{"id":2225,"date":"2024-09-17T22:56:36","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T17:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebeehost.com\/wiki\/?p=2225"},"modified":"2024-09-18T22:25:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T17:25:22","slug":"backing-up-and-restoring-your-wordpress-website-manually","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebeehost.com\/wiki\/backing-up-and-restoring-your-wordpress-website-manually\/","title":{"rendered":"Backing Up and Restoring Your WordPress Website Manually"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Is your website prepared for the unexpected? With WordPress powering over 40% of all websites, it\u2019s a prime target for hacking attempts, unauthorized access, accidental deletion, or technical failures. But don\u2019t worry! In this guide, we\u2019ll cover the methods to create and restore backups, providing step-by-step instructions and making it easy for you to protect your data\u2014regardless of your technical expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n

TheBeeHost customers also benefit from our free JetBackup service, offering automatic backups and a simple restoration process. However, for those who prefer more manual control or an added layer of protection, this guide will walk you through how to effectively manage your own backups.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the end of this post, you\u2019ll have the tools and knowledge to keep your WordPress website safe, reliable, and operational at all times.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a WordPress Backup?<\/b><\/h3>\n

A WordPress backup is a secure copy of all the important elements that make up your website, allowing you to recover from unexpected data loss or system failures. This backup includes two important components:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Files<\/b>: These are the static elements of your website, including themes, plugins, and media uploads, as well as the core WordPress files that are responsible for your site’s functionality and appearance.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The Database<\/b>: This stores all the dynamic content, such as posts, pages, comments, user data, and site configurations. Without the database, your site would lack the information that gives it structure and purpose.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Regularly backing up both components ensures you can fully restore your site if anything goes wrong, whether from data corruption, hacking, or a plugin conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Manual Backup Method: Step-by-Step Guide<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Backing up your WordPress website manually is a reliable way to maintain full control over your site\u2019s data and ensure that everything is stored securely.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Backing Up Website Files<\/b><\/h3>\n

    cPanel File Manager
    \n<\/b><\/h4>\n

    To back up your website files through cPanel, follow these detailed steps:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Access your cPanel hosting account by navigating to https:\/\/yourdomain.com:2083\/<\/code>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Once in cPanel, navigate to the <\/span>Files<\/b> section and click on <\/span>File Manager<\/b>.\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. In the File Manager, open the domain\u2019s <\/span>public_html<\/b> directory, which contains all the files for your website.\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Select all the files in the <\/span>public_html<\/b> folder. You can do this by clicking the <\/span>Select All<\/b> button at the top or manually selecting files with Ctrl + Click (Windows)<\/code> or Command + Click (Mac)<\/code>.
      \n\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. After selecting the files, right-click and click on <\/span>Compress<\/b>.
      \n\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Choose the <\/span>Zip Archive<\/b> option and name your compressed file (e.g., files-backup-15-09-2024.zip)<\/code>. This naming convention helps you keep track of different backup versions easily.\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. Once the files are compressed, right-click on the compressed file and select <\/span>Download<\/b> to save the backup to your local machine.<\/span><\/span>
      \n\"\"<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      You now have a full backup of your website files stored locally.<\/span><\/p>\n

      DirectAdmin File Manager
      \n<\/b><\/h4>\n

      DirectAdmin users can follow these steps to manually back up their website files:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Access the DirectAdmin hosting control panel by navigating to https:\/\/yourdomain.com:2222<\/code>.<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Once logged in, locate the <\/span>System Info & Files<\/b> section, and click on <\/span>File Manager<\/b>.
        \n\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Navigate to the <\/span>domains<\/b> folder, then open the folder corresponding to your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com<\/code>). Inside this, find the <\/span>public_html<\/b> folder containing your website files.
        \n\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Select the necessary files in the <\/span>public_html<\/b> directory that you want to back up.
        \n\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
      5. Right-click and click on Add To<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Archive<\/b> from the options menu and choose to compress the files.
        \n\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n
      6. After the archive is created, right-click on it and choose <\/span>Download<\/b> to save the backup to your computer.
        \n\"\"<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        FTP Client (FileZilla)<\/b><\/h4>\n

        An FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client is an application software that allows you to connect directly to your website\u2019s server to manage files. It provides a user-friendly interface to upload, download, and modify files between your local computer and the server where your website is hosted.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Using an FTP client is particularly beneficial when dealing with large backup files that may exceed the size limits of hosting control panels like cPanel or DirectAdmin. FTP clients allow for unlimited file sizes and provide a stable connection for uploading, along with features like pausing and resuming transfers.<\/span><\/p>\n

        In this guide, we\u2019re using FileZilla, follow these steps to back up your files using it:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Open FileZilla and connect to your server by entering your FTP credentials (host, username, password, and port).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n