How to Back Up and Restore Your WordPress Website

Backing Up and Restoring WordPress

A backup is your insurance policy. Always have a recent backup before making major changes to your site.

What to Back Up

A complete WordPress backup includes:

• Files: All files in public_html (themes, plugins, uploads, wp-config.php)
• Database: All your posts, pages, settings, and user data

Method 1 — UpdraftPlus Plugin (Recommended)

Setting Up Automatic Backups:

1. Install and activate UpdraftPlus
2. Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups → Settings
3. Set schedule:

- Files: Weekly

- Database: Daily

1. Set remote storage (Google Drive is free):

- Click Google Drive → Authenticate with Google

- Authorise UpdraftPlus to access your Drive

1. Click Save Changes

Creating a Manual Backup:

1. Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups
2. Click Backup Now
3. Check both Include your database and Include your files
4. Click Backup Now

Restoring from a Backup:

1. Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups → Existing Backups
2. Find the backup you want to restore
3. Click Restore
4. Select components to restore (Database, Plugins, Themes, Uploads, Others)
5. Click Restore

Method 2 — cPanel Backup

Creating a Backup:

1. cPanel → Files → Backup
2. Click Download a Full Account Backup
3. Select Home Directory as destination
4. Click Generate Backup
5. Download the .tar.gz file when ready

Restoring from cPanel Backup:

1. cPanel → Files → Backup → Restore a Full Backup
2. Upload your backup file
3. Click Restore

Method 3 — Manual Backup via phpMyAdmin

Database backup:

1. cPanel → Databases → phpMyAdmin
2. Select your WordPress database
3. Click Export → Quick → Go
4. Save the .sql file

Files backup:

1. Connect via FTP
2. Download the entire public_html folder

Backup Best Practices

• Keep at least 3 copies of your backup (local, cloud, server)
• Test your backup by restoring to a staging environment
• Back up before every major update or plugin installation
• Store backups for at least 30 days