Let’s talk about backing up your WordPress website. It’s something we all know we should do but sometimes it just gets put on the back burner right? I get it it can feel like a technical hurdle especially if you’re not a coding whiz. But trust me taking the time to back up your WordPress files and database is like having a safety net for your online world – and you wouldn’t want to be without one would you?
Tired of stressing over your WordPress site? 💀 Get peace of mind with Pressable’s automatic backups!
Why Backups Are Crucial
Tired of stressing over your WordPress site? 💀 Get peace of mind with Pressable’s automatic backups!
Think of your website like a carefully curated collection of your digital life – your blog posts images customer data even the design of your website itself.
Now imagine that data suddenly disappearing – poof! Gone.
This could happen due to a website crash a pesky hack or even just a plugin update that goes sideways.
That’s where backups come in.
They’re like your personal time machine allowing you to rewind to a specific point in time and restore your website to its previous state.
It’s a lifesaver especially when dealing with those unexpected website emergencies.
Two Backup Options: Manual and Automated
Now there are two main ways to handle backups: manually or automatically.
Manual Backups: The DIY Approach
Let’s start with manual backups.
It’s like taking a snapshot of your website saving it to a safe spot on your computer or cloud storage.
You can do this yourself but it’s a bit more hands-on and requires some technical knowledge.
Think of it like taking a photo of a beautiful sunset.
You have to know how to use the camera choose the right settings and make sure the shot is well-composed.
In the same way a manual backup requires knowing how to connect to your website’s server download the necessary files and save them securely.
Manual backups can be useful for a few specific scenarios.
For example if you’re about to make a big change to your website – like updating a theme or plugin – it’s a good idea to take a manual backup first.
That way if something goes wrong you can easily roll back to the previous version.
Automated Backups: The “Set It and Forget It” Option
Now if you’re not a tech wizard or you just prefer a more streamlined approach automated backups are the way to go.
Think of it like setting up a recurring reminder on your calendar to back up your website.
Automated backups are handled by software or plugins which run in the background taking snapshots of your website at regular intervals.
This means you don’t have to lift a finger (unless you need to manually restore a backup – but more on that later).
Pressable’s Automatic Backup Feature: Peace of Mind Included
If you’re using Pressable’s managed WordPress hosting you’ll be happy to know that automatic backups are included as a standard feature.
It’s like having a built-in backup team working tirelessly behind the scenes to protect your website.
Pressable’s automatic backups are designed to give you that much-needed peace of mind.
Every time you make a change to your site a backup is automatically created overnight ensuring you have a recent snapshot.
Plus they also offer hourly database backups which is incredibly valuable for e-commerce sites where data changes frequently.
When Manual Backups Are Still Helpful
Even with Pressable’s automatic backups there are still times when a manual backup can be beneficial.
Maybe you want to create a backup right before a major software update just for extra security.
Or perhaps you’re feeling extra cautious and want to take a backup before making any significant changes to your website.
Diving Deeper: How To Manually Back Up Your WordPress Files and Database
Here’s where things get a bit more technical but don’t worry I’ll guide you through it step by step.
Understanding Your WordPress Files and Database
Think of your WordPress website as a house.
The files are the actual structure of the house including the walls roof and floors.
The database is like the furniture and belongings inside the house – it holds all the content like your blog posts images and comments.
To fully back up your website you need to back up both the files and the database.
Using Pressable’s Dashboard for Manual Backups
If you’re a Pressable user you have a special advantage – you can create manual backups right from your Pressable dashboard.
It’s a super easy process:
- Log in to your Pressable dashboard.
- Go to the “Backups” section.
- Click on the “Create Backup” button.
- Select the backup type (full or incremental).
- Choose a name for your backup.
- Click on the “Create Backup” button.
That’s it! Your backup will be created and stored securely on Pressable’s servers.
Using an SFTP Client for Manual Backups
Now let’s talk about using an SFTP client which is like a digital tool that allows you to connect to your website’s server and download files directly.
It’s a little more hands-on but it’s still manageable.
- Choose an SFTP client. There are many options available like FileZilla Cyberduck and WinSCP.
- Connect to your website’s server. You’ll need your website’s hostname username and password.
- Download all the website files. These files are typically located in the “public_html” folder.
- Download a copy of your website’s database. You can do this using a tool like phpMyAdmin. Pressable provides a user-friendly version of phpMyAdmin for accessing your databases directly.
- Save the files and database to your computer.
- Consider backing up your website to a secondary cloud storage service. This is extra protection in case something happens to your primary backup.
Backing Up Your Database with phpMyAdmin
Here’s a quick overview of using phpMyAdmin to back up your database:
- Log in to your Pressable dashboard.
- Go to the “Databases” section.
- Select the database you want to back up.
- Click on the “Export” tab.
- Choose the export format (e.g. SQL).
- Click on the “Go” button.
- Save the exported file to your computer.
WordPress Backup Plugins: A Lifeline for Non-Pressable Users
If you’re not using Pressable’s managed WordPress hosting you’ll need to rely on WordPress plugins to handle your backups.
These plugins automate the process for you but it’s important to choose one that’s reliable and won’t slow down your website.
Top WordPress Backup Plugins
Here are a few of the most popular and reliable WordPress backup plugins:
- Jetpack Security: This plugin offers a powerful VaultPress feature for easy one-click backups and restorations. It also includes a suite of security tools to protect your website from threats like malware and spam.
- UpdraftPlus: UpdraftPlus comes in free and premium versions. The free version is a great starting point offering scheduled backups storage on cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive and restoration capabilities. The premium version includes additional features like incremental backups more file and database backup options and automated backups after plugin or theme updates.
- BlogVault: This plugin is a premium service but it offers a free 7-day trial. BlogVault offers daily scheduled backups unlimited manual backups multi-site backup features a built-in staging environment website monitoring and an activity log.
Challenges of Managing Backups Manually
While plugins can make managing backups easier there are still some challenges associated with doing it yourself.
- Time-consuming: Manually restoring your website from a backup can be time-consuming especially if you have a large website or if you’ve lost a lot of data.
- Technical knowledge required: You’ll need to have a basic understanding of how to work with files and databases. If you’re not comfortable with these tasks it can be quite daunting.
- Increased risk of errors: Even if you know what you’re doing there’s always a risk of making mistakes during the backup or restoration process which could lead to data loss.
Pressable’s Restoration Tool: A Streamlined Approach
Pressable offers a seamless restoration experience making it easy to recover your website from backups.
You can restore your website either automatically or manually using an SFTP client.
Automatic Restoration with Pressable
Here’s how to restore your website automatically using Pressable’s dashboard:
- Log in to your Pressable dashboard.
- Go to the “Backups” section.
- Select the backup you want to restore.
- Click on the “Restore” button.
That’s it! Pressable handles the entire restoration process for you.
Considerations During Restoration
Keep in mind that restoring your website from a backup will temporarily put your site into maintenance mode meaning it will be unavailable to visitors.
The length of time your website will be in maintenance mode depends on the size of your website.
For smaller websites it might only take a few minutes but for larger websites it could take a few hours.
It’s a good idea to schedule restorations during low-traffic periods to minimize disruption for your visitors.
Protect Your Website: Make Backups a Priority
Regularly backing up your website is essential for protecting your digital investment.
Whether you choose to do it manually or automate the process having backups is like having a safety net in place ensuring you can recover your website quickly and easily in case of any unexpected issues.
Don’t let the fear of data loss or downtime hold you back.
Embrace the peace of mind that comes with knowing your WordPress site is protected.
If you’re looking for a reliable and easy-to-use solution Pressable’s managed WordPress hosting with automatic backups is a great option.
Tired of stressing over your WordPress site? 💀 Get peace of mind with Pressable’s automatic backups!