How to Backup WordPress (Simple, Safe, and Stress-Free)

If you run a WordPress website, backups are not optional. They’re the difference between a quick recovery and a full panic. One bad plugin update, a hacked login, a hosting issue, or even a simple mistake while editing files can take your site down.

The good news? Backing up WordPress isn’t hard. You just need the right method, a clean routine, and one rule you never break: always keep a copy off your hosting.

This guide walks you through how to backup WordPress using plugins, hosting tools, and manual methods. It’s written to be easy, practical, and actually usable for real people.

Before you start, you might also like:
WordPress Security Checklist and
WordPress Speed Optimization Guide.

What a WordPress Backup Really Includes

A complete WordPress backup has two parts. If you skip one, it’s not a real backup.

• Website files: themes, plugins, uploads (images), core WordPress files, wp-config.php
• Database: posts, pages, comments, users, settings, WooCommerce orders, product data

Real-life example: If you only backup files but not the database, you may restore the site design… but your blog posts and orders could be missing. If you only backup the database, your images and theme layout might disappear.

Best Backup Method for Most People (Plugin Backup)

If you want the easiest and most reliable setup, use a backup plugin. It lets you create automatic backups and store them in Google Drive, Dropbox, or other safe places.

Option 1: UpdraftPlus (Popular and Beginner-Friendly)

UpdraftPlus is one of the most used WordPress backup plugins because it’s simple and works on most hosting.

• Best for: blogs, business websites, portfolios
• Why people use it: easy setup + off-site backups

How to backup WordPress with UpdraftPlus:

• Go to Plugins → Add New
• Search UpdraftPlus → Install → Activate
• Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups
• Open Settings and choose backup schedule (daily/weekly)
• Select remote storage like Google Drive or Dropbox
• Click Save Changes
• Click Backup Now and tick:
  • Include database
  • Include files

Pro tip: Keep at least 5–10 backups. If your site gets infected and you only have one recent backup, you could restore the problem again.

Option 2: Jetpack Backup or BlogVault (Great for WooCommerce)

If you run a store and orders change every day, Jetpack Backup or BlogVault can be a strong option. These tools are often used for frequent backups and faster restores.

Real-life example: If your WooCommerce store processes orders all day, a weekly backup is risky. You could lose orders and customer updates if something crashes.

Hosting Backups (Good, But Don’t Depend on Them Alone)

Many hosting companies offer backups, sometimes daily. This can save you, but don’t rely on it as your only plan. If your hosting account gets damaged or suspended, you might lose access to those backups too.

How to use hosting backups safely

• Check your hosting panel for Backup, Restore, or Snapshots
• Confirm it includes both files and database
• Download a copy sometimes and store it somewhere safe

Simple rule: Hosting backup is a bonus. Off-site backup is the real protection.

Manual WordPress Backup (No Plugin)

Manual backups are useful when your plugin fails or you want complete control. The steps are simple: download the site files and export the database.

Step 1: Backup WordPress Files

If you have cPanel:

• Open File Manager
• Go to your site folder (usually public_html)
• Select everything → click Compress (ZIP)
• Download the ZIP to your computer

Real-life example: If you uploaded product photos and they’re not backed up, your restored site might look “empty” even if pages are back.

Step 2: Backup the Database (phpMyAdmin)

• Open phpMyAdmin from your hosting panel
• Select your WordPress database (check wp-config.php if unsure)
• Click Export
• Select Quick and format SQL
• Download the .sql file

Now you have a complete backup:

• One ZIP file for your WordPress files
• One SQL file for your database

How Often Should You Backup WordPress?

This depends on how often your site changes:

• Personal blog: weekly backups
• Business website: weekly files + daily database
• WooCommerce store: daily backups (or more often)
• News site or active community: daily or twice daily

Simple way to decide: If losing 3 days of data would hurt, don’t backup weekly.

How to Restore a WordPress Backup (When You Need It)

A backup is only useful if you can restore it. Here’s the simple version.

Restore using a plugin (UpdraftPlus)

• Install WordPress (if needed)
• Install and activate UpdraftPlus
• Upload the backup files inside UpdraftPlus
• Click Restore and select what you want to restore:
  • Database
  • Plugins
  • Themes
  • Uploads

Restore manually

• Upload and extract your ZIP file into the site directory
• Create a database (or clear the old one)
• Import the SQL file in phpMyAdmin
• Update database login info in wp-config.php

Real-life example: If you moved your site to a new host, restoring manually is often the fastest method when plugin restore fails.

Q&A: Common Backup Questions

Do I really need off-site backups?

Yes. If your hosting has a major issue, your backups can disappear with your site. Off-site backups keep you safe even when everything goes wrong.

Can a backup plugin slow down my website?

Not usually in daily use. Backups run in the background on schedule. Just avoid running heavy backups during peak traffic hours if your hosting is weak.

What’s the easiest backup setup for beginners?

UpdraftPlus + Google Drive. It’s quick to set up and gives you off-site safety without technical steps.

Should I backup before updating plugins or themes?

Always. Updates are one of the most common times sites break. A fresh backup means you can roll back in minutes.

Final Thoughts: The Backup Habit That Saves You

If you want a simple, reliable backup habit, do this:

• Set automatic backups (plugin or hosting)
• Store backups off-site (Drive/Dropbox)
• Keep at least 5–10 recent backups
• Backup before major updates
• Test restore once, at least on a staging site

If you follow that, you’re already ahead of most WordPress site owners.

For your next step, check:
WordPress Security Checklist and
How to Fix Common WordPress Errors.

Your site is your work. Backups are how you protect it.