How to restore your WordPress site

Restoring your WordPress site from a backup is an essential skill for any website owner or administrator. Whether due to server issues, a hacking attempt, or accidental data loss, restoring from a backup can quickly return your site to its previous state. The restore process involves replacing your current site files and database with the backed-up versions, ensuring that your website functions as it did before any issues occurred.

Manual restoration allows you to have full control over what is restored and how it is applied. This method is particularly useful when you need to recover from a specific point in time or when dealing with complex website setups. It involves uploading the necessary files and database to your server and updating configurations if needed to match your current environment.

This guide will walk you through the process of manually restoring your WordPress site from a backup. Following these steps will help you get your site back online smoothly and efficiently.

1. Upload your WordPress files to the server.

   Use an FTP client or your hosting provider’s file manager to upload the backed-up WordPress files to the root directory of your server.

   $ unzip wordpress-files-backup.zip -d /path-to-your-wordpress-directory/

2. Restore your WordPress database.

   Use phpMyAdmin or the MySQL command line to import the database backup to your server.

   $ mysql -u your-username -p your-database-name < database-backup.sql

3. Update the wp-config.php file if necessary.

   If you are restoring to a different server or database, ensure that the wp-config.php file reflects the correct database credentials.

   define('DB_NAME', 'your-database-name');
       define('DB_USER', 'your-username');
       define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your-password');
       define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

4. Test your site to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

   After restoring your site, visit your domain to check that all pages, posts, and functionality are working as expected.

5. Verify the integrity of the restored site.

   Ensure that all content, images, and links are present and working as they should.

6. Delete old backup files from your server.

   Once you have confirmed that the restore was successful, remove the old backup files from your server to prevent unauthorized access.