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Andrew Williams

If you’re like me, you know just how powerful and easy WordPress is to use. It’s amazing how you can build a professional, high-quality website without needing to know all the technical details. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, WordPress just works.

But here’s the thing: I hear this one question a lot – “How do I back up my WordPress site?”

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If you’re like me, you know just how powerful and easy WordPress is to use. It’s amazing how you can build a professional, high-quality website without needing to know all the technical details. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, WordPress just works.

But here’s the thing: I hear this one question a lot – “How do I back up my WordPress site?”

Imagine this: You wake up one morning, excited to check on your site, but instead, you’re met with an error. Your website is down, and you’re not sure why. Panic sets in, right? How do you fix it? More importantly, how do you make sure this never happens again?

Take a deep breath – I’ve got you covered.

I’ve put together a course that will guide you step by step through everything you need to know about backing up and restoring your WordPress website. I’ll show you how to manually back up your site, and I’ll also introduce you to a handy (and free) plugin that can automate the whole process for you.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • What to back up: I’ll break down which parts of your WordPress install are essential to save and how to access them.

  • Manual backup made easy: I’ll guide you through backing up important files using FTP or cPanel’s File Manager (and yes, I’ll even show you how to set up FTP from scratch).

  • Restore with confidence: You’ll learn how to manually restore files using FTP or cPanel – so no more guessing.

  • Database safety: I’ll teach you how to manually back up and restore your WordPress database.

  • Automated backups: You’ll discover different ways to automate backups, so you’re always prepared.

  • Free plugin walkthrough: I’ll show you how to install and set up a simple plugin that automatically backs up your database and sends it to your email.

  • Complete site backups: Learn how to automate full site backups with a plugin that can even upload them to Dropbox or your preferred online storage – hands-free.

By the end of the course, you’ll feel confident knowing that your website is protected. You’ll know how to easily back up and restore your site, giving you peace of mind no matter what happens.

Never worry about your WordPress site again. Once you know how to safeguard your hard work, you can focus on what you love doing – building and growing your website.

I’d love to help you get there.

Ready to make your WordPress site bulletproof? Let’s do this together.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Backup and restore a wordpress site
  • Automate the backup of the wordpress database and important files and then be able to use those backups to restore a broken website
  • Get backups sent to cloud storage (e.g. dropbox) and/or email.
  • Understand the important parts of a wordpress site that need to be backed up, and those parts that do not need to be backed up.

Syllabus

This lecture shows you how to backup the database of your website.

An introduction to the course, and the instructor

This lecture introduces the instructor of the course and the course itself. It will tell you what you are going to learn, and why it's important for your success as a Wordpress site owner.

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This lecture introduces you to a few differences between more traditional HTML based websites and Wordpress. Knowing these differences will help you understand how to backup Wordpress.

This lecture shows you the components that make up a Wordpress website, and explains which parts you need to backup and which you don't.

This course gives you options. For example, you can backup your site manually, or by using a plugin or script. Even within the manual backup, you have options. This lecture explains the options you have for backing up and restoring your site, and tells you which lectures are relevant to the possible backup pathways. See this lecture before you move on with the course.

This lecture shows you how to backup the important files of your site manually using FTP. If you have not setup FTP on your web host, please check out the FTP lecture in the Resources section at the end of this course.

This lecture shows you how to backup the important files on your site using cPanel.

Please read this. It includes important information on the restoration of a Wordpress site.

This lecture will show you how to restore the files you backed up earlier, using FTP.

This lecture will show you how to restore the files you backed up earlier, using cPanel.

This lecture will show you how to restore the database you backed up earlier, using phpMyAdmin.

Sometimes you need to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. That means deleting the current Wordpress install, and restoring from your backups. This tutorial will go through that process.

Some plugins will backup just the database, while others will backup the database and files. This lecture looks at the pros and cons of each method.

This lecture looks at WP-DBManager. It's a free Wordpress plugin that I use personally to backup my database on a regular basis. It is fully automated, and even sends you an email with the backup.

This lecture will look at a free Wordpress plugin that can automate the backup and restore of your site.

This lecture considers the important points with any backup strategy.

Learn how to setup FTP, to quickly access the files on your server.

This bonus lecture lists all of the resources mentioned in the course.

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Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Wordpress Backup & Restore. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Wordpress Backup & Restore will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Freelance Webmaster
A Freelance Webmaster manages and maintains multiple client websites, often on the WordPress platform, handling everything from updates to troubleshooting. For a Freelance Webmaster, the ability to reliably back up and restore sites is not just a skill, but a cornerstone of client trust and business reputation. This course offers comprehensive guidance on manual backup procedures using FTP and cPanel, critical for diverse hosting environments. It also introduces automated backup plugins that can send data to cloud storage like Dropbox, streamlining operations across many client sites. Mastering these techniques ensures that client websites are always protected, preventing costly downtime and demonstrating professionalism, which is vital for sustained success in this independent role.
Website Administrator
A Website Administrator is responsible for the overall health, performance, and security of websites, ensuring continuous operation and data integrity. This role often involves routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and disaster recovery. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course directly equips an aspiring Website Administrator with fundamental skills in safeguarding online assets. Learning to manually back up files via FTP and cPanel, manage databases through phpMyAdmin, and automate backups to cloud storage or email are all critical competencies. This course helps build essential knowledge for quickly restoring a site from scratch, offering peace of mind and demonstrating a proactive approach to site management, which is highly valued in this career.
WordPress Developer
A WordPress Developer builds, customizes, and maintains websites using the WordPress platform. Beyond creation, ensuring the resilience and recoverability of these sites is paramount. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course provides a developer with crucial insights into the underlying structure of a WordPress installation, detailing which components require backup and why. Understanding how to manually backup and restore databases and files, utilizing tools like FTP and cPanel, is invaluable during development and deployment phases. Furthermore, knowing how to implement automated backup solutions ensures that any custom work or content is consistently protected, making this course essential for delivering robust, maintainable WordPress solutions.
Small Business Owner
Many Small Business Owners manage their own online presence, with a WordPress website often serving as a central hub for their operations, sales, and customer engagement. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course directly empowers a Small Business Owner to protect this vital asset. It provides the essential knowledge to manually back up their site's files via FTP or cPanel and its database using phpMyAdmin. Furthermore, discovering how to implement free automated plugins that send backups to email or cloud storage, like Dropbox, offers crucial peace of mind. This course helps ensure business continuity, safeguarding valuable content and customer data, allowing the owner to focus on growth without the constant worry of losing their website.
Technical Support Specialist
A Technical Support Specialist assists users with technical issues, often diagnosing problems and guiding them through solutions. For web hosting companies or agencies, resolving website downtime is a frequent request. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course can be highly helpful for a Technical Support Specialist, providing a clear understanding of how WordPress sites function and, crucially, how to recover them from errors. Learning to use tools like FTP, cPanel, and phpMyAdmin for file and database restoration, as well as understanding automated backup processes, enables effective troubleshooting. This knowledge allows one to confidently address critical site issues, guiding users through recovery or performing the restoration themselves, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and efficiency.
E-commerce Manager
An E commerce Manager oversees the online sales operations and strategy for a business, with the e-commerce website being the central platform. Any downtime or data loss on this site directly impacts sales, customer trust, and inventory management. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course directly benefits an E commerce Manager by providing essential expertise in safeguarding their online store. Learning how to manually back up crucial site files via FTP and cPanel, protect customer and order databases using phpMyAdmin, and implement automated solutions to cloud storage ensures business continuity. This proactive knowledge minimizes the risks of disruptions, allowing the manager to maintain a reliable shopping experience and protect valuable transaction data.
Web Developer
A Web Developer designs, codes, and modifies websites, generally ranging across various platforms and technologies. While not exclusively focused on WordPress, understanding how to manage the lifecycle of a deployed website, including disaster recovery, is a universal skill. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course provides a Web Developer with practical skills in safeguarding online projects. It covers core concepts like backing up essential files using FTP and cPanel, database management via phpMyAdmin, and setting up automated solutions. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring the stability and resilience of any website they build or maintain, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to web project management and client delivery.
Digital Marketing Specialist
A Digital Marketing Specialist often relies heavily on a functional website for campaigns, lead generation, and content dissemination. Website downtime or data loss can severely impact marketing efforts and brand reputation. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course is helpful for a Digital Marketing Specialist by providing critical knowledge to ensure the stability and continuity of their online platforms. Understanding the importance of regular backups, how to verify them, and the process of restoring a site manually or via automation means that marketing assets are always safeguarded. This ensures that campaigns remain uninterrupted and valuable data is never lost, allowing the specialist to focus on strategy rather than technical site recovery.
Content Manager
A Content Manager is responsible for the creation, publication, and overall integrity of digital content on a website. The loss of valuable content due to technical issues can be detrimental to an organization. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course may be helpful for a Content Manager, providing foundational understanding of how website data is protected and recovered. By learning the components of a WordPress site that need backing up, and methods like manual file transfers via FTP and database backups, the Content Manager can advocate for or understand robust backup strategies. This knowledge fosters confidence that their hard work and the organization's intellectual property are secure, ensuring content availability and business continuity.
Internet Marketing Consultant
An Internet Marketing Consultant advises businesses on their online presence and strategies, often involving their website as a core component of digital campaigns. Ensuring the stability and integrity of these websites is foundational to successful marketing efforts. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course is helpful for an Internet Marketing Consultant, providing a crucial understanding of how to safeguard online platforms. Knowledge of manual backup procedures using FTP and cPanel, database management, and automated backup solutions allows them to advise clients on maintaining robust and resilient websites. This ensures that marketing campaigns are not derailed by site issues, protecting brand reputation and allowing for uninterrupted online engagement strategies.
IT Administrator
An IT Administrator manages and maintains an organization's computer systems and networks, including servers that host websites. Data integrity and system uptime are paramount for this role. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course may be useful for an IT Administrator who oversees web infrastructure, particularly for WordPress-powered sites. It helps build an understanding of how to manually secure website files using FTP or cPanel, how to handle database backups, and how to implement automated backup strategies to cloud services. This knowledge aids in developing comprehensive disaster recovery plans for web applications, integrating WordPress-specific backup solutions into broader IT backup policies, and responding effectively to website incidents.
Technical Account Manager
A Technical Account Manager serves as a technical liaison between a company and its high-value clients, providing technical guidance and ensuring client success. In web hosting or platform services, understanding client pain points around site stability is key. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course may be useful for a Technical Account Manager as it helps build technical credibility and empathy for client challenges. Familiarity with manual backup methods (FTP, cPanel, phpMyAdmin) and automated plugin solutions for WordPress allows for more effective assistance during critical incidents. This understanding empowers them to communicate technical concepts clearly, recommend appropriate backup strategies, and ensure clients feel supported in protecting their valuable online assets.
Website Project Manager
A Website Project Manager oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of web development projects, coordinating teams and managing risks. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course may be useful for a Website Project Manager by providing a foundational understanding of critical site maintenance needs. Comprehending the importance of regular backups, the processes involved in manual and automated data protection, and the steps for restoring a site allows for better risk assessment and project planning. This knowledge enables the manager to ensure that robust backup strategies are integrated into project timelines and budgets, mitigating potential data loss risks and ensuring the long-term stability and success of the web projects they manage.
Customer Success Manager
A Customer Success Manager builds and maintains relationships with clients, ensuring they achieve their desired outcomes using a product or service, often in the web hosting or software as a service industry. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course may be helpful for a Customer Success Manager, particularly when dealing with clients who host WordPress sites. Understanding the basics of site protection, the impact of data loss, and the solutions offered through backups and restoration empowers them to better advise clients. Knowledge of manual backups via FTP and cPanel, database management, and automated plugin solutions allows for more informed conversations, helping clients prevent critical issues and leveraging product features effectively to ensure their ongoing satisfaction and retention.
Cyber Security Analyst
A Cyber Security Analyst focuses on protecting an organization's computer systems and networks from threats, including prevention, detection, and response to security incidents. While primarily focused on threat mitigation, understanding disaster recovery is a critical component of security. The "Wordpress Backup & Restore" course may be useful for a Cyber Security Analyst, particularly when dealing with web applications like WordPress. It helps build practical knowledge of backup strategies, including manual file and database backups using FTP, cPanel, and phpMyAdmin, and automated solutions. This understanding is crucial for developing robust recovery plans post-breach, ensuring data integrity, and restoring compromised systems effectively. This role typically requires an advanced degree.

Reading list

We've selected 25 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Wordpress Backup & Restore.
This comprehensive guide covers everything from basic setup to advanced site maintenance, including a dedicated section on backing up files and databases. It useful reference tool for learners who want to understand the broader WordPress ecosystem alongside their backup strategy. The book is frequently used as a foundational text for industry professionals and hobbyists alike. It adds significant depth to the course by explaining the 'why' behind server configurations and security protocols.
Provides a clear, jargon-free explanation of how WordPress functions under the hood, making it excellent for understanding the manual restoration process. It is highly valuable as additional reading for those struggling with the concepts of FTP and cPanel file management. The author well-known authority on web technologies, ensuring the advice on database safety is accurate and reliable. It serves as a great bridge between the course's video tutorials and long-term technical reference.
Is the gold standard for beginners and perfectly mirrors the introductory pace of the course. It explains the differences between traditional HTML sites and WordPress, providing the prerequisite knowledge needed before tackling the syllabus. It is more valuable as a quick-start guide for learners who feel overwhelmed by the technicality of manual database exports. The latest edition ensures that the instructions for the WordPress dashboard are current and relevant.
Published very recently, this book ensures that all instructions regarding the latest WordPress versions and plugin interfaces are up to date. It covers the basics of site security and maintenance, which are central themes of the course. It is an excellent preparation material for those who have never logged into a web host's control panel. The author’s reputation for simplifying complex tasks makes thhigh-fit selection for the course audience.
As a staple in academic and professional circles, this book delves into the technical architecture of WordPress, which is crucial for mastering manual backups. It provides the necessary background knowledge on how the database interacts with the PHP core, helping students understand what they are actually restoring. While more technical than the course, it is an essential reference for those looking to move beyond plugins to manual server-side management. It adds breadth by covering multisite backups and advanced developer tools.
Focuses specifically on hardening WordPress, with backups being a primary theme. It reinforces the course's lesson on creating a 'bulletproof' site through redundant data storage. It is an excellent additional reading for students who want to professionalize their backup strategy.
Is an excellent supplement for visual learners, providing screenshots that complement the course's video walkthroughs of cPanel and FTP. It simplifies the concept of file hierarchies, which prerequisite for the manual backup sections of the syllabus. It useful reference tool for identifying specific buttons and menus within the WordPress admin area. Its step-by-step nature makes it an ideal companion for the 'Restore with Confidence' module.
Provides a complete overview of the modern WordPress interface, ensuring that the student is familiar with the latest dashboard layout before attempting backups. It offers detailed instructions on site migration, which practical application of the backup and restore skills taught in the course. It is an excellent current reference for the latest plugin ecosystem. The book adds depth to the course by discussing how to manage backups for larger, more complex installations.
Provides the essential background knowledge for the 'Database Safety' section of the course, specifically regarding MySQL and phpMyAdmin. Understanding the underlying languages of WordPress allows students to perform manual restores with much higher confidence. It widely used textbook in computer science courses and serves as a vital reference for any web developer. Reading this will help students understand the structure of the SQL files they are backing up.
Focuses on the logic of WordPress site management, making it a great resource for the 'Backup Strategy' portion of the course. It clarifies the distinction between content and configuration, which helps students decide what needs to be backed up. It is commonly used by industry professionals to train new site owners on best practices. The book provides a solid foundation for those who want to ensure their site is 'bulletproof' as described in the course description.
Written by two of the most respected figures in the WordPress community, this book offers 'pro tips' that go beyond basic backup procedures. It valuable additional reading for those who want to customize their manual backup scripts. The book serves as a high-quality reference for understanding the WordPress file structure in great detail. It adds significant breadth to the course's coverage of FTP and server-side operations.
Is specifically designed for non-technical users, aligning with the course's promise to help beginners build 'bulletproof' sites without technical stress. It provides simplified explanations of hosting and domain management that serve as prerequisite knowledge for the FTP sections. It is more valuable as a quick-start guide than a deep technical reference. Its popularity among self-taught WordPress users makes it a reliable supplementary resource.
Serves as a comprehensive manual for all things WordPress, including a detailed breakdown of the components that need to be backed up. It is an excellent supplement to the 'What to back up' lecture in the syllabus. It is commonly used by small business owners to manage their own sites without hiring a developer. The book provides clear, actionable advice that reinforces the course's goal of giving students 'peace of mind.'
A concise and affordable reference that covers the essentials of site management and dashboard navigation. It is particularly helpful for beginners who need a quick refresher on FTP and file management. supplements the course by providing a physical checklist for routine site maintenance.
Mirrors the step-by-step instructional style of the course, making it a comfortable companion for students. It includes practical advice on site maintenance and the importance of regular updates, which complements the 'Backup Strategy' lecture. It is helpful for providing background on how to set up a site correctly from the start to avoid restoration issues later. This useful reference for common troubleshooting steps.
While the course focuses on using existing plugins for backups, this book explains how those plugins are built, offering a deeper understanding of automated solutions. It is particularly useful for students who want to know how 'WP-DBManager' or other automated scripts function internally. This text is more valuable as additional reading for those interested in the 'how' rather than just the 'do'. It provides a high level of authority on the WordPress Hook system which governs automated tasks.
Offers broader context on web hosting, FTP, and server management, which are critical prerequisites for manual WordPress restoration. It provides a more comprehensive look at how web servers function compared to the course's specific focus. It is useful as a reference for troubleshooting connection issues within FileZilla or other FTP clients. The text adds breadth by explaining the environment in which WordPress resides.
This text deep dive into the database side of WordPress, making it highly relevant to the 'Database Safety' and 'phpMyAdmin' lectures. It is more valuable as additional reading for students who want to understand the relational structure of their site's data. It is frequently used as a textbook for web development and provides authoritative guidance on data integrity. Understanding these concepts helps prevent errors during the manual database restoration process.
This classic textbook that provides the foundational knowledge of how dynamic websites like WordPress store data. It is highly recommended for students who want a deep understanding of the 'Database Safety' section of the course. While not WordPress-specific, the principles of SQL exports and imports are identical to what is taught in the phpMyAdmin lecture. It reliable reference tool for any student pursuing professional web development.
For students who find the course easy and want to scale their knowledge, this book provides advanced insights into WordPress as an application framework. It discusses high-level scaling and reliability, where automated backups become even more critical. It is more valuable as additional reading for professional developers than for casual bloggers. It adds breadth by showing how backups fit into a professional deployment workflow.
Provides broader context on web hosting, cPanel, and FTP, which are critical components of the course. It helps students understand the hosting environment where WordPress lives, making the manual backup lectures easier to follow. It is an excellent general reference for anyone new to managing their own web space.
Great prerequisite for the course, as it introduces the basics of PHP in a fun and accessible way. Knowing basic PHP helps students understand the 'wp-config.php' file, which is one of the 'important files' mentioned in the manual backup lectures. It is more valuable as background reading than as a current reference for WordPress specifically. It helps demystify the technical details that the course description mentions are often intimidating for beginners.
While primarily about SEO, this book contains vital chapters on site speed and performance, which are directly affected by the backup plugins mentioned in the course. It helps students understand the trade-offs of running heavy automated backup scripts on their server. It useful reference for optimizing the site after a successful restore to ensure it remains 'bulletproof.' The author's reputation in the field adds a layer of professional authority to the maintenance advice provided.
Is highly recommended for students who want to master the 'Database Safety' portion of the course. It provides a quick, accessible way to understand the SQL queries that happen during a database restore. It is more valuable as a specialized reference tool for those performing manual database surgery.

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