Backing up your WordPress site is a critical task to ensure your website is protected against data loss, site crashes, and security breaches. UpdraftPlus is a popular backup plugin that makes this task easier by automating the backup process. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to use UpdraftPlus to backup your WordPress site, including how to schedule backups, store backups securely, and restore your site from a backup.
1. Install and Activate UpdraftPlus Plugin
The first step to using UpdraftPlus is to install and activate the plugin. To do this, go to the WordPress dashboard, click on “Plugins” then “Add New” In the search bar, type “UpdraftPlus” and then click “Install Now”.
Once the installation is complete then you can click “Activate”.
2. Configure UpdraftPlus Backup Settings
Once UpdraftPlus is activated, the next step is to configure the backup settings. Go to the WordPress dashboard and click on “Settings” then “UpdraftPlus Backups” . Here you will see various options for configuring the backup settings.
Select Backup Schedule
The first setting you’ll see is the Blue Backup Button, if you just want a simple backup, you can click it and download the backup.
However, UpdraftPlus provides various options for scheduling backups, including daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly or manually. Choose the option that best suits your needs. To configute scheduling backup, please click here:
Select Backup Content
The next setting is “Select Files to Backup”. Here, you can choose which files you want to include in your backup. By default, UpdraftPlus will backup all files, but you can choose to exclude certain files or folders if you wish.
3. Select Remote Storage
UpdraftPlus allows you to store your backups remotely on cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, or Microsoft OneDrive.
To select remote storage, go to the “Remote Storage” tab and choose your preferred service. Follow the prompts to authorize UpdraftPlus to access your cloud storage account.
However, you can set only one destination for remote backup. If you need more than one destination, you maybe interested to UpdraftPlus Premium which offer more features, such as Encryption, Incremental Backup, Lock Settings to Access Database, Cloning and Migration, etc.
4. Run and Monitor Backups
Once you have configured the backup settings, you can run and monitor your backups. To run a backup, click on the “Backup Now” button on the UpdraftPlus dashboard.
You can monitor the progress of your backup on the “Current Status” tab.
Check Backup Logs
UpdraftPlus logs all backup activity, including successful and failed backups. You can view your backup logs by clicking on the “Existing Backups” Menu on Backup/Restore Tab.
This is a useful feature if you need to troubleshoote any backup issues .
5. Restore Your Site from a Backup
If your site crashes or experiences a security breach, you can restore your site from a backup using UpdraftPlus. To do this, go to the UpdraftPlus dashboard and scroll down to the “Existing Backups” menu. Here, you will see a list of your backups. Choose the backup you want to restore and click on the “Restore” button. Follow the prompts:
Restore Site Files and Database
UpdraftPlus will guide you through the process of restoring your web site files and database from your backup.
The plugin will first restore your database, followed by your site files. Once the process is complete, your site should be back up and running.
Troubleshoot Issues
Restore not always be successfull, sometime you can find error like below:
If you encounter any issues during the restore process, UpdraftPlus provides various troubleshooting options. You can view the restore log to see if there were any errors, or you can try restoring a different backup.
6. Verify Your Site is Restored Properly
After restoring your site from a backup, it’s important to verify that everything is working properly. Check your site’s pages, posts, and media files to ensure they are all intact. You should also test your site’s functionality, including any plugins or themes you have installed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using UpdraftPlus for WordPress backups is a simple and effective way to protect your site against data loss, site crashes, and security breaches. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily configure UpdraftPlus to schedule backups, store backups securely, and restore your site from a backup if necessary.
You should monitor your backups regularly and verify that your site is restored properly after a restore. With UpdraftPlus, you can have peace of mind knowing that your WordPress site is protected against any potential disasters.
