What you need
- WordPress admin access
- cPanel login, or a backup plugin
- Off-site storage, such as a cloud drive
Steps
Know what a full backup includes
Every WordPress site has two parts, and you need both. The files include WordPress itself, your themes, plugins, uploaded images and the wp-config.php settings file. The database holds your pages, posts, menus, settings, users and, for online stores, orders. A backup of only the files or only the database cannot rebuild your site on its own.
Check what your host already does
Many hosting plans include automatic backups. Ask your host, or check your hosting dashboard, for three answers: how often backups run, how many days they keep, and whether copies are stored on a different server. In cPanel, look under Files for a tool such as Backup or a host-provided backup manager. Host backups are a helpful safety net, but you should still keep copies you control.
Make a manual backup in cPanel
In cPanel, open Files, then Backup Wizard, and click Back Up. Under the partial backup options, click Home Directory and download the file. Go back and do the same for MySQL Databases, clicking the database your site uses. You can find its name on the DB_NAME line in wp-config.php. Save both files to your computer or a cloud drive.
Or schedule backups with a plugin
A backup plugin can save your files and database on a schedule and send them to cloud storage automatically. Well-known options include UpdraftPlus, BackWPup and Jetpack Backup. Install one from Plugins, then Add New, connect a storage service such as Google Drive, Dropbox or Amazon S3, and set a schedule. Daily backups suit busy sites and stores. Weekly is usually enough for sites that rarely change.
Store copies off the server
A backup saved only on your hosting account disappears along with it if the account is hacked, suspended or lost. Keep at least one copy somewhere else, like a cloud drive or your office computer. Hold on to several dated versions, not just the latest. If a problem goes unnoticed for a week, you will want a backup from before it started.
Restore with your plugin or host tool
If you use a backup plugin or your host’s backup manager, restoring is usually a matter of picking a date and clicking Restore. Most tools let you choose which parts to bring back, such as only the database or only the plugins folder. Before you restore, take a fresh backup of the current broken site in case you need something from it later.
Restore manually in cPanel
For a manual restore, open Files, then Backup Wizard, and click Restore. Choose Home Directory and upload your saved home directory file, then repeat with MySQL Databases and your database file. Restoring overwrites what is there now. If the database file is large, your host may need to restore it for you, or you can use the Import tab in phpMyAdmin.
Test the restored site
Log in to WordPress and check your homepage, menus, contact forms and any checkout pages. If links show errors, go to Settings, then Permalinks, and click Save Changes to refresh them. Clear any caching plugin and your browser cache. A few times a year, practice a restore on a staging site so you know your backups actually work before you need them.
Common Mistakes
- Backing up only the files or only the database, then discovering the backup cannot rebuild the site.
- Keeping every backup on the same hosting account the backups are meant to protect.
- Never testing a restore, then learning during an emergency that backups were failing or incomplete.
FAQ
How often should I back up my WordPress site?
Match the schedule to how often your site changes. An online store or a site with daily posts should be backed up every day. A brochure site that changes a few times a month can be backed up weekly. Always take an extra backup right before updates, theme changes or any major edits.
Are my hosting company’s backups enough?
They help, but they should not be your only copy. Host backups may run less often than you expect, be kept for only a short time, or live on the same system as your site. Ask your host how theirs work, then keep your own copies in a separate location so the business always controls its data.
Will running backups slow down my website?
Backups use some server resources while they run, which can briefly slow a busy site on a small hosting plan. Most plugins let you schedule backups for late at night when traffic is low. For large sites, backing up the database daily and the full files weekly is a common, lighter approach.