How To Backup WordPress

Why backup files in WordPress?

Most users fail to regularly back up their content, and while the risk may seem minimal, losing all your content can be devastating to your site. If a loss happens, it would be impossible to restore every piece of data stored on your database. This includes content, links, comments, images, media and more.

Your WordPress pages and links are virtual content, so they do not exist in a tangible way. Instead, the data is simply stored in a database, and every time a page is viewed on WordPress, the information is extracted from MySQL database. Then, the information is presented to you on your screen. Therefore, in the instance that your MySQL database becomes corrupt, or if you change or move web hosts, you can potentially delete critical information that will be lost forever.

Install and activate the WordPress database backup

1. Access WordPress dashboard
2. Click on Plugins
3. Click on Admin
4. Type “database backup” in search box
5. Click on Search
6. Select the WP-DB-Backup plugin
7. Install the plugin
8. Click on Install Now
9. Click on Proceed
10. Access the WP-DB-Backup plguin
11. Click on Actiavte

It is easy to install the WordPress database backup by simply following a few simple steps. By installing the backup plugin, you will be scheduling regular backups to your email address or web server.

Let’s set up the WordPress database backup plugin right now. You can install the plugin manually if you need to adjust certain settings, or you can just install it automatically with the predetermined specs. To install the plugin now, click on Plugins. Then, click on Admin. In the search box, type “database backup” and click on Search. Select the WP-DB-Backup plugin.

A pop-up screen will appear with information about the WP-DB Backup plugin for WordPress. Most importantly, you must make sure that your version of WordPress is compatible with the plugin in. Once you have verified the compatibility, click on Install Now.

Once you have installed the WP-DB Backup plugin for WordPress, click on Proceed. The next step is to activate the plugin. Go ahead and click Activate now.

Adjust settings for your WP-DB Backup plugin

1. Access WordPress dashboard
2. Click on Settings
3. Click on Tool Backup
4. Select the tables to backup
5. Click on “Exclude Spam Comments”
6. Save changes

Next, return to the WordPress dashboard and access the Settings page. Click on the link, Tool Backup. Remember, all of the information contained on your WordPress blog is stored on your MySQL database in the forms of tables. The information is categorized into rows and columns, which form tables. Now, select the tables you want to backup. The tables shown are default tables, but if you have installed other plugins that also store information to your MySQL database, then you will be able to backup this information as well.

By default, you will backup all comments. Click on “Exclude Spam Comments” since there is no benefit in storing messages you do not need. You can also exclude post revisions. By excluding post revisions, you will only backup posts that have been published or saved as a draft, and any saved revisions will be automatically ignored.

Available WP-DB Backup plugin options

Backup to server

1. Save to server
2. Access the wp-content folder
3. Adjust permissions
4. Enter “777” or “755”

You have the option to save the backup to the server. In order to save to the server, you need to make sure that your wp-content folder has the correct permissions. In most cases, you need to edit these permission to “777” and in some cases, you need to edit the settings to “755” depending on the system configuration (try both permissions, if necessary).

Alternatively, if you feel more comfortable, you can always backup your WordPress files to your computer, or you can elect to backup the files by sending them to your email.

Backup to your computer

1. Access WordPress dashboard
2. Click on Plugins
3. Click on Tool Backup
4. Click on Download to Your Computer
5. Click on Backup Now
6. Save the file to your computer

Let’s discuss how to backup the files to your computer. First, return the WordPress dashboard and click on Download to Your Computer. Then, click on Backup now. The backup progress is shown directly on your WordPress dashboard, so you will be able to see when the backup is complete. If your blog has a lot of content, plugins, images, and other large media files, this backup will take a longer time. If you run a simple site, the WordPress blog will backup fairly quickly.

Once your backup is complete, a new window will pop up with the actual backup file in the form of SQL. You can save this file to your computer. You may want to create a WordPress folder where you can continue to save all of your backup files including any miscellaneous files belonging to WordPress. You can always access this folder later in case your WordPress site fails for whatever reason. The backup can now restore any lost information.

Backup using email

Using email to schedule and store WordPress backups is easy. Select your backup schedule now and enter the preferred email address to where backups should be mailed.

If you have several WordPress blogs, you may want to set up a dedicated email address that can accept all of your backups. An email account like Gmail can be especially useful since the account can hold a great deal of information and data. Gmail has virtually unlimited space and you can store and file your backups very easily.

Schedule regular backups on your WordPress WP-DB Backup plugin

1. Access WordPress dashboard
2. Click on Backup Now
3. Select backup intervals
4. Click on Schedule Backup

Make sure you have the latest backup version saved to your computer by scheduling regular, automatic backups. Returning to the WordPress dashboard, go to Backup Now to schedule the automatic backups. You can select to have your backups delivered to you in any increment of time that you desire. Your backups should be dependent on how often your WordPress blog gets updated, and you also should consider how many comments you receive on your WordPress blog.

For instance, if your WordPress blog receives relatively low traffic, you may want to backup your blog once weekly. On the other hand, if your blog receives a great deal of traffic and if your comment volume is high, you should set up backup reminders to occur once daily. In most instances, you do not need to set up backups any more than once a day unless your WordPress blog receives a tremendous amount of visitors and comment traffic.

When you are through making your selections, click on Schedule Backup. Your backup schedule options have now been saved. If you have opted for email backups, you can check your account from time to time to verify that scheduled backups are successfully occurring.

Scheduled backups virtually guarantee that your information is always saved and stored in a secure location. If anything should happen to your WordPress blog, then you can easily import your backup files into your WordPress account and restore all lost posts, content, comments, images and data.