How to Backup and Restore Your WordPress Website

This article explains the backup function of WP STAGING | PRO.

You can create a backup of your entire WordPress website with one click and download it.

So, If your website breaks due to an updated plugin or a hacking attack, you can restore your website and bring it back to its previous working state.

Video: How to Back up and Restore WordPress

If you prefer watching to reading, have a look at this video, which explains all the steps of how to back up and restore WordPress:

Create a Backup of your WordPress Website

Let’s start.

First, open the WP STAGING | PRO plugin.

WP STAGING Pro Plugin in the Sidebar Menu
WP STAGING Pro Plugin in the Sidebar Menu

If you are not sure how to install the plugin, look at our “How to install WP STAGING | PRO” article.

Now click on the “Backup & Restore” button. WP STAGING | PRO searches for existing backups.

Backup & Restore Button
Backup & Restore Button

You’ll see two options: “Create New Backup” and “Upload Backup.”

Click on “Create a new backup.”

Create New Backup Button
Create New Backup Button

You can optionally assign a name with which you can identify the backup.

Set up a name for the backup
Set up a name for the backup

So, for instance, if you plan to update WooCommerce or any other plugin, you can name your backup like “Backup before installing WooCommerce.”

Then select the components of your website that WP STAGING | PRO should include in the backup. Unless you want to carry out a particular test, leave all the boxes checked. Now click on “Start Backup.”

Start the Backup Process
Start the Backup Process

The time it takes to create a backup differs and depends on the size of your website, but the WP STAGING backup function is pretty fast and usually much faster than other backup tools. So, especially for massive sites, you will notice a considerable performance advantage compare to other tools.

The Backup is Completed
The Backup is Completed

When the backup is ready, you will find the newly created backup in the “Your Backups” list. The icons indicate which components the backup includes.

The Backup Contains these Components
The Backup Contains these Components

Download the Backup File

To download the backup, click Actions and Download. That will download a file with the extension “.wpstg.”

Download the Backup
Download the Backup

Downloading the backup file to a local computer is always the recommended option because you want to ensure that you always have access to the backup file. For instance, If an attacker hacks your website, he could delete the backup file from there, and you would not be able to restore the site anymore.

The Backup File with the Extension ".wpstg"
The Backup File with the Extension “.wpstg”

Restore the Backup File

So, to restore the backup in the event of a broken website, you can either select the backup from the list of existing ones or, as recommended, upload the backup file from your local computer.

A great feature is that You can even upload the backup file to any other existing WordPress website and use that backup file to clone your website to another server or to clone your site.

Go back to WP STAGING and click the “Upload Backup” button.

Upload Backup Button
Upload Backup Button

Select the downloaded backup from the file explorer and upload it.

Select the WP STAGING Backup File
Select the WP STAGING Backup File

Once the backup is uploaded, click on Actions and Restore.

Click on "Restore"
Click on “Restore”

If the restore is successful, you will see the “Finished” modal.

WP STAGING Pro Restored the Backup Successfully
WP STAGING | PRO Restored the Backup Successfully

Open your website and test whether the website works as intended and is entirely functional.

That’s it. With the help of WP STAGING | PRO, you have created a backup of your entire WordPress website and restored it.