How to Create a WordPress Backup: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
A WordPress website contains much more than the pages visitors see in their browsers. 🖥️ Your website depends on WordPress core files, themes, plugins, uploaded media, configuration files, and a database containing posts, pages, settings, users, and other important information.
If something goes wrong—such as a failed update, malware infection, server problem, accidental deletion, or plugin conflict—a recent backup can help you restore your website. 🛡️
Creating regular WordPress backups should therefore be an important part of website maintenance. In this guide, we explain how to create a complete WordPress backup using several different methods, including plugins, hosting control panels, phpMyAdmin, FTP/SFTP, and command-line tools.
What Is a WordPress Backup?
A WordPress backup is a copy of the important files and database information required to restore your website. 💾
A complete WordPress backup generally consists of two major components:
1. WordPress Files
These include:
- WordPress core files
- Themes
- Plugins
- Uploaded images
- Videos
- Documents
- Custom files
- Configuration files
Your uploaded media is generally stored inside:
wp-content/uploads/2. WordPress Database
The database contains information such as:
- Posts
- Pages
- Comments
- Users
- Categories
- Tags
- Website settings
- Plugin settings
- Theme settings
- WooCommerce data, where applicable
A backup that contains only your files but not your database may not be sufficient to restore the entire website. ⚠️
Why Should You Back Up Your WordPress Website?
WordPress websites can be affected by many different problems. 🔐
A backup can help you recover after:
- Failed WordPress updates
- Plugin conflicts
- Theme problems
- Accidental file deletion
- Database corruption
- Malware infections
- Server failures
- Hosting migrations
- Human errors
- Incorrect configuration changes
For an ecommerce or business website, backups are particularly important because losing customer information or orders can have significant consequences. 🛒
How Often Should You Back Up WordPress?
There is no single backup schedule that is appropriate for every website. 📅
Your backup frequency should depend on how frequently your website changes.
Static Website
A website that rarely changes may need less frequent backups.
Blog
If you publish articles several times per week, consider creating backups more frequently.
Ecommerce Website
Online stores can change continuously as customers place orders, create accounts, and update information. A more frequent backup strategy is therefore appropriate.
A useful principle is:
The more frequently your website changes, the more frequently you should back it up.
What Is the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy?
The 3-2-1 approach is a useful general backup strategy. 🛡️
It recommends maintaining:
- 3 copies of important data
- 2 different types of storage
- 1 copy stored off-site
For example:
Website
↓
Primary Server
↓
Local Backup
↓
Off-Site BackupIf your hosting server fails, an off-site backup can provide an additional recovery option.
Method 1: Create a WordPress Backup Using a Backup Plugin
For many WordPress users, a backup plugin is the easiest solution. 🔧
Backup plugins can automate the process of creating copies of your website files and database.
Depending on the plugin, backups may be stored:
- On the hosting server
- On another server
- In cloud storage
- On your local computer
- In a dedicated backup service
Popular WordPress backup solutions vary in features, storage options, scheduling, and restoration capabilities. Always review the current documentation of the plugin you choose.
Step 1: Log In to WordPress
Open:
https://example.com/wp-admin/Replace example.com with your domain.
Log in with your WordPress administrator account. 🔑
Step 2: Install a Backup Plugin
Go to:
Plugins → Add New Plugin
Search for a reputable WordPress backup plugin.
Before installing one, check:
- Recent update activity
- WordPress compatibility
- Developer reputation
- Documentation
- Backup storage options
- Restoration capabilities
- Reviews and support
Click:
Install Now
and then:
Activate
Step 3: Configure the Backup
After activation, open the plugin’s settings page.
Depending on the plugin, you may be able to choose:
- What files to back up
- Whether to include the database
- Backup frequency
- Backup retention
- Remote storage
- Automatic schedules
For a complete backup, make sure both the database and required website files are included.
Step 4: Run a Manual Backup
Look for an option such as:
Create Backup
or:
Backup Now
Start the backup process.
The plugin will create the backup according to its configuration.
Step 5: Verify the Backup
Do not assume that a backup is usable simply because the plugin reports that it completed successfully. 🔍
Check:
- Backup date
- Backup size
- Database backup status
- File backup status
- Storage location
- Any warnings or errors
For important websites, periodically test restoration as well.
Method 2: Back Up WordPress Through DirectAdmin
If your website is hosted on a server using DirectAdmin, you may be able to use DirectAdmin’s backup functionality. ⚙️
The exact interface can vary depending on the DirectAdmin version and hosting provider configuration.
Log in to DirectAdmin and locate the account backup or backup-management section.
Depending on your hosting setup, you may be able to back up items such as:
- Website files
- Databases
- Email accounts
- Domain settings
- DNS information
- Other account-level configuration
Follow your hosting provider’s DirectAdmin documentation if the available options differ.
Method 3: Back Up WordPress Files Using File Manager
You can manually create a copy of your WordPress files using your hosting control panel’s File Manager. 📁
Step 1: Open File Manager
Log in to your hosting control panel.
Open the File Manager and locate your WordPress document root.
A common location is:
public_html/The actual directory may differ depending on your hosting configuration.
Step 2: Select the WordPress Files
Your WordPress installation may contain directories such as:
wp-admin/
wp-content/
wp-includes/and files such as:
wp-config.php
index.php
.htaccessSelect the files and directories you need to preserve.
Step 3: Create an Archive
Most hosting File Managers provide an option to compress files.
Create an archive such as:
wordpress-backup-2026-09-26.zipA compressed archive is easier to download and store than thousands of individual files.
Step 4: Download the Backup
Download the archive to your computer or another secure storage location.
For better protection, consider maintaining another copy away from the hosting server. ☁️
Method 4: Back Up the WordPress Database Using phpMyAdmin
WordPress stores much of its dynamic content in a MySQL or MariaDB database. 🗄️
You can manually export this database using phpMyAdmin.
Step 1: Open phpMyAdmin
Log in to your hosting control panel and open:
phpMyAdmin
The exact location depends on your hosting environment.
Step 2: Select the WordPress Database
Select the database used by your WordPress installation.
If you are unsure which database WordPress uses, check your wp-config.php file.
Look for settings similar to:
define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name' );Step 3: Export the Database
After selecting the database, click:
Export
For a straightforward backup, the standard export option is often sufficient.
Select the SQL format and start the export.
Step 4: Save the SQL File
Your browser will download an SQL file.
For example:
wordpress-database-backup.sqlStore this file securely.
Remember that a database export alone is not a complete WordPress backup because your themes, plugins, media, and other files are stored separately. ⚠️
Method 5: Back Up WordPress Using FTP or SFTP
You can also download your WordPress files using FTP or SFTP. 🔐
SFTP is generally preferable when available because it transfers files through an encrypted connection.
Step 1: Connect to Your Server
Use an FTP/SFTP client such as FileZilla or another suitable application.
Enter your hosting credentials.
Step 2: Locate Your WordPress Installation
Navigate to the website’s document root.
For example:
public_html/Step 3: Download the Files
Download the WordPress files to your computer.
Make sure the download includes your important wp-content data and configuration files.
Step 4: Export the Database Separately
Remember that downloading files does not automatically create a copy of the database.
Use phpMyAdmin, your hosting backup system, WP-CLI, or another database backup method to create the database backup.
Method 6: Create a WordPress Backup Using WP-CLI
Advanced WordPress administrators can use WP-CLI to manage backups from the command line. 💻
For example, WP-CLI can export a WordPress database:
wp db export wordpress-backup.sqlThis creates an SQL database dump in the current WordPress directory.
You can then archive important WordPress files separately.
For example:
tar -czf wordpress-files-backup.tar.gz wp-content wp-config.phpThe exact commands you should use depend on your server environment and backup requirements.
For production servers, make sure your backup process handles permissions, ownership, storage, and sensitive configuration files correctly.
Where Should You Store WordPress Backups?
One of the most important backup rules is not to keep every backup on the same server as your website. 🚨
If the server experiences a serious failure, your website and backup could potentially be lost together.
Consider storing backup copies in locations such as:
- Local computer
- External storage
- Cloud object storage
- Dedicated backup server
- Remote backup service
For sensitive websites, backups should also be protected with appropriate access controls and encryption where appropriate. 🔐
How to Restore a WordPress Backup
Creating a backup is only half of the process. You should also know how restoration works. 🔄
A typical WordPress restoration involves:
- Restoring WordPress files
- Restoring the database
- Checking
wp-config.php - Verifying database credentials
- Checking file permissions
- Testing the website
- Checking plugins and themes
- Verifying URLs and functionality
The exact procedure depends on how the backup was created.
Restoring WordPress Files
If you have a ZIP or other archive containing your WordPress files, upload it to the appropriate website directory and extract it.
Make sure the files are restored to the correct document root.
Check file ownership and permissions after restoration.
Restoring the WordPress Database
If your backup contains an SQL file, you can restore it using a database management tool such as phpMyAdmin or a command-line utility.
For example, a database administrator may use:
mysql -u database_user -p database_name < wordpress-backup.sqlUse the correct database username, database name, hostname, and credentials for your server.
Check wp-config.php
The wp-config.php file contains important database connection settings.
For example:
define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name' );
define( 'DB_USER', 'database_user' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'database_password' );
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );After restoration, verify that these settings match the restored database environment.
Do not expose this file publicly because it contains sensitive configuration information. 🔒
Test Your Website After Restoration
After restoring a backup, carefully test your website.
Check:
- Homepage
- Blog posts
- Pages
- Images
- Contact forms
- User login
- Admin dashboard
- Menus
- Plugins
- Theme functionality
- Ecommerce checkout
- Payment integrations
- Email notifications
If the website uses external services, verify those integrations as well.
Common WordPress Backup Mistakes
Creating a backup does not automatically guarantee recoverability. ⚠️
Here are some common mistakes to avoid.
Keeping Backups Only on the Hosting Server
If the server fails, your backups may be affected as well.
Keep at least one backup copy in a separate location.
Backing Up Only the Database
Your database does not contain every WordPress file.
You also need important website files, particularly your themes, plugins, uploads, and configuration.
Never Testing Restoration
A backup can appear successful but still be unusable.
Periodically test restoration on a staging environment or another suitable location.
Keeping Only One Backup
If that backup becomes corrupted or contains a problem that you discover later, you may have no usable recovery point.
Maintain multiple backup versions according to your retention requirements.
Ignoring Backup Security
Backups can contain sensitive information.
Protect them with appropriate access controls and secure storage.
WordPress Backup Best Practices
Follow these practices to make your backup strategy more reliable. 🛡️
Automate Backups
Automated backups reduce the risk of forgetting to create them.
Keep Multiple Backup Versions
Maintaining several historical backup points can help you recover from problems that are discovered days or weeks after they occur.
Store Backups Off-Site
Keep at least one backup outside the primary hosting server.
Test Restoration
A backup should be periodically restored and verified.
Back Up Before Major Changes
Create a fresh backup before:
- WordPress updates
- Plugin updates
- Theme changes
- Server migrations
- Major configuration changes
Monitor Backup Jobs
Do not assume that scheduled backups are always running successfully. Check backup logs and notifications.
WordPress Backup Checklist
Use this checklist when creating your backup strategy:
- WordPress files are backed up
- Database is backed up
wp-content/uploadsis included- Themes are included
- Plugins are included
- Important configuration files are preserved
- Backups are stored securely
- At least one backup is stored off-site
- Multiple backup versions are retained
- Backup jobs are monitored
- Restoration has been tested
- Backup exists before major website changes
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I back up my WordPress website?
It depends on how frequently your website changes. A frequently updated website or ecommerce store generally needs more frequent backups than a rarely updated static website.
Does WordPress automatically back up my website?
A standard WordPress installation does not provide a complete automatic backup system for your hosting account by itself. Your hosting provider, backup plugin, or separate backup system may provide this functionality.
Is the WordPress database enough for a backup?
No. The database contains important content and settings, but a complete website backup should also include the necessary WordPress files.
Where is WordPress content stored?
WordPress content is stored in both the database and filesystem. Uploaded media is commonly stored under:
wp-content/uploads/while posts, pages, settings, and other information are stored in the database.
Can I back up WordPress without a plugin?
Yes. You can use your hosting control panel, File Manager, SFTP/FTP, phpMyAdmin, WP-CLI, or another backup system.
Should I store backups on the same hosting server?
It is better not to rely exclusively on backups stored on the same server. Maintain at least one independent or off-site copy.
How do I know whether my backup works?
The most reliable way is to perform a test restoration in a suitable staging or isolated environment and verify that the website functions correctly.
Final Thoughts
A WordPress backup is one of the most important safeguards you can have for your website. 💾🛡️ A recent and tested backup can make recovery significantly easier after accidental deletion, failed updates, security incidents, server problems, or other unexpected events.
There are several ways to create a WordPress backup. Beginners can use a reputable backup plugin or their hosting provider’s backup system, while advanced administrators can use DirectAdmin, phpMyAdmin, SFTP, or WP-CLI.
The most important principle is to maintain complete, secure, and recoverable backups rather than simply creating a backup file and forgetting about it.
For better protection, automate your backups, retain multiple recovery points, keep at least one copy off-site, and periodically test the restoration process. 🔐☁️
A reliable backup strategy gives you an additional layer of protection and makes it much easier to recover your WordPress website when something goes wrong.