Backing Up WordPress¶

Use this page when creating a WordPress backup before updates, plugin work, URL changes, PHP changes, imports, or other work that affects the live site.

What A WordPress Backup Needs¶

Backup From cPanel¶

Use cPanel when you need an account-level backup or a copy you can download.

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Open Backup or Backup Wizard.
3. Download the home directory backup.
4. Download the relevant MySQL database backup.
5. Store the files somewhere safe.

Where To Store Backups¶

Keep important backups somewhere other than the live hosting account. Good storage locations include:

• A local computer.
• A cloud storage account.
• A managed backup service.
• Another storage system controlled by your organization.

For business-critical sites, keep more than one restore point. A single backup created after a problem starts may not be enough.

Backup Before Updates¶

Before updating WordPress core, plugins, or themes:

1. Confirm the site works before you start.
2. Create or download a backup.
3. Update one important component at a time when possible.
4. Test the public site and admin dashboard after updates.

Back Up From SSH With WP-CLI¶

Run this from the WordPress document root to export the database before risky work:

wp db export ~/example-before-change.sql

WP-CLI database exports do not include uploads, themes, or plugins. Pair the database export with a cPanel file backup, file archive, or another complete file backup.

Review wp-toolkit and WP-CLI backup options

Backup Before Larger Work¶

Create a fresh backup before:

• Changing PHP versions.
• Updating WooCommerce, page builders, membership plugins, or form plugins.
• Importing content.
• Running search/replace tools.
• Switching themes.
• Working on SSL or URL changes.

Restore Planning¶

Backups are only useful if they can be restored. For important sites, keep notes with the backup date, the domain, the database name, and the reason the backup was created. If you are not sure whether a backup is complete, contact Fused before making a risky change.

Related Guides¶