Nothing sounds more profound than a WordPress Site Backup. However, through our exclusive Step by Step Guide, you’ll not only learn how to do a WordPress Site Backup but as to why it’s useful. Therefore, follow our leads to the end.
Not long ago I had no idea as to what’s in the world of WordPress Site Back since I was just a WPBeginner. Hence, with no idea of how to create a full WordPress site backup, I had to dig harder. This was until circumstances made me.
And, for one thing, I had to learn after getting my login credentials hacked. Certainly, as a newbie, you’re probably as confused as I was. So what the hell is a WordPress site backup? – Yes! I talk for WordPress newbies too since my site is built-in WordPress and there is a lot I have learned with time.
What Is WordPress Site Backup?
The answer is fairly simple. A WordPress site backup, or rather, website backup is simply a copy of your site that you can reinstall (restore). In that case, should something go wrong such as hacking or mistakenly deletion of files do occurs.
It’s a failsafe, precautionary measure that saves you a lot of undue stress. It’s like an insurance policy that protects all the effort, time, and money you’ve invested in your WordPress site.
In other words, WordPress site backup, or even, back for your website, if not only created on the WordPress platform matters a lot. For sure, backing up your website frequently is vital, as every experienced website holder should know.
WordPress Site Backup Database Knowledgebase
Additionally, your WordPress database contains every post, every comment, and every link you have on your blog. If your database gets erased or corrupted, you stand to lose everything you have written. In general, there are many reasons why this could happen and not all are things you can control.
With a proper backup of your WordPress database and files, you can quickly restore things back to normal. Site backups are essential because problems inevitably occur. Not to mention, you need to be in a position to take action when disaster strikes. Spend a few minutes to make an easy, convenient backup of your database.
This will allow you to spend even more time being creative and productive with your website. There are two parts to backing up your WordPress site: Database and Files.
You need to back up the entire site, and you need to back up your WordPress database.
Your WordPress site consists of the following:
- WordPress Core Installation
- Plugins
- Themes
- Images and Files
- JavaScript and PHP scripts, and other code files
- Additional Files and Static Web Pages
You use all these in various combinations to generate your website. The database contains your posts and a lot of data generated on your site. However, it does not include the above elements that all come together. To create the look and information on your site. There is a need to save.
Most hosts backup the entire server, including your site. Yet, it takes time to request a copy of your site from their backups, and a speedy recovery is critical. You need to learn how to backup your own site files and restore them.
Why is a WordPress Site Backup important?
Unfortunately, many new website owners do not take the process of backing up as earnestly as they should. It’s the norm to assume that everything will be fine; others have looked into the process of backing up their website.
And decided it’s either too costly or too time-consuming. Yet, in reality, there is a chance that if your website crashes, you could lose everything. It’s quite common to hear in the news about a high-profile company that has experienced a website crash.
Due to a security threat, yet these website threats are very real. Below are some of the major reasons why you should do your WordPress site backup more frequently.
1. WordPress Site Backup Rids Hackers
Hackers have become a commonplace threat on the worldwide network, and while some hackers aim to steal sensitive information and credit card numbers, some hack into websites purely to cause trouble.
2. Scheduled WordPress Site Backup Eases Wrong Updates
Regular updates are required to optimize the security and features of your website, but sometimes they don’t go as planned.
This is one of the reasons why it’s wise to backup your website before you perform any updates, as software, themes, plug-ins, and components can all be compromised. Regular, automatic updates will rule out this problem.
3. Protect Yourself From Viruses & Malware
No matter how secure you think your website is, Malware, Trojan Horses and Viruses can all find their way into your systems via third parties.
They may be downloaded by a plug-in or a theme, or maybe via a gap in your firewall. If you have backed up your site and files, you will be prepared for any eventuality.
4. Avoid Employee Errors With WordPress Site Backup
Mistakes can happen! It’s a possibility that a contractor or an employee may just click on the incorrect button and accidentally delete an important file. There is a lesser chance that human error will mess with your processes if you’ve backed up your files.
By backing up your website regularly, and automatically, you will avoid becoming an anxious, apprehensive business owner who must resurrect their website from scratch. It’s a worthwhile investment and doesn’t involve a huge amount of cost, taking into account all of the possible threats that exist.
WordPress Site Backup With Or Without Plugins
Surprisingly, you know that having the option to backup files on your WordPress website is incredibly important.
Whereas by regularly backing up your WordPress site you have a fail-safe in place in case your site is hacked. Or, you need to restore your site to a previous version. Without a backup system in place, you run the risk of losing all of your hard work.
Still, you might not want to use a plugin to backup your WordPress site. If you prefer to create manual backups, you can be sure it’s backing up the right way.
Generally speaking, there are tons of WordPress site backup plugins out there. In fact, these plugins are generally pretty simple to use and can be quickly configured to run automated website backups for the entire site.
Equally, for most WordPress site owners using one of these backup plugins will be more than enough. Still, there are some reasons you might want to stay away from a WordPress backup plugin. And instead, pursue an alternative approach.
1. You Want to Minimize Plugin Use
With multiple thousands of plugins available, it can be tempting to install as many plugins as possible. Even though some are incredibly useful, it’s important to take a minimalist approach to utilize WordPress plugins.
The more plugins you have on your site the slower your site will perform, and you have an increased chance of a plugin conflict taking down your site, or a compromised plugin creating a security hole in your site.
2. You Want a Customized Backup Approach
Although WordPress backup plugins can be useful, they tend to have a basic file backup approach. This is especially true for free backup plugins.
This isn’t always a bad thing if you have a very simple website, but as your site grows more complex you might want more control over what aspects of your site you’ll back up.
3. You Want to Enhance Site Security
A lot of WordPress users are rightly concerned with the security of their WordPress site. In an effort to minimize the number of third-party plugins and programs that have access to your data, you might choose to conduct backups yourself.
That way you’re solely responsible for your website’s data and the secure storage of your backups. Since WordPress plugins have been prone to hacking, by controlling your own backups you improve your levels of security.
A WordPress Site Backup Without Plugins
According to Our Online Affiliate – Hostgator, there are various ways to conduct your WordPress Site Back without a Plugin. As can be seen, therefore, we’ve looked at some of the reasons as to why you should avoid using site backup plugins, so let’s consider the other method.
For one thing, if you want to avoid using a WordPress backup plugin, keep reading to learn how to back up a WordPress site.
In other words, as we reviewed above, even though using a WordPress backup plugin might be easier, it still might not be the best choice. Especially, for every kind of site owner.
Do a Manual Backup
A manual backup might sound difficult to do. However, you can create your own manual backups from directly within your hosting control panel. The steps below are for HostGator customers.
To do this navigate to your cPanel, and find the tool called ‘Backup Wizard’. Run the tool and you’ll have an entire backup of your site. You can also use this tool to restore your site to a previous version as well.
If you don’t want to use the built-in backup wizard and prefer to find and download your site’s files yourself, then follow the steps below:
Open File Manager
In the first place, locate the tool called ‘File Manager’ within cPanel. And then, find your site’s directory and download your backup.
Secondly, locate your WordPress site’s files. They should be under a directory called ‘public_html’. Once you’ve found your site click ‘Select All’. Then select ‘Compress’. You can also choose the type of backup you’ll save, and where you want to save your backup.
Download your WordPress database
Finally, you’re not quite done yet! Now, you’ll need to download your WordPress database as well. Not forgetting, to do this locate ‘phpMyAdmin’ within your cPanel dashboard.
With this tool open, select ‘Databases’ from the navigation bar. Then locate the database that’s associated with your WordPress installation. Open up that database and click the ‘Export’ tab on the top window. Save this file in the same location as your other backups.
Keep in mind that beyond storing backups on your local computer, you may want to upload your backups to a cloud storage tool like Dropbox too. That way if one of your backups is compromised you know you’ll be covered.
Make sure you regularly complete these backups as well. After all, there’s no point restoring from a previous backup if it’s a few years old.
WordPress Site Backup Via FTP Software
Wing FTP Server is an enterprise FTP server software that can be used in Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and Solaris. It supports multiple file transfer protocols, including FTP, FTPS, HTTP, HTTPS, and SFTP, giving your clients flexibility in how they connect to the server.
And it provides administrators with a web-based interface to administer the server from anywhere. You can also monitor server performance and online sessions. And even receive email notifications about various events taking place on the server.
The Website Backup Process via an FTP Software
In the same fashion, the second approach to backing up your site is using FTP. Not to mention, this is probably the least frequently used approach. Inasmuch as it’s more technical.
But, some users prefer working via an FTP connection. If that sounds like you, then follow the steps below:
- Open up FileZilla
- Connect to your site
- Locate your site’s files
- Download and save
When you open up FileZilla you may need to show hidden files. There are certain WordPress files that are hidden by default that you’ll need to include in your backup.
Important to realize, to do this navigate to Server>Force showing hidden files. Once you’ve downloaded and safely stored your backup you’ll also need to download your WordPress database.
To do this you’ll need to login into your cPanel and follow the steps for phpMyAdmin above.
Final Thoughts,
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the different approaches you can take to back up your WordPress site.
Be that as it may, if the entire backup process is too much for you, then consider using WordPress-managed hosting. Whereby, this style of hosting will fully manage, backup, optimize, and secure your WordPress site.
With this in mind, the method you use isn’t as important as having a regular backup schedule. If a problem occurs with your site you want to be equipped to restore your site to a previous version.
Related Sources:
- How To Backup A WordPress Site Without A Plugin
- Moto Press: How to Back up a WordPress Website
- Theme Isle: How to Back Up Your WordPress Website
- DreamHost: How to Back up Your WordPress Website: A Complete Guide
- wpbeginner: 7 Best WordPress Backup Plugins Compared (Pros and Cons)
Finally, having said that, I hope the above-revised profile guide was informative enough especially to beginner webmasters. On how and where to look for their next WordPress website themes & Plugins and even do a site backup.
But, if you’ll have more questions or even contributions, please feel free to Contact Us. We’ll be more than glad to offer our input and limitless service solutions support. Particularly, towards building AMP Ready & SEO Responsive websites.
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