One of the easiest ways to backup a WordPress site is to use a plugin to automate the process. However, if you’re an experienced user then you might want to know how to backup a WordPress site from cPanel.
This way, you can gain more control over the backup and make sure that everything goes according to plan. All it requires you to do is log into cPanel and create a backup using the cPanel Backup Manager tool.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at why you might want to backup a WordPress site manually. Then, we’ll show you how to backup a WordPress site from cPanel. Let’s jump right in! 🏃🏻♂️
Why backup a WordPress site manually
For most beginners, it’s easiest to backup a WordPress site using a plugin to automate the task. However, if you’re a more experienced WordPress user, you might be wondering how to backup a WordPress site from cPanel.
In this instance, you’ll need to log into your cPanel hosting account and manually make backups of your site (as often as required). This might be hourly, daily, or weekly, depending on the size and complexity of your website.
Of course, it’s important to make sure you know exactly what you’re doing since this task can be risky. Any time that you access or edit your site files directly, one minor error can break your site. Additionally, if you plan on backing up your site very frequently, it can be time-consuming.
However, there are some benefits to backing up your WordPress site from cPanel. For example, some users prefer to make manual backups before relying on alternative methods like plugins, since it enables them to check that the process works correctly.
What’s more, manual backups give you more control over the procedure. You can choose whether to make a full comprehensive backup or create partial backups for your most important site files. Additionally, you can determine the exact location of where to store your backup.
How to backup a WordPress site from cPanel
If you’re wondering how to backup a WordPress site from cPanel, the process may look slightly different depending on your hosting provider. Depending on how your host has configured cPanel, you can backup your site using the cPanel Backup Manager and/or the cPanel Backup Wizard.
- How to backup a WordPress site with cPanel Backup Manager
- How to backup a WordPress site with cPanel Backup Wizard
How to backup a WordPress site with cPanel Backup Manager 👩🔧
To backup your website using the Backup Manager, first you’ll need to log into your cPanel dashboard. Then, locate the cPanel Backup Manager tool.
You can access this tool by going to Files > Backup:
On the Backup page, you can pick what kind of backup you want to make. Click on Download a Full Account Backup.
Now, make sure Home Directory is selected as the Backup Destination:
Meanwhile, if you want to receive an email notification when the backup is finished, enter your email address. Now, click on Generate Backup.
It may take some time for the backup to complete. Then, find the backup in your /home
directory and download the file from cPanel.
Lastly, you’ll need to store your backup in a secure location. It’s best to keep this on a separate server from your live website. So, you might keep it on your local computer or on a remote cloud server.
How to backup a WordPress site with cPanel Backup Wizard 👩🎨
Although the Backup Manager is the most common route, you can also backup a WordPress site from cPanel using the Backup Wizard. This tends to be a good option for beginners since it takes you through the process step-by-step.
To access the Backup Wizard, log into cPanel. Scroll down to the Files section and select Backup Wizard:
Now, to download a compressed copy of your website files, click on Back Up:
Here, you can choose what type of backup you want to make. If you want a copy of all files and configurations on your website, select Full Backup:
However, you can create a partial backup of the MySQL database, your email data, or the Home Directory.
Then, just like before, select the destination for your backup. You can leave the destination as Home Directory, unless you want to send the backup straight to a secure or remote server. Then, click on Generate Backup to complete the process.
Conclusion 🧐
For experienced WordPress users, it can be helpful to backup your site manually sometimes. For example, you might want to make a partial backup, backup the data from a specific point in time, or check that the process works smoothly.
Fortunately, it’s relatively simple to backup a WordPress site from cPanel. The process may look different depending on your web host. However, typically, all you need to do is access the cPanel dashboard. Then, you can create a backup of your site files and download them to your computer.
However, for most WordPress users, you’ll probably find it easier to use a dedicated WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus. To learn how that works, you can check out our step-by-step guide on how to backup WordPress using UpdraftPlus. 📚
Do you have any questions about how to backup a WordPress site from cPanel? Let us know in the comments section below!
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