What It Means to Back Up Your WordPress Website
Before we dive into the steps, let’s simplify what the term “how to back up your WordPress website” means. A backup is a downloadable copy of your website, including your content, images, settings, and database, that you can restore anytime you face a problem.
If your website crashes, gets hacked, or breaks during an update, a backup saves the day.
Backing up is like saving worksheets on your computer, you always want a safety copy.
Why Back Up Matters (Before It’s Too Late)
You just spent hours tweaking your theme, writing that killer blog post, or adding products to WooCommerce. Then bam. A plugin update crashes everything. Or a hacker wipes your database overnight. In Nigeria alone, over 3,000 WordPress sites went dark last month from server glitches or phishing attacks.
A solid backup isn’t optional, it’s your site’s life insurance. This 2025 guide answers the top searches like “how to back up your WordPress website, the right way” and “free WordPress backup methods,” with Nigeria-friendly tips (think Naira payments for premium tools and local hosting quirks).
By the end, you’ll have daily automations running, so you sleep easy knowing one click restores everything.
How Often Should You Back Up WordPress? (Based on Real User Questions)
People ask “how often to backup WordPress site?” because they fear losing fresh content. The answer? It depends on your site:
| Site Type | Recommended Frequency | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Static Blog (low updates) | Weekly full + daily database | Covers rare changes without overload. |
| Active Ecommerce/Business | Daily full backups | Protects orders, inventory—real-time if possible. |
| High-Traffic Agency Site | Real-time + hourly database | Handles constant edits; automate to avoid manual hassle. |
Pro Tip: Always backup before updates. WordPress 6.7+ (current in 2025) has built-in prompts, but don’t rely on them alone.
The 3 Essential Types of WordPress Backups in 2025
To fully answer “what to include in WordPress backup,” cover these, partial ones fail 70% of restores:
| Type | What It Covers | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Files Backup | Themes, plugins, uploads (wp-content folder) | Before theme/plugin changes. |
| Database Backup | Posts, pages, settings, users | Daily—content lives here. |
| Full Site Backup | Files + Database + Config | Weekly or automated; gold standard for total recovery. |
Other type of wordpress backup are:
Automatic Backup → Scheduled daily/weekly backups. Easiest option.
Manual Backup → Done through cPanel or FTP. Avoid unless necessary.
Skip any? You’re gambling. Let’s fix that.
Method 1: Free Automatic Backup with UpdraftPlus (Top Plugin – 5-Min Setup)
UpdraftPlus dominates 2025 searches for “best WordPress backup plugin free” with 12M+ installs. It’s Nigerian-friendly: Works on slow connections, stores off-server.
- Install: Dashboard → Plugins → Add New → Search “UpdraftPlus” → Install & Activate (free version rocks).
- Configure: Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups → Settings tab.
- Schedule: Files/Database → Daily. (Tweak for your needs from above table.)
- Remote Storage: Select Google Drive (free), Dropbox, or OneDrive → Authenticate (2 clicks).
- Test Run: Backup Now → Check Files + Database → Send to storage.
Boom, automated. Searches spike on “automatic WordPress backup Nigeria”? This solves it.
Method 2: Manual Backup via cPanel or FTP (For Nigerian Hosts Like Leanna.ng)
Ideal for “manual WordPress backup step by step” queries. Great for one-offs on hosts like Leanna.ng.
Via cPanel (Most Common):
- Login to cPanel (e.g., leanna.ng/cpanel).
- Files → Backup Wizard or JetBackup → Full Website.
- Generate → Download ZIP (files) + SQL (database via phpMyAdmin → Export).
- Compress & save off-server.
Via FTP (For Pros):
- Use FileZilla (free) → Connect with host credentials.
- Download entire public_html folder.
- Export database separately in phpMyAdmin.
Time: 10 mins. Cost: ₦0. AnswerThePublic loves this for “how to backup your WordPress websites manually.”
Method 3: One-Click Hosting Backup (If You’re on Shared/Cloud Hosting)
For “WordPress backup hosting panel” searches, leverage your provider.
On Leanna.ng:
- Client Area → Hosting → Backups tab.
- Create/Download Latest → Includes full site.
See SiteGround’s backup tool for visuals.
Best Places to Store WordPress Backups (Avoid These Common Mistakes)
Top AnswerThePublic question: “Where to store WordPress backups?” Don’t just dump on your server, that’s 90% of failures.
Safe Options:
- Cloud: Google Drive (unlimited free tier) or Dropbox—auto-sync.
- External: USB drive + encrypted folder (for offline).
- Premium: Amazon S3 (₦2k/month for pros).
Rule: 3-2-1 Backup (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite). Delete server copies post-upload to free space.
How to Restore WordPress from Backup (Step-by-Step Recovery Guide)
Searches like “how to restore WordPress from backup after hack” peak post-incidents. With UpdraftPlus:
- Fresh Install WordPress (if site crashed).
- Install UpdraftPlus → Existing Backups → Upload or Rescan Storage.
- Select Date → Restore (tick all) → Confirm.
- Clear Cache → Site’s back in <10 mins.
Manual: Upload files via FTP, import SQL in phpMyAdmin. Test restores quarterly!
Where to Store Your Backups Safely
Cloud Storage
Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive.
External Hard Drive
Offline = fully safe.
On Your Hosting
Inside your File Manager.
If you’re using Leanna.ng, your backups stay secure with fast Nigerian servers.
My 2025 WordPress Backup Schedule (Copy This for Zero Stress)
Tailored for Nigerian users (power outages? Automate everything):
| Day/Time | Action | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Daily 3 AM | Database only | UpdraftPlus → Google Drive |
| Weekly Sunday 4 AM | Full site | UpdraftPlus → Cloud + Local Download |
| Pre-Update | Manual full | Hosting Panel or Plugin |
| Monthly 1st | Verify & Test Restore | All Methods |
FAQ: Answers to “How to Back Up WordPress” Searches from Nigerians
Q: What’s the best free WordPress backup plugin in 2025? A: UpdraftPlus—handles large sites, remote storage, no bloat.
Q: Can I back up WordPress with my phone? A: Yes—UpdraftPlus app + mobile browser for Google Drive sync.
Q: How to back up WordPress database only? A: phpMyAdmin Export—quick for content tweaks.
Q: Does Leanna.ng auto-backup my site? A: Yes, daily via JetBackup—add Updraft for extras.
Q: What if my site is hacked—how to restore fast? A: Use real-time tools like Jetpack VaultPress (₦5k/year).
Your 30-Second Action Plan Right Now
- Install UpdraftPlus.
- Set daily to Google Drive.
- Run first backup—done.
Conclusion
Learning how to back up your WordPress website is one of the smartest things you can do as a website owner. Whether you run a blog, small business website, or online store, backups protect your content, save you from costly downtime, and give you peace of mind.
With the right plugin and a simple system, you can secure your entire website in less than 5 minutes.
Ready to take the next step?
Explore Leanna.ng’s affordable and reliable hosting plans designed for Nigerian businesses.
