Why You Should Backup Your WordPress Site You create a backup of your WordPress site, so you have a safety net in case of data loss, hacking attempts, or accidental file deletions. It’s like the ultimate insurance policy for your website’s security and stability. Whether you run a small blog or a large e-commerce store, backups are non-negotiable.
How to Backup Your WordPress Site
1. Manual Backup
A manual backup refers to downloading your website files and database manually.
Below are the steps to back up website files.
How to Backup Website Files
1. Access Your Hosting Control Panel: Log into your web hosting account and locate the file manager or FTP client, say FileZilla.
2. Navigate to Your Root Directory: This is usually named public_html or www.
3. Download All Files: Click on select all files and compress them to a zip file. Download the compressed file on your local system.
Steps to Backup Database
1. Log into phpMyAdmin: Usually, this can be found on your hosting control panel.
2. Your Database: Click on the database which is linked with your WordPress website.
3. Export Your Database: To download your database in SQL format click on the “Export” tab
2. With Backup Plugins
Plugins make it easy to back up and also offer more features like scheduled backups and cloud storage.
Steps for UpdraftPlus Backup
1. Install the Plugin: On your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New > Search for “UpdraftPlus”
2. Activate and configure: Setup your cloud storage options, i.e., Google Drive, Dropbox etc., and define the schedule in which you would like backups. 3. Run Backup: Click “Backup now” and select which files and/or database you wish to include
3. Hosting Provider Backup
Services Most providers have automatic backup services, which go hand-in-hand with hosting a site.
These include SiteGround, Bluehost, and WP Engine. Go through the options within your hosting account to ensure backup is enabled on a schedule.
How to Restore Your WordPress
Site Restore from Manual Backup Restore Website Files
1. Go to your hosting control panel or FTP client: Move to the root directory
2. Upload your backup files: Overwrite all files on your site with your previously
downloaded backup Restore Database
1. Login to phpMyAdmin: Get the database attached to your site
2. Import your backup: On the “Import” tab upload your SQL file
Restore using a Backup Plugin Restoration has been made so easy using plugins like pUdraftPlus:
1. Go to Plugin Settings: UpdraftPlus > Existing Backups.
2. Upload Your Local Backup File: If located on your local computer, upload it to the plugin.
3. Restore From Your Backup: Choose what you want to restore (your database, plugins, themes, etc.), then confirm.
Restoring from Hosting Provider
1. Access Your Hosting Control Panel: Locate the control panel’s backup section.
2. Choose the Restore: Select the date of your backup and click “Restore”.
4. Check that your site is restored to its former state.
Best Practices for WordPress Backups
1. Schedule Regular Backups: Perform daily, weekly, or monthly backups depending on your site’s activity.
2. Use Multiple Backup Locations: Store backups in at least two locations, such as local storage and the cloud.
3. Test Your Backups: Regularly verify that your backups are functional by performing test restorations.
5. Keep Backups for Extended Periods
Common Issues and How to Resolve Them Backup Fails to Complete
• Increase your hosting settings or plugin configurations file size limits.
• Optimize Your Database: Use a plugin like WP-Optimize to clean up unnecessary data. Restoration Results in a Broken Site
• Clear Cache: Purge your browser and server cache.
• Disable Plugins: Deactivate all plugins temporarily to rule out conflicts.
Conclusion
Backing up and restoring a WordPress site is one of the most critical tasks, which can maintain its integrity and security. By reading through the step-by-step methods described in this tutorial, you will be better prepared to prevent unexpected accidents and ensure speedy recovery.
