Why You Need to Regularly Back Up Your WordPress Site

Ensuring the security and safety of your data should be a top priority when it comes to your WordPress website. You never know when accidental loss or hacking attempts may occur, which is why it’s crucial to take regular backups.

Understanding What to Back Up

Before diving into backup steps, it’s important to understand what exactly you need to back up. Your website consists of two main components- the website files and the database. The website files contain all the code and content of your website, while the database stores essential data like login credentials, user information, orders, comments, and much more.

Step-by-Step Guide to Taking Backups

Step 1: Choose a Backup Method

There are two popular methods to backup a WordPress website- manually or using a backup plugin. Manual backups involve downloading and saving your website files and database to a local device, requiring more effort and technical knowledge. Backup plugins, on the other hand, automate most of the backup process, making it the most convenient way to backup your WordPress website.

Step 2: Take a Backup of Your Website Files

To take a backup of your website files, you need to connect to your website via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and download a copy of all the files. Then, locate and select the website directory within your hosting account, right-click on the folder, and select ‘Download’ to save a copy of all the files to your computer.

Step 3: Take a Backup of Your WordPress Database

Backing up your WordPress database requires the use of phpMyAdmin or any other database management tool. Log in to your cPanel account or any other hosting account’s control panel provided by your hosting provider. Click on ‘phpMyAdmin’ under the ‘Databases’ section, select your WordPress database from the list, and click on ‘Export’ from the top menu. Choose the export method and select ‘Custom’ from the drop-down, select all the tables from the list, and ensure that the ‘Export’ method is set to ‘SQL.’ Save the backup file to your computer.

Step 4: Store Your Backup Files Securely

Once you’ve downloaded a copy of your website files and database, store them safely in secure locations, such as other servers, external hard drives, or cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive or Amazon S3.

Step 5: Test Your Backup

Test your backup files by replacing your current WordPress installation with the backup files and checking if everything works correctly.

Conclusion

Taking regular backups of your WordPress website is vital to ensure that your data is always safe and secure. While it may seem like a daunting task, following these simple steps and choosing the right backup method can make the backup process a smooth and hassle-free experience. Take the time to create and store backups of your WordPress website today, and you’ll be thankful in the long run if anything ever goes wrong.