How often should my WordPress site be backed up?
Back up a business WordPress site at least daily, and always right before an update or a big change. Each backup needs both the database and the files. Keep several days of copies in more than one place, away from your web server, and restore one now and then so you know they work.
The short version
- Daily for most business sites; more often for busy online stores.
- Before every update or big edit, take a fresh one.
- Both parts: the database and the files.
- Several copies, several places, not only on the web server.
- Test a restore now and then.
How often should I back up?
WordPress’s backup guide says to back up the database regularly and always before an upgrade. It suggests weekly can do for small, rarely changed sites and daily for busy ones.
For a business site, daily is the sensible default. If your site takes orders or bookings all day, back up the database more often, because everything since the last backup is at risk.
Take an extra backup right before you update plugins, themes or WordPress, or edit an important page. See why plugin updates sometimes break sites.
What makes a good backup?
- Both halves. The database holds your pages, posts, settings and orders. The files hold WordPress itself, themes, plugins and uploaded images. The WordPress guide says you need both to restore a typical site.
- More than one location. The same guide suggests keeping copies in separate places, such as cloud storage and your own computer, as well as the server.
- A history. Keep several days or weeks of copies, not only the newest.
- Something you can reach. Know how to get a copy even if your web company disappears.
Why does it matter?
Updates, hacks, deleted pages and server failures are all recoverable with a good backup. Without one, you may be rebuilding from scratch. If your site has a security warning from Google, a clean backup can shorten the cleanup a lot.
What are the common mistakes?
- Backups only on the same server. If the server fails or is hacked, they go too.
- Only the latest copy. If the problem started a week ago, today’s backup contains it.
- Database only, or files only. Half a backup won’t bring the site back.
- A backup plugin nobody watches. Jobs fail silently. The WordPress guide advises making a manual backup now and then to make sure the process works.
How do I know my backups work?
Restore one to a staging copy and click around: pages, forms, images. If nobody can tell you when the last backup ran or has ever restored one, treat your backups as unproven.
What does it cost in time?
Automatic backups take minutes to set up. A test restore takes longer, but it’s the only proof they work. Cloud storage for copies is often low-cost; check your provider’s pricing.
How does E-3 handle this?
Website care from E-3 includes daily backups, and updates are tested on a staging copy first. If you need a restore, our backups and restore help page explains what to ask for. You’ll usually hear back within one business day.
Related questions
Common questions
- Doesn't my host already back up my site?
- Many do, but check how often, how long copies are kept and whether you can restore one yourself. Some host backups exist only for the host's own disaster recovery.
- What does a WordPress backup include?
- Two parts: the database, which holds pages, posts, settings and orders, and the files, which include WordPress, themes, plugins and uploads. You need both to restore the site.
- How long should I keep backups?
- Several days to a few weeks. Problems like a hack can go unnoticed for days, so you need a copy from before the trouble started.
Rather talk it through?
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