--- title: "Tutorial - Backing up your WordPress website" description: "Find out how to back up the content of your WordPress website and its database" url: https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/web-cloud/web-hosting/how-to-backup-your-wordpress lang: en lastUpdated: 2023-02-22 --- # Tutorial - Backing up your WordPress website ## Objective Even taking all precautions, your website remains exposed to a potential malfunction (handling error, accidental overwriting of files, faulty configuration, security breach or hacking) that can result in partial or total loss of your data. Regular backups of your website is a good practice. This will enable you to revert your website to an earlier state when you experience a technical issue. On a web hosting plan, you are responsible for your website’s backups. Although OVHcloud offers automated backups (non-contractual), we recommend to carry out regular backups yourself, and to manage them using appropriate backup media (hard disk, USB drive, etc.) as an added precaution. :::warning OVHcloud provides services that you are responsible for with regard to their configuration and management. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that they function properly. This tutorial is designed to help you with common tasks. Nevertheless, we recommend contacting a [specialist provider](https://partner.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/directory/) or the [WordPress support](https://wordpress.com/support/) if you encounter any difficulties. We will not be able to assist you. You can find more information in the [Go further](#go-further) section of this guide. ::: **This tutorial explains how to back up the content of your WordPress website and its database.** ## Requirements - An [OVHcloud web hosting plan](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/web-hosting/) with [WordPress installed](/en/guides/web-cloud/web-hosting/cms-install-1-click-modules.md) ## Instructions You can perform a backup in two ways: **manually** or by **using a plugin**. OVHcloud provides an [automatic data backup service](/en/guides/web-cloud/web-hosting/ftp-save-and-backup.md) (non-contractual) and makes these backups available. However, it is your responsibility to set up your own restoration policy and to determine restoration points at times you deem appropriate. ### Method 1: Perform a manual backup Manual backups should be done in two steps. First, you need to back up your website’s PHP files, then export your database. #### 1.1 Back up your website files Retrieving your data is done via an FTP client like FileZilla. See our tutorial "[Using FileZilla with your OVHcloud hosting](/en/guides/web-cloud/web-hosting/ftp-filezilla-user-guide.md)" for more information. When you are logged in to your server via FTP, you will need to retrieve the contents of the `www` directory from the right pane (drag and drop). This directory contains all the files and directories of your WordPress site (configuration, themes, media, etc.). ![View of WordPress files and directories at the root](/images/assets/screens/other/web-tools/filezilla/wordpress-into-www.png) Click on the `www` directory and drag it to the directory of your choice in the left window. File transfer will start automatically. If your website experiences any issues, you will need to do the opposite by overwriting the destination files. #### 1.2 Export your database To export your database, go to the _PHPMyAdmin_ interface via the URL that was sent to you when you subscribed to your web hosting plan. :::tip Please refer to our guide on [exporting a database](/en/guides/web-cloud/web-hosting/sql-database-export.md). ::: ![PHPMyAdmin access - Home](/images/assets/screens/other/web-tools/phpmyadmin/pma-main-page-2.png) Click `Export ` at the top of the page: ![PHPMyAdmin access - Export](/images/assets/screens/other/web-tools/phpmyadmin/pma-export.png) Leave the default choices: Quick export method and SQL format. Click `Go ` and you will download your entire database in Structured Query Language (SQL) format. ![PHPMyAdmin Access - Export - Download](/images/assets/screens/other/browsers/web-pages/dowload-successfull.png) ### Method 2: Create a backup with a plugin There are many WordPress plugins you can use to manage backups. The most popular is [UpdraftPlus](https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/), which has several million active installations. The free version is enough to back up your website. The premium version offers more options such as incremental backups, a migration tool, multisite backup, more choices on clouds for storing data, etc. Download the `.zip` file to your computer. For the sake of clarity, the downloaded plugin file will be renamed **updraftplus.zip** in the examples below. #### 2.1 Log in to the administration interface to install the plugin By default, this is your domain name followed by `/wp-admin`: ![Administrator login access on wp-admin](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/login-interface.png) On the home page, go to the `Plugins ` section, then click `Add New `: ![Add extension](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/plugins-add-new.png) Upload the plugin by clicking the `Browse ` button: ![Upload extension](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/plugins-add-new-updraftplus.png) Click `Install Now `: ![Install extension](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/plugins-browse-updraftplus.png) After installation, you are prompted to activate the plugin: ![Installation confirmation](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/plugins-activate-updraftplus.png) Once you have enabled it, it will appear in the `Plugins` list: ![List of installed extensions](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/plugins-list-updraftplus.png) #### 2.2 Configure your backups On the page mentioned above, click on `Settings `. Then, on the `UpdraftPlus Backup/Restore` page, click on the `Settings ` tab: ![Page UpdraftPlus Backup/Restore](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/updraftplus-settings.png) Set the backup schedule to daily for your files and your database: ![Page UpdraftPlus Settings](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/updraftplus-settings-2.png) Choose `Email` backup. Backups will be sent to the email address of the administrator account (the account you are using): ![Backup by email address](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/email-setting.png) At the bottom of the page, click `Save changes ` to validate. #### 2.3 Perform your first backup Go back to the `Backup/Restore ` tab and click the `Backup Now ` button: ![Page UpdraftPlus Backup/Restore](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/updraftplus-backup-now.png) In the window that pops up, click again on `Backup Now `: ![Page UpdraftPlus modal Backup/Restore](/images/assets/screens/other/cms/wordpress/updraftplus/updraftplus-perform-backup.png) Once your backups are complete, you will receive two emails: one with the content of your WordPress, the other with the database of your website. If you do not receive any emails, check the email address of the account you are using (in the `Accounts ` section). Also check your spam/junk mail folders. ### How to schedule backups The frequency of your backups is determined by how often you edit your content. A daily backup is useful if you are publishing content to your website every day. Adapt the frequency to match your content updates. You can update it manually (this is the default option). It is also recommended to create a backup before you install or modify themes or plugins. ### What to remember - Integrating a regular backup routine is a good way to secure the content of your website. - Ensure that your backups are secure. - Make a backup before you perform an update, and then check that everything is working properly on your website. By applying these best practices, you will have the possibility to restore the website to a healthy earlier state. ## Go further [](#) - [WordPress official website](https://wordpress.org) - [More information on backups for your web hosting plan](/en/guides/web-cloud/web-hosting/hosting-technical-specificities.md#automatic-backup-information) For specialised services (SEO, development, etc.), contact [OVHcloud partners](https://partner.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/directory/). If you would like assistance using and configuring your OVHcloud solutions, please refer to our [support offers](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/support-levels/). Join our [community of users](https://community.ovhcloud.com/).