Backing up your WordPress site is essential to safeguard your content, settings, and user data from potential loss. Issues like server failures, hacking attempts, or accidental deletions can occur unexpectedly, making regular backups a critical part of maintaining your website. A comprehensive backup includes both your WordPress files and the database that stores your site’s content and configurations.
Creating backups manually ensures that you have complete control over what is saved and where it is stored. While there are plugins available that automate this process, a manual backup is recommended for those who prefer direct access to their files and database, or when dealing with larger, more complex sites. This process involves downloading all necessary files and database data to a secure location, such as an external drive or cloud storage.
This guide will take you through the steps needed to manually backup your WordPress site. Following these steps ensures that you have a reliable copy of your site that can be restored quickly if anything goes wrong.
Steps to backup your WordPress site:
- Backup your WordPress files.
Use an FTP client or your hosting provider’s file manager to download all your WordPress files, including themes, plugins, and uploads.
$ zip -r wordpress-files-backup.zip /path-to-your-wordpress-files/
- Backup your WordPress database.
It’s essential to back up your database, as it contains all your content and settings.
$ mysqldump -u your-username -p your-database-name > database-backup.sql
- Store your backups securely.
Save the backup files to a secure location, such as a cloud storage service or an external hard drive.
- Automate your backups.
Set up a schedule to automate your backups using a plugin or cron jobs to ensure regular and consistent backups.
// Example cron job for daily database backup 0 2 * * * /usr/bin/mysqldump -u your-username -p your-database-name > /path-to-backup/database-backup.sql - Verify your backups regularly.
Regularly check that your backup files are complete and not corrupted by performing occasional test restores.
Regular backups are crucial for the security and stability of your WordPress site.
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is a cloud architect with deep roots in software development and open-source advocacy. Certified in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, he specializes in designing and managing robust cloud and on-premises infrastructures.
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