How to Back Up WordPress by UpdraftPlus

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4 hours ago

How to Back Up WordPress by UpdraftPlus backup tutorial showing files database offsite storage and restore verification

How to Back Up WordPress by UpdraftPlus is for site owners who want scheduled backups from inside WordPress with common remote storage choices. Use this method when small business sites, blogs, and many WooCommerce sites when paired with offsite storage and restore testing.

A good WordPress backup includes the website files and the database. The files carry themes, plugins, uploads, configuration, and custom code. The database carries posts, pages, users, settings, WooCommerce orders, booking records, form entries, menus, and plugin data. Before you change WordPress core, PHP, DNS, plugins, themes, checkout, or a page builder, make sure you know which backup contains both halves.

When this backup method makes sense

UpdraftPlus is a good fit when you already have that tool available and need a practical restore path. It is especially useful before updates, redesign work, hosting migrations, malware cleanup, PHP changes, database work, and plugin troubleshooting.

Before you begin

Confirm the WordPress URL and document root so you back up the right site.
Find the database name in wp-config.php or the hosting panel.
Check free disk space; many backup failures start with a full account.
Pause risky work until the backup finishes and you can see the file.
For stores and booking sites, note the last order, booking, or form entry before the backup.

Backup steps

Install UpdraftPlus from WordPress.org or Plugins > Add New.
Open Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups.
Choose file and database backup schedules.
Select a remote storage destination such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3 compatible storage, FTP, or another supported option.
Authenticate the remote storage and save settings.
Run a manual backup, then confirm files and database parts appear both in WordPress and remote storage.

Automated backups and cron

UpdraftPlus scheduled backups depend on WordPress scheduled tasks. Low-traffic sites or blocked loopback requests can delay backup runs, so consider a real server cron or external uptime trigger for important sites.

For WordPress plugin backups, remember that WordPress scheduled tasks often depend on WP-Cron. WP-Cron runs when WordPress receives traffic and notices a task is due. That is fine for many small sites, but low-traffic sites can run late. For business-critical sites, pair plugin schedules with a real server cron, hosting-panel backups, or provider backups where available.

How to test restore readiness

Use the UpdraftPlus restore interface and choose which backup components to restore: database, plugins, themes, uploads, and other files. Always back up the current state before restoring an older backup.

Do not test your only restore for the first time during an outage. Use a staging copy, temporary subdomain, local development environment, or provider restore preview when available. After restore, check login, home page, important pages, media, forms, checkout, email delivery, permalinks, and cache behavior.

Common mistakes

Using email as the only backup destination for large sites.
Keeping backups only on the web server.
Scheduling huge backups during peak traffic.
Never testing a restore on staging.

Where to store the backup

Keep at least one copy outside the web server. Good destinations include your own Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, S3-compatible storage, Backblaze B2, Wasabi, SFTP, a provider backup vault, or a secure internal backup server. The exact tool matters less than the restore test, retention policy, and separation from the production account.

Fix I.T. Phill recommendation

Use UpdraftPlus as one layer, not the whole plan. Keep a second backup path for important sites, especially WooCommerce, bookings, memberships, and agency-managed sites. Before major updates, take a fresh manual backup even if automatic backups are already scheduled.