How to Create a Backup of Your WordPress Website (Step-by-Step Guide)

A WordPress website backup is essential for safeguarding your site from data loss, hacking, or accidental errors. Furthermore, without a proper backup strategy, you risk losing all your website content, themes, and configurations. Moreover, whether you’re running a personal blog or managing a full-fledged eCommerce store, regularly backing up your website is crucial for ensuring peace of mind and enabling quick recovery in case of an emergency. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through multiple ways to create a WordPress website backup—using both plugins and manual methods—so you can effectively safeguard your data and minimize potential risks. Consequently, by the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a foolproof backup strategy.

Why Backing Up Your WordPress Website is Crucial?

Your website is vulnerable to cyber threats, server crashes, and human errors. Here are a few reasons why creating a backup should be your top priority:

• Protection Against Cyber Attacks: Firstly, hackers frequently target websites, so a backup can help restore a compromised site quickly.
• Server Failures & Crashes: Additionally, hosting servers may fail unexpectedly, causing data loss; consequently, a backup allows you to restore your site instantly.
• Updates Gone Wrong: Moreover, sometimes updating themes or plugins can break your site, which means a backup ensures you can roll back to a working version.
• Accidental Deletion: Lastly, mistakes happen, and therefore, a backup guarantees you can recover important files or databases without panic.

Understanding Different Types of WordPress Backups

There are various ways to back up your WordPress website. Understanding them will help you choose the best method:

1. Full Website Backup

A complete copy of your entire website, including essential components such as the database, themes, plugins, and media files, ensures seamless restoration in case of data loss or unexpected issues.

2. Database Backup

Specifically, this backup includes all your posts, comments, users, and website settings; however, it deliberately excludes theme and plugin files.

3. File Backup

This saves only your website files (themes, plugins, and uploads) but does not include the database.

4. Incremental Backup

Instead of backing up the entire website every time, incremental backups save only changes made since the last backup, reducing storage usage.

Methods to Create a WordPress Website Backup

There are multiple ways to back up a WordPress website. You can use automated plugins, manual methods, or rely on your web hosting provider.

1. Using WordPress Backup Plugins (Automated & Easy)

For those who prefer a hassle-free method, backup plugins are the best choice. Additionally, here are some of the top plugins to consider:

Best WordPress Backup Plugins

Plugin Name	Features	Free/Paid
UpdraftPlus	Scheduled & manual backups, cloud storage integration	Free & Pro
Jetpack Backup	Real-time backups, one-click restores	Paid
BackupBuddy	Full site backups, cloud storage, malware scans	Paid
WPvivid	Staging, migration, automatic backups	Free & Pro

How to Back Up with UpdraftPlus?

1. Install & Activate – Go to Plugins > Add New and search for UpdraftPlus. Install and activate it.
2. Go to Settings – Navigate to Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups.
3. Select Backup Now – Click Backup Now to create an instant backup.
4. Schedule Backups – Set up automatic backups (daily, weekly, or monthly).
5. Store Your Backup – Choose remote storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, etc.).

Restore When Needed – In case your website crashes unexpectedly, simply navigate to the UpdraftPlus settings, select a previous backup, and restore it effortlessly to get your site back up and running.

2. Manual Backup via cPanel & File Manager

A manual approach is a great alternative for those who want full control over their backups.

Step-by-Step Guide to Manually Back Up Your Website

Backup WordPress Files

1. First, log in to cPanel to access your hosting control panel.
2. Next, open File Manager and navigate to File Manager > public_html (or the folder where WordPress is installed).
3. Finally, download your website files by selecting all files, compressing them into a ZIP file, and then saving the ZIP file to your computer or cloud storage.

Backup WordPress Database

1. Open phpMyAdmin – Find it under Databases in cPanel.
2. Select Your Database – Click on your WordPress database.
3. Export the Database – Click Export and choose the Quick option with SQL format.

Save the File – Download the exported database file and store it securely.

3. Backup WordPress via Hosting Provider

Moreover, most reputable hosting providers include automatic backups as part of their service. For instance, if you’re using Bluehost, Godaddy, or Hostinger, simply follow these steps:

1. Login to Hosting Dashboard – Access your hosting account.
2. Find Backup Options – Look for Backup Manager or Automated Backups.
3. Create a Backup – Click Create Backup and store it safely.

Download Backup – Keep a local copy on your computer or cloud storage.

Best Practices for WordPress Website Backups

Keeping your backups organized ensures you can restore them efficiently. Follow these best practices:

✅ Schedule Automatic Backups – Set backups daily or weekly to avoid data loss.
✅ Store Backups in Multiple Locations – Keep copies on your local computer, cloud storage, and external drives.
✅ Test Your Backups Regularly – Verify that backups are working correctly and can be restored without issues.
✅ Delete Old Backups – Keep only the latest versions to save storage space.
✅ Use Strong Security Measures – Encrypt backups and use strong passwords for storage locations.

How to Restore Your WordPress Website from a Backup?

If disaster strikes and you need to restore your website, follow these steps:

1. Restore via UpdraftPlus

• Go to UpdraftPlus Settings > Existing Backups.
• Click Restore and select the backup file.

2. Restore Manually via cPanel

• Upload your website files back to public_html.
• Import the saved SQL database via phpMyAdmin.

3. Restore Using Hosting Backup

• Login to your hosting account.

Navigate to Backup Manager and select a previous backup to restore.

Conclusion

A solid WordPress website backup strategy is crucial for protecting your site from unexpected failures, cyberattacks, and human errors. Whether you opt for automated backups using plugins, perform manual backups through cPanel, or rely on hosting backups, it is essential to keep them up-to-date and securely stored.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can have peace of mind, knowing that your website remains safe, easily recoverable, and fully functional whenever needed!