Let’s talk about something nobody wants to think about until it’s too late – backing up your WordPress blog. Imagine waking up tomorrow and finding your entire website gone. All your content, comments, customizations – just vanished. Scary, right? The good news is that backing up your WordPress site is way easier than you think, and I’m going to show you exactly how to do it.
Why You Absolutely Need Backups
Before we dive into the how, let’s quickly cover the why. Websites can disappear for countless reasons: hacking attempts, server crashes, accidental deletions, plugin conflicts, or even your hosting provider having issues. Without a backup, recovering from any of these disasters ranges from extremely difficult to impossible.
Think of backups as insurance for your digital work. You wouldn’t drive without car insurance, so don’t run a website without backups.
The Easy Way: Use a Backup Plugin
The simplest approach is using a WordPress backup plugin. These tools handle everything automatically, so you can set it and forget it.
UpdraftPlus is probably the most popular choice, and for good reason. The free version backs up your files and database to cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3. Setup takes about five minutes, and then it runs automatically on whatever schedule you choose.
BackWPup is another solid free option that offers similar features. It can backup to various cloud services and even email you smaller backups.
For premium options, BackupBuddy and WP Time Capsule offer more advanced features like real-time backups and easier restoration processes.
Manual Backup Method
If you prefer doing things yourself or want to understand what’s happening behind the scenes, you can backup manually through your hosting control panel.
Most hosting providers offer backup tools in cPanel or their custom dashboard. Look for terms like “Backup,” “Site Backup,” or “File Manager.” You’ll typically need to backup two things: your website files and your database.
Your files include themes, plugins, uploads, and WordPress core files. The database contains all your posts, pages, comments, and settings. Both are essential for a complete backup.
What Should You Backup?
A complete WordPress backup includes:
- All your website files (WordPress core, themes, plugins, uploads)
- Your database (posts, pages, comments, user data, settings)
- Any custom configurations or .htaccess files
Some backup solutions let you exclude certain folders to save space, like excluding cache files or old WordPress updates. This is usually fine and makes your backups smaller and faster.
How Often Should You Backup?
This depends on how often you update your site. If you post daily, backup daily. If you post weekly, weekly backups are probably fine. For most bloggers, weekly automatic backups strike a good balance between protection and resource usage.
Always create a backup before making major changes like updating themes, installing new plugins, or modifying code. It’s like having a restore point you can go back to if something breaks.
Where to Store Your Backups
Never store backups only on your web server – if the server crashes, you lose both your site and your backups. Use cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3. Many backup plugins can automatically upload to these services.
For extra security, keep multiple backup copies in different locations. The 3-2-1 rule is a good guideline: 3 backup copies, stored in 2 different types of media, with 1 copy stored offsite.
Testing Your Backups
Here’s something most people skip: actually testing whether your backups work. Schedule time every few months to download a backup and make sure all the files are there and not corrupted. The worst time to discover your backups don’t work is when you actually need them.
The Bottom Line
Backing up your WordPress blog isn’t optional – it’s essential. Start with a simple plugin like UpdraftPlus, set it to run automatically, and store your backups in the cloud. It takes more time to read this article than it does to set up basic backups. Your future self will thank you for taking this simple step to protect all your hard work.
