How to Backup and Restore Your WordPress Website: The Complete Guide

Your WordPress website is your digital home. It holds your content, design, customer data, and reputation. But what happens if something goes wrong—an accidental deletion, a malware attack, or a plugin update that breaks everything? Without a backup, you risk losing months or even years of hard work.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to backup and restore your WordPress website step by step. You’ll learn different backup methods, the importance of off-site storage, and how to quickly restore your site when disaster strikes.

👉 Pro Tip: Protect your site with automated backups and fast restores from Serverfellows.com — secure hosting designed for reliability.

Why Backups Are Non-Negotiable

Backing up your WordPress site isn’t just an optional task—it’s a necessity. Here’s why:

Data Protection – Safeguards your posts, media files, themes, and plugins.
Quick Recovery – Restore your site in minutes instead of rebuilding it from scratch.
Business Continuity – Downtime equals lost revenue, lost leads, and damaged trust.
Security – If your website is hacked, a clean backup helps you recover without hassle.

Think of backups as insurance for your website. You may not need them every day, but when you do, they can save your business.

Types of WordPress Backups

Not all backups are the same. To properly protect your site, you should understand the different types:

Full Backup – Copies everything: WordPress core files, themes, plugins, media uploads, and the database.
Database Backup – Saves only the database, which contains posts, comments, users, and settings.
Incremental Backup – Backs up only files changed since the last backup, reducing storage and time.
Off-Site Backup – Stores your backup in a remote location like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.

For most website owners, full backups with off-site storage are the safest option.

How to Backup Your WordPress Website

There are three main ways to create a backup: manual, automated plugins, and host-provided solutions.

1. Manual Backups

Manual backups give you full control but require technical know-how. You’ll need:

File Backup:
- Use FTP/SFTP or cPanel’s File Manager to download your site files.
- Backup includes folders like /wp-content/, /wp-includes/, and /wp-admin/.
Database Backup:
- Access phpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel.
- Select your WordPress database and click Export.

This method ensures you have a complete copy, but it can be time-consuming and prone to human error.

2. Backup Plugins

If you prefer simplicity, backup plugins automate the entire process. Some popular choices include:

UpdraftPlus – Free and premium options, supports remote storage.
BackupBuddy – Paid plugin with one-click restores.
BlogVault – Known for real-time backups and staging features.
Duplicator – Great for backups and migrations.

Steps:

Install the plugin from your WordPress dashboard.
Configure storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, etc.).
Schedule automatic backups (daily, weekly, or real-time).

With plugins, you don’t need technical skills—backups run in the background.

3. Host-Provided Backups

Some hosting providers include automatic backups in their plans. For example:

Daily or weekly full backups.
One-click restore from the control panel.
Off-site storage for added security.

At Serverfellows.com, automated backups are included in every hosting plan, so you don’t have to worry about setting up plugins manually.

4. Off-Site Storage

Storing backups only on your hosting server is risky. If your server crashes or gets hacked, you could lose both your site and your backup.

Always keep copies in:

Google Drive
Dropbox
Amazon S3
External hard drives

The golden rule: 3-2-1 strategy – 3 copies, 2 locations, 1 off-site.

How to Restore Your WordPress Website

A backup is useless unless you know how to restore it. Here are the main methods:

1. Restore via Hosting Control Panel

Most reliable hosts provide a backup manager. The process is usually:

Login to cPanel or hosting dashboard.
Open Backup/Restore Manager.
Select the backup file (full or database only).
Click Restore.
Wait for the process to finish—your site will be live again.

2. Restore with Plugins

If you used a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy:

Go to Settings → Backups in WordPress.
Choose the backup file from your storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.).
Click Restore.

This option is beginner-friendly and doesn’t require technical access.

3. Manual Restore

If you’re handling restoration manually:

Upload files via FTP or cPanel File Manager.
Import the database using phpMyAdmin.
Update the wp-config.php file if needed.

This method works when plugins or hosting tools are unavailable, but it requires technical expertise.

Best Practices for WordPress Backups

To make sure your backup strategy is foolproof, follow these best practices:

Schedule Regular Backups – Daily for active sites, weekly for smaller blogs.
Test Restores – A backup is only useful if it restores correctly. Run test restores occasionally.
Keep Multiple Versions – Store at least 3–5 backup versions in case the latest is corrupted.
Use Off-Site Storage – Never keep all backups on the same server.
Automate Whenever Possible – Manual backups are prone to errors—automation saves time and reduces risk.

Common Scenarios Where Backups Save You

Website Hacked: Restore a clean version and remove malware instantly.
Plugin/Theme Conflict: Roll back to a working state in minutes.
Human Error: Accidentally deleted files or pages can be recovered.
Server Crash: Hardware failures don’t affect you if you have off-site backups.
Major Updates Gone Wrong: If a WordPress update breaks your site, you can restore a stable version.

FAQs on How to Backup and Restore Your WordPress Website

How often should I back up my WordPress website?

Active sites with frequent updates: daily.
Smaller blogs with fewer changes: weekly.

Are backups included with hosting?

Yes, many hosts provide free backups. At Serverfellows.com, automated backups are included with all hosting plans.

Can I restore emails too?

Yes, full hosting backups typically include email accounts and messages.

Will restoring remove malware?

Yes, as long as you restore from a clean backup taken before the infection.

Can I migrate my site with a backup?

Absolutely. Many backup tools let you migrate your site to a new domain or hosting provider.

Conclusion: Protect Your WordPress Website Today

When it comes to running a WordPress website, backups are your safety net. Without them, you risk losing everything to hacks, crashes, or human error.

The good news is that setting up backups and learning how to restore them isn’t difficult. Whether you use manual methods, plugins, or host-provided solutions, the key is to stay consistent and keep copies off-site.

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