.
- Make sure files and database restore correctly.
4. Keep Multiple Backup Versions
- Retain several previous backups. If your most recent is faulty, an older version can save the day.
5. Protect Your Backups
- Secure offline and cloud backup locations.
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for storage accounts.
6. Before Major Changes
- Always back up before updating WordPress core, plugins, themes, or making big site changes.
7. Don’t Rely Solely on Hosting Backups
- Some web hosts make daily backups, but always keep independent backups just in case.
Dealing with Common Backup Challenges
Storage Space Limits
- Backups can eat up disk space. Clean up old backups regularly, especially in limited-space environments.
Backup Integrity
- Corrupted or incomplete backups won’t restore. Ensure your backup process completes without errors each time.
Large Sites
- Large sites may exceed free plan limits in plugins or take longer to back up. Consider premium solutions for bigger websites and incremental backups (backing up only changes after the first full backup).
Security
- Store backups in encrypted drives or password-protected locations to stop unauthorized access.
Cost Tips for WordPress Backups
Backing up your site doesn’t have to break the bank:
- Free Plugin Options: Many reliable backup plugins have robust free versions.
- Premium Features: Paid plugins offer scheduling, cloud storage, incremental backups, and site migration—evaluate your need before buying.
- Cloud Storage Costs: Third-party storage services may charge for space if you exceed their free tiers.
- Manual Method: Completely free, but time-consuming and technical.
- Watch Out for Hidden Hosting Fees: Some hosts charge for backup restoration or don’t keep recent copies.
Pro Tip: For business or high-traffic sites, investing in a premium backup solution is worth the peace of mind.
Step-by-Step: Backing Up with a Plugin
Here’s a simple workflow using an example backup plugin, such as UpdraftPlus:
- Install and Activate the Plugin from Your WordPress Dashboard.
- Open the Plugin Settings Panel.
- Choose What to Back Up (Files, Database, or Both).
- Pick a Storage Location (local, cloud, email, etc.).
- Set a Backup Schedule (daily, weekly).
- Run Your First Backup.
- Download and Safely Store a Copy Offsite.
- Test Restore Option on a Staging Site.
Most backup plugins work similarly—always follow the instructions provided by your chosen tool.
Summary
Backing up your WordPress site is a must, not an option. Whether you choose to back up manually for full control, or use a plugin for convenience, what’s most important is doing it regularly and storing your backups in more than one safe location. Automate the process where possible, test your backups, and protect your files. Remember—data loss can happen to anyone. With a strong backup habit, you’ll be ready for anything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should I back up my WordPress site?
Ideally, back up your site daily if you update content or receive customer orders frequently. For smaller or static sites, a weekly backup may suffice.
Can I restore my WordPress site from a backup if I get hacked?
Yes! Backups let you easily restore your entire site, including cleaned files and database, after a hack or malware infection. Make sure the backup was made before the hack.
Where should I store my backups to keep them safe?
Always keep backups in multiple places: a local computer, secure cloud storage (like Dropbox or Google Drive), and never only on your web host.
Do hosting providers provide reliable backups?
Some web hosts offer regular backups, but you shouldn’t rely on them alone. Always maintain your own independent backups to avoid surprises.
Are free backup plugins safe to use?
Well-known free backup plugins are generally safe, but always download from trusted sources in the official WordPress Plugin Directory. Read reviews and keep plugins updated for the best security.
Taking regular backups is a small investment of time or money that pays off big when disaster strikes. Make backing up your WordPress site part of your routine, and you’ll never have to fear losing your hard work.