How to Back Up WordPress Manually

While dotCanada offers automated backups through JetBackup in cPanel, it's also a good idea to know how to create a manual backup of your WordPress site. A complete WordPress backup has two parts: the database (your posts, pages, settings, and user data) and the files (your themes, plugins, uploads, and core files).

Part 1: Back Up Your WordPress Database

1. Log into cPanel and open phpMyAdmin under the Databases section.
2. In phpMyAdmin, click on your WordPress database in the left sidebar. If you're unsure which database your site uses, check your wp-config.php file for the DB_NAME value.
3. Click the Export tab at the top.
4. Leave the export method set to Quick and the format set to SQL.
5. Click Export. Your browser will download a .sql file - save it somewhere safe on your computer.

Part 2: Back Up Your WordPress Files

1. In cPanel, open File Manager.
2. Navigate to your public_html folder (or the subfolder where WordPress is installed).
3. Select all WordPress files and folders, then click Compress to create a .zip archive.
4. Once the archive is created, right-click it and choose Download to save it to your computer.

Alternatively: Use FTP

You can also download your WordPress files using an FTP client like FileZilla. Connect using your cPanel FTP credentials and download the entire WordPress directory to your local computer.

How Often Should You Back Up?

We recommend backing up your site before making any major changes - like updating WordPress, installing a new theme, or making changes to your database. For peace of mind, consider also using an automated backup plugin like UpdraftPlus to schedule regular backups.

If you need help with backups or restoring your site, contact our support team - we're always here to help.