A complete WordPress backup has two parts: the database and the site files. Export the database, copy the files, keep both together as one backup set, and upload that set to a cloud destination. Keep another copy in a separate location and periodically confirm that the archives can actually be restored.
What a complete WordPress backup contains
WordPress Developer Resources summarizes the requirement plainly: “There are two parts to backing up your WordPress site: Database and Files.” A copy of the WordPress directory normally does not contain the separate database, and a database export does not contain your files.
- Database: posts, pages, comments, users, settings, and other structured site data. Export it as SQL or a compressed SQL file.
- Files: uploads, themes, plugins, configuration files, and other content required by the installation.
Create the database export and file copy close together, then store them as one clearly labeled backup set. During restoration you generally restore the files and import the database; database credentials may need updating if the destination database is different.
Choose a backup route
First check what your hosting provider already retains, how long copies are kept, and how you request a restore. Host-held backups can be useful, but obtaining a copy or starting a restore may take time. You can supplement them with a manual backup or an automated plugin.
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| Route | Coverage to verify | Remote destination | Main operational concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting-provider backup | Confirm that both database and files are included | Determined by the host | Access and restore timing depend on the host |
| Manual export | You create the database export and file copy yourself | Upload the completed set to your cloud storage | Requires a repeatable schedule and manual checks |
| Backup plugin | Check that its selected components include the database and required files | Depends on the plugin and plan | Destination, retention, and restore features may vary by tier |
Manual method: export and upload a complete set
- Plan the destination and labels. Create a cloud-storage folder for the site. Use a date and site name in the backup label so the database export and file archive cannot be separated accidentally.
- Export the database. Use your host’s database tool or administration interface to export the WordPress database as SQL or compressed SQL. Download the resulting file.
- Copy the site files. Download the WordPress files from the hosting account, including uploads, the active themes and plugins, and configuration files needed by the site. A files-only copy is not a complete backup.
- Keep the pair together. Put the database export beside the file archive in a dated folder or archive. Record the site’s URL, database name, and any credentials or special restore notes separately and securely.
- Upload to cloud storage. Send the complete set to the remote destination and wait for the upload to finish. Confirm that the cloud service shows the expected files rather than assuming a synchronized folder contains the database.
- Make a second copy. Download the set to a local computer or other separately held storage. WordPress guidance recommends keeping recent copies in different locations; an external hard drive can be an additional destination, not a replacement for the cloud copy.
Automate backups with a WordPress plugin
A plugin can create scheduled database-and-file backups and send them to a remote service. UpdraftPlus’s WordPress.org listing documents manual and scheduled backups, restore and migration features, and destinations including Google Drive, Dropbox, and Amazon S3-compatible storage. The listing presents some additional destinations as paid-version features, so check the current listing and the plugin’s interface before choosing a plan.
- Install a maintained backup plugin from a trusted source and open its backup settings.
- Select both the database and all site-file components required by your installation. Do not assume that a files folder synchronized to the cloud includes the database.
- Choose the cloud destination, authorize access, and review whether that destination is available on your plan.
- Set a schedule and retention count that match how often the site changes and how many historical recovery points you need.
- Run an initial backup manually, monitor its completion, and inspect the remote folder for the database and file archives.
- Save any encryption, access, or recovery details in a secure place separate from the hosting account.
UpdraftPlus-specific limitations to check
A WordPress.org support response describes UpdraftPlus as backing up the database, plugins, themes, uploads, and an “Others” category, while WordPress core files are available separately from wordpress.org and are not included in that product-specific set. Do not generalize this behavior to every plugin; inspect the components selected by your own tool.
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Another support response says UpdraftPlus stages archive files locally before uploading them. On hosts with limited disk space or restrictive write permissions, that staging step can cause a job to fail even when the remote destination is available. Check current product documentation and available temporary storage before relying on scheduled uploads.
How to verify that a cloud backup is usable
- Check the job log or completion status rather than relying on a scheduled timestamp.
- Confirm that a database export and the expected file archives are present in the remote location.
- Occasionally download a backup set and open the archive; an upload that cannot be downloaded is not a recovery plan.
- Test a restoration in a staging site or other isolated environment when possible. Restore the files, import the database, and correct database credentials or site URL settings as required by that environment.
- Make an occasional manual backup even when automation is enabled. WordPress recommends this as a way to check that automated backups are working.
What to compare before committing to a method
| Decision point | Questions to answer |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Does the backup include the database, uploads, plugins, themes, and configuration needed to rebuild the site? |
| Destination | Does it support your chosen cloud provider or object-storage endpoint? |
| Schedule and retention | Can you set a suitable schedule and retain enough historical copies for the site’s change rate? |
| Restore path | Can you reach the remote copy and restore both files and database if the original host is unavailable? |
| Operational limits | Does the host permit temporary archive creation, and are destination or restore features restricted to a paid tier? |
Common mistakes that leave gaps
- Syncing only the files: this omits the database and cannot reproduce current posts, settings, or users.
- Keeping only the host copy: an account or server outage can make that copy inaccessible.
- Assuming a successful upload equals a tested backup: verify the contents and perform a restore test.
- Ignoring local staging requirements: plugins may need temporary disk space before uploading archives.
- Separating the database and files: mismatched dates can produce an inconsistent recovery point.
The Bottom Line
Use a process that always captures both the WordPress database and files, uploads the combined set to cloud storage, preserves another copy elsewhere, and includes periodic restore checks. Cloud storage is the remote destination—not a substitute for creating and validating the backup itself.
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