How Do I Back Up My WordPress Website?

Key Highlights 

• Backing up your WordPress site ensures quick restoration even if files are lost or deleted. 

• Regular WordPress backups preserve valuable content, customizations and configurations. 

• A WordPress backup is a snapshot of your website’s files, plugins and database. 

• WordPress database backups are essential, especially for WooCommerce sites, to protect critical data. 

• Full WordPress backups will include all files and data, offering complete restoration of your site. 

• Full backups provide fast recovery and simplified storage management for your website. 

Introduction 

Imagine waking up to discover that your WordPress website—the backbone of your online business or the archive of years of personal blogging—has vanished overnight. Despite advances in web hosting reliability, such crashes still happen and in the worst cases, your site’s files could be lost forever. 

But there’s a simple way to prevent this digital nightmare: backups. 

Want to ensure your website stays safe and recoverable? Keep reading to learn how to protect your WordPress site from disaster! 

What is a WordPress website backup? 

A WordPress website backup is a copy of the files needed for your website. This includes the core files for WordPress, any plugins or additions you made to the site and a copy of the database that it uses to store information. In essence, it is a snapshot of your entire website, that you can use to restore it if something happens to the files on the server. 

WordPress database backups are critical, especially if you have an online store on WooCommerce. WordPress stores all its data (posts, page content, pictures, user accounts, etc.) in a central database. If this database is changed in the wrong way or deleted, your website will break. If you have a backup of your site, you can restore the damaged parts or replace everything to get your site back online right away. 

Full backup vs. partial backup 

There are two main types of WordPress website backups, a full site WordPress backup and a partial WordPress backup. 

Full backups 

Full WordPress backups include all the files and data associated with your site, such as themes, plugins, media uploads and the database. A full WordPress backup allows for a complete restoration of the entire site. 

Advantages: 

• Rapid restoration: Full WordPress backup provides fast restoration to ensure efficient recovery. 

• Simplified storage: All the data is stored on a single version for easy storage management. 

• Hassle-free version control: Enables seamless maintenance and restoration of various versions. 

• Effortless file search: Facilitates easy and convenient searches for WordPress files. 

Disadvantages: 

• High storage demand: Requires significant storage space compared to other methods. 

• Lengthy backup times: Backup processes can be time-consuming depending on the size of WordPress files. 

• Elevated cost: Additional storage needs contribute to higher expenses, making it costlier. 

• Increased data loss risk: Concentrated data storage raises the vulnerability to data loss. 

Partial backups 

Partially backing up a WordPress site focuses on specific elements of your WordPress site. This can involve backing up only the database, which contains essential website data like posts, pages, comments and settings. Alternatively, you can choose to back up only the files, which include themes, plugins and media uploads. Partial WordPress backup is useful when you want to restore specific components of your site without affecting the rest. 

Advantages: 

1. Optimized storage usage: Files aren’t duplicated entirely, leading to efficient storage consumption. 

2. Swift backups: The backup process is exceptionally fast. 

3. Flexible recovery points: Frequent incremental backups create distinct recovery points. 

Disadvantages: 

• Lengthy restoration: Data restoration takes time due to assembling from various backups. 

• Dependency on backup files: Successful recovery relies on the integrity of all backup files. 

• Complex file search: Restoring specific files requires searching through multiple backup sets. 

Why should you always back up your WordPress site? 

Having a WordPress backup file for your website lets you quickly restore your website to full functionality, even if all of the files are removed from the server. You should always have a copy so you can restore it yourself and ensure that you can start your website again.  

Regular website backups also ensure the ability to restore a website to a previous state, preserving valuable content, customizations and configurations, providing peace of mind and minimizing downtime in case of emergencies. 

Before you start making your WordPress backup  

Before you begin to back up a WordPress website, decide which method works best for you. Check with your host to see if there is an existing file for backup and if you can download it. Also, you need a place to store the backup file so that you can download it straight to your computer.  

However, businesses may want to have an external hard drive to save backup files. You also want to keep at least the three most recent copies of the backup, so that you have multiple options for restoring your website. 

How to back up your WordPress website: Essential methods 

Let’s explore the essential methods to back up your WordPress site efficiently. 

Manual WordPress backup 

Remember, this is a process for people who have some experience working on website backends. Performing a manual database backup is not for everyone. If you are unsure of any of these steps, stop and ask your web hosting provider for help. 

Use your hosting platform’s backup tools 

This is not the WordPress site that your website sits on, but the administrative system that your web host has. After logging in, locate the backup tools section among the available tools. 

If your host has a backup tool, you can use it to download the latest backup file. If you don’t see one, then look for a program like PHPMyAdmin and MySQL. Usually, they will have the words “PHP” or “SQL” in the title. Open each one separately and download the files there. 

By following these steps, you can manually perform a backup of your WordPress website’s database and files using the hosting platform’s tools. 

Use an FTP manager 

Alternatively, you can use FTP manager to access the website files you need. FileZilla is a common option for this. You will need the FTP information for your site, which is on the hosting platform.  

Once you can give FileZilla FTP access to your WordPress site, download everything that is in the main file for your site files and web host. Make sure you don’t delete anything. 

Some plugins can back up WordPress regularly 

If you are going to use a plugin, then use the WordPress backup plugin installer in WordPress on the plugins tab. It will take you to the plugin store, where you can search for and download the plugin. Much of the process is automatic, so it will be quick and easy.  

Once you have the WordPress backup plugin installed, activate it and follow the instructions from the manufacturer. It will usually be as simple as pushing the backup button in the plugin’s interface. 

The following plugins can be used for automatic backups: 

• CodeGuard – This is the fastest and most reliable website backup service. It tracks all of your changes daily. Plus, it scales to meet your business and your client’s business needs! 

• Jetpack – It saves every change you make to your site and allows you to quickly restore your site from their VaultPress backup. It’s quick and easy! 

• UpdraftPlus – This plugin uploads files to the cloud via Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft Onedrive & more. There’s a free version for you to try it out. 

• SolidWP – Solid Backups schedules and sends backup archives to the destination of your choice. This plugin works for both small and large sites. This was formerly called BackupBuddy. 

• BlogVault – Although on the ‘pricier’ side, this is a reliable backup solution for WordPress sites. They also provide lots of features for the price. 

• BackupWPup – This plugin has a few packages for different websites and different needs. It’s also on the cheaper side compared to other options. 

If you ever need to utilize your backup file, there is a backup restore feature. 

Automatic WordPress backup from your hosting provider 

To perform automatic backups, you have to log into your hosting account. Then look for the tool that your host has for automatic backups. When you open it, it should give you the option to download the backup files. However, choosing a dependable hosting provider is crucial for ensuring optimal backup support.  

Bluehost stands out as one of the most trusted names among all hosting providers. With a user-friendly interface, robust uptime and scalable plans tailored to various needs, Bluehost offers a seamless hosting experience for both beginners and seasoned website owners. 

With Bluehost, you can easily backup your website by following the steps mentioned below. 

Step 1 

Access the WordPress backup panel by logging into the Bluehost Control Panel. Next, click on the Hosting tab in the left menu. 

Step 2 

If you have more than one site, you will see an overview of all your sites here. Click on the Settings button for the website you want to create a backup of. 

Step 3 

You will see an overview of your site. There are multiple tabs you can click on, but you need the one that says Backups. 

Step 4 

In this Backups tab, you can create a new backup, simply by clicking on the blue button Create New Backup. 

Step 5 

You can also restore your site by using one of the previous backups. You will find the option when you click on the three dots on the right. 

When to back up WordPress website 

The timing of WordPress website backup plays a significant role in safeguarding your site against unexpected issues.  

Here’s how to decide when to back up WordPress website: 

1. Frequency of updates and changes 

Consider how often you update content, plugins, themes and user interactions. More frequent changes necessitate a higher frequency of WordPress backup, such as daily or multiple times daily. 

2. Website activity 

Analyze your website’s user engagement patterns and traffic flow and schedule backups during off-peak hours to minimize disruptions for visitors. 

3. Content publishing 

If you publish content regularly, especially time-sensitive or critical information, opt for backups that are more frequent. Daily or weekly WordPress backup might be appropriate for content-heavy websites. 

4. Plugin and theme updates 

Before updating plugins or themes, create a backup to mitigate potential compatibility issues. This precaution allows you to restore a previous version if problems arise. 

5. Major design or structural changes 

Back up your site before implementing significant design or structural alterations. This ensures you can revert to the previous state if the changes don’t go as planned. 

6. Pre-update backups 

Always perform a backup before applying any substantial updates or changes. This practice acts as a safety net in case the update process encounters errors. 

How often should you back up WordPress website? 

The frequency of WordPress backups depends on the dynamic nature of your website and the extent of its updates.  

For websites that undergo frequent changes, including regular content updates, backup plugins installations or theme modifications, a daily WordPress backup regimen is recommended. This approach guarantees that each day’s alterations are captured, assuring minimal data loss in case of unforeseen issues. 

For websites with less frequent alterations, a weekly backup may suffice. This is applicable to sites that publish content less often or have a steady setup without significant changes. 

In addition, it’s always useful to create backups before you make any substantial updates, such as core software or plugin updates! This way, you’ll have a restore point if updates cause compatibility problems. 

Troubleshooting common backup issues 

While backing up your WordPress site is crucial, it’s not uncommon to encounter issues during the process. From incomplete backups to plugin conflicts, several factors can prevent backups from running smoothly. Here are the most common backup issues and how to troubleshoot them: 

Why your backup might fail 

There are a few reasons why your WordPress backup may fail. Here are the most common causes: 

1. Storage limitations: Files for backup can be large, especially for sites with a lot of media or content. If your hosting account or backup destination (like cloud storage) has limited space, the backup process might not be complete. 

Solution: Check the available storage space on your hosting plan or backup destination. If you’re nearing your limit, you may need to upgrade your storage or delete unnecessary files. 

2. Server timeouts: Some backups take a long time to complete and if your hosting provider has strict server time limits, the backup process may be cut off before it finishes. 

Solution: Try breaking your backup into smaller parts (e.g., backup your files first, then your database). Alternatively, you could schedule backups during off-peak hours to avoid server timeouts. 

3. Plugin conflicts: Certain WordPress plugins, especially those that deal with caching or security, can interfere with backup processes. Conflicts between plugins can cause incomplete backups or even crashes during the backup process. 

Solution: Disable non-essential plugins temporarily while you run a backup. If you identify a conflicting plugin, check for updates or consult the plugin developer for a solution. In some cases, using a different WordPress plugin might resolve the issue. 

4. Corrupt database: If your website’s database has errors or corrupt tables, the backup may fail, especially if you’re using a plugin that attempts to back up the entire database at once. 

Solution: Use a database repair tool, like the one built into WordPress (navigate to wp-admin/maint/repair.php) to fix the database before attempting a backup again. 

5. Memory limits: WordPress may have insufficient PHP memory allocated for running a backup, particularly on shared hosting plans with limited resources. 

Solution: Increase your PHP memory limit by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file: 

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’); 

If you’re on shared hosting and unable to change server settings, reach out to your hosting provider to request a memory increase. 

How to restore a backup successfully 

Restoring a WordPress backup can be a straightforward process, but the steps will vary depending on how the backup was created (manual or plugin-based). Here’s a general process to restore your WordPress site from a backup: 

1. Via hosting control panel (cPanel): 

1. Log in to your hosting control panel (for example, Bluehost, SiteGround, etc.). 

2. Locate the Backup section and find the file you want to restore. 

3. If you have a full backup (files and database), you’ll need to upload both to the appropriate directories. The database typically goes into the MySQL database area and the files go into the public HTML folder (or your site’s root directory). 

4. After uploading the backup files, you may need to import the database manually via phpMyAdmin. 

2. Using backup plugins: 

1. If you used a WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack for backups, log into your WordPress dashboard. 

2. Navigate to the backup plugin’s settings page and find the option to restore your backup. 

3. Select the backup you wish to restore (most plugins will list your backup history). 

4. Follow the plugin’s prompts to restore your website’s files and database. 

3. Restoring via FTP: If you have a manual backup (e.g., via FTP or cPanel), use an FTP client like FileZilla to upload the file to the corresponding directories on your server. 

1. Upload all website files to the public_html folder. 

2. If your backup includes a database export, import the database via phpMyAdmin. 

Tip: Always verify that your backup is working after restoration by testing key pages, posts and functionality. It’s best to restore the backup to a staging environment first to avoid affecting your live site. 

Resolving plugin conflicts during backups 

Sometimes, plugins can interfere with your backup process. This is particularly common when using security, caching or optimization plugins. Here’s how you can handle plugin conflicts during backups: 

1. Disable all plugins: Temporarily deactivate all plugins before running a backup to check if any are causing conflicts. If the backup works fine after deactivating all plugins, you can activate them one by one to identify the culprit. 

2. Update your plugins: Outdated plugins can sometimes conflict with backup processes. Make sure all your plugins are up to date. If the issue persists, check the plugin developer’s site for known issues or contact support. 

3. Use an alternative backup plugin: If you find a plugin conflict that can’t be resolved, consider switching to a different backup plugin. Popular backup plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy or Jetpack are known for being compatible with most WordPress sites. 

4. Check for caching issues: Some caching plugins (e.g., W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache) might cache data during backups, causing the backup process to freeze or fail. Temporarily disable caching while performing the backup, then re-enable it once the process is complete. 

Case studies: How different users benefit from backups 

Backups are not a one-size-fits-all solution. The way backups are handled often varies depending on the size and type of the website. Here are a few case studies to illustrate different backup strategies: 

Small business website: Automated backup strategies 

For a small business website, the goal is to ensure that backups are done regularly without having to manually intervene. Automated backups are ideal here. 

• Backup frequency: Set up daily or weekly automated backups using a WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or leverage your hosting provider’s backup tools. 

• Backup destination: Use cloud storage (like Google Drive or Dropbox) for off-site storage. 

• Benefit: This approach ensures that the website is always protected, even when the business owner is too busy to worry about it. 

Personal blog: Manual backup with plugins 

For personal bloggers, manual backups using plugins are often sufficient, as they typically don’t update their site as frequently or deal with large amounts of media. 

• Backup frequency: Perform manual backups every couple of weeks or after significant changes (e.g., publishing a series of new posts). 

• Backup tool: Use a WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus to back up files and database and store the backups locally or on cloud storage. 

• Benefit: This low-cost, hands-on approach gives bloggers control over their backups without the complexity of automated systems. 

Large enterprise website: Advanced backup techniques 

For large enterprise websites, backups need to be more robust and include advanced techniques to ensure data security and minimize downtime. 

• Backup frequency: Hourly or real-time backups are essential, particularly for large databases or eCommerce sites where transactions happen frequently. 

• Backup tools: Use enterprise-level solutions like CodeGuard or BackupBuddy that offer incremental backups, off-site storage and easy recovery. 

• Benefit: Large businesses can recover from unexpected downtime quickly, maintaining operations with minimal data loss and ensuring business continuity. 

By troubleshooting common backup issues, understanding how to restore backups successfully and knowing how different website types can benefit from backup strategies, you can ensure that your WordPress site is always protected and ready for recovery when needed. 

Best practices for managing WordPress backups 

Proper management of your WordPress backups is essential for ensuring that you can quickly restore your site in case of issues. Following best practices can help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure your backups are reliable and easy to access when needed. In this section, we discuss the key strategies for effectively managing WordPress backups. 

Where to store your backups: Cloud vs. local storage 

Choosing the right storage solution for your backups is crucial. The main options are cloud storage and local storage (i.e., on your hosting server or a physical device). Each has its pros and cons and many experts recommend using a combination of both. 

Cloud storage 

Cloud storage solutions, like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3 or specialized services for WordPress backups services, offer several advantages: 

• Offsite storage: Cloud backups are stored offsite, meaning they are safe even if something happens to your hosting provider or server. If your website goes down due to a server issue or hacking, you can still restore from a cloud-based backup. 

• Accessibility: You can access your backups from anywhere and from any device, making it easy to restore your site if you’re on the go. 

• Scalability: Cloud storage is highly scalable, allowing you to store large backups without worrying about running out of space. 

• Reliability: Many cloud services offer high uptime and redundancy, meaning your backup will be safe even in case of server failures. 

Local storage 

Local storage involves saving backups on the same server or a physical device like an external hard drive. It has a few advantages but also some significant risks: 

• Faster access: Local backups can be quicker to restore since they are physically closer to your website, especially if the backup is stored on the same hosting server. 

• Lower cost: If you’re only storing backups locally on your hosting server, you may save on cloud storage fees. 

However, local storage has notable downsides: 

• Risk of data loss: If something happens to your hosting provider’s server or your physical device (for example, a hard drive failure or server crash), you could lose your backups. 

• Limited accessibility: You can only access local backups from the server where they are stored, which can be inconvenient if you’re traveling or working remotely. 

Best Practice: Use both cloud and local storage. Store a copy of your backup on your hosting provider’s server for fast access and another copy in the cloud for offsite security. This approach ensures you have redundancy in case of data loss or server issues. 

Scheduling regular backups 

Scheduling regular backups is one of the most effective ways to ensure your WordPress site is always protected. Depending on how often you update your content or make changes to your site, you may want to set up backups on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. 

Key considerations for scheduling backups: 

• Frequency of updates: If you’re adding new content frequently (e.g., blog posts, media), consider scheduling daily backups. If you’re running an online store, a daily or even multiple backups per day may be necessary to capture product inventory changes, customer orders or payments. 

• Major changes: If you’re making significant changes to your website, like updating themes, it’s best to back up your site before and after. 

• Traffic and usage patterns: High-traffic websites may benefit from more frequent backups, especially if you’re making frequent updates or hosting dynamic content (like forums, eCommerce or membership sites). 

Best practice: Use a WordPress backup plugin or service that allows you to automate backups on a schedule. This way, you don’t need to remember to back up manually every time you make a change. Popular WordPress plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackWPup and Jetpack offer customizable backup schedules that allow you to set daily, weekly or even hourly backups, depending on your needs. 

Automating backup notifications 

Automating backup notifications is an excellent way to ensure you never forget that a backup was completed or catch any potential errors in the backup process. Backup notifications can alert you if a backup has failed, if it was successful or if it’s time to run a new one. 

Why automating notifications matters 

• Stay Informed: Automated notifications ensure you are always in the loop about the status of your backups, so you don’t have to manually check or wonder if they’re happening as scheduled. 

• Instant Issue alerts: If there’s an issue with the backup process, such as a failure to complete, you’ll be notified right away. This allows you to take action quickly to fix the problem before your site runs into issues. 

• Peace of mind: Knowing that your backups are happening regularly and that you’re being notified of any issues gives you peace of mind that your site’s data is always protected. 

Best practice: Enable email notifications for backup events, such as: 

• Successful backup completion: This confirms that your backup went as planned. 

• Backup failure: If a backup fails, the notification should include troubleshooting steps or links to help you resolve the issue. 

• Backup summary: For sites with many changes, consider receiving a summary of the latest backup, including what files were backed up. 

Many backup plugins like UpdraftPlus and Jetpack have built-in email notifications, so you don’t need to manually set up anything. If you’re using a third-party backup service, check if they offer SMS or email notifications to keep you updated. 

Tools you can use for automatic backups 

There are many tools you can use to back up WordPress website. Check with your current hosting provider to see if they offer a backup service. For example, Bluehost provides managed WordPress hosting that automatically creates files for backup regularly, so you don’t have to worry. 

As we mentioned before, you can also install a WordPress backup plugin if you run a standalone WordPress site. It’s a much easier and faster process than doing it manually. Plugins should also work on hosted sites if you prefer not to use tools provided by the host. 

Your web host should have a method to let you back up your data manually. If your host uses cPanel as its dashboard, then this feature exists. You will have to go to the two programs that WordPress uses, called PHPMyAdmin and MySQL (there are other options, but these are the most common) and download the database and the rest of the files manually. This is only recommended if you are used to working in the backend of web hosting platforms or if you have no other options.  

Also read: Top 10 Best Website Hosting Features  

Final thoughts 

We hope the above information has offered you clarity on how to backup a WordPress site. Just remember that it’s important to back up your WordPress website regularly. A timely backup of a WordPress blog or other website creates a safety net that guards against unexpected mishaps, ranging from accidental content deletion and data corruption to security breaches and server failures. Thankfully, Bluehost makes it much easier to do so.  

If you need assistance on backing up your WordPress site with Bluehost’s hosting plans, feel free to contact us.   

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