Backing up your WordPress website is an essential task that ensures your data is safe and secure in case of unforeseen events such as website crashes, data loss, or security breaches. While there are plugins available to automate the backup process, learning how to manually backup your WordPress website gives you more control and understanding of your site’s files and database. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of manually backing up your WordPress website.

Step 1: Accessing Your WordPress Files

To begin, you’ll need access to the files of your WordPress website. You can do this through an FTP client or the File Manager in your web hosting control panel (such as cPanel). Once you’ve accessed your files, locate the WordPress root directory, which contains all the files and folders related to your website.

After That:

Step 2: Exporting WordPress Files

The first part of the backup process involves exporting your WordPress files. This includes all the core WordPress files, themes, plugins, uploads, and any customizations you’ve made. To do this, simply select all the files and folders within your WordPress root directory and download them to your local computer. This can be done by dragging and dropping the files from the FTP client to a folder on your computer.

Compress All files

Step 3: Exporting WordPress Database

The next crucial step is to export your WordPress database. The database contains all your website’s content, including posts, pages, comments, and settings. To export the database, you’ll need to access your web hosting control panel and navigate to the phpMyAdmin tool. Once there, select the database associated with your WordPress website from the list on the left-hand side.

Right Click on Zip and and Download

Step 4: Exporting Database Tables

With the correct database selected, click on the “Export” tab in phpMyAdmin. You’ll be presented with various export options. Choose the “Quick” method and select the format as SQL. Then, click on the “Go” button to download the database file to your computer. This file contains all the data from your WordPress database and is essential for restoring your website in the event of data loss.

Find Database in Php Myadmin and Export

Step 5: Storing Backup Files Securely

Once you’ve downloaded both the WordPress files and the database export file, it’s important to store them securely. Consider using encrypted storage solutions or cloud storage services for added security. Additionally, it’s a good practice to keep multiple copies of your backup files in different locations to mitigate the risk of data loss.

Click on Export and Done

Step 6: Testing the Backup

After completing the backup process, it’s advisable to test the backup files to ensure they contain all the necessary data for restoring your website. You can do this by setting up a test environment on a local server or using a staging site provided by your web hosting provider. Import the database file into a new database and upload the WordPress files. Then, verify that your website functions correctly in the test environment.

Conclusion:

Manually backing up your WordPress website is a fundamental task that every website owner should prioritize. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your website’s data is safe and secure, giving you peace of mind knowing that you have a backup in place in case of emergencies. Remember to regularly update your backups and store them securely to protect your website from potential data loss.