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A complete WordPress backup is a matched copy of two things: your site’s database and every file in its WordPress directory. Downloading only the files misses posts, pages, settings and comments stored in MySQL or MariaDB; exporting only the database misses themes, plugins and media. Create the database export first, download the files second, and keep both parts together so the site can be restored.
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What a “full” WordPress backup contains
WordPress stores a working site in two separate systems. The database contains structured content and configuration, while the web-server directory contains the application and user-uploaded files. A restoration needs both parts from roughly the same point in time.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Backup part | What it includes | What it does not include |
|---|---|---|
| Database export | Posts, pages, comments and the database-held settings and records used by WordPress | Images, documents, themes, plugins and other files uploaded to the server |
| WordPress files | The complete WordPress directory, including core files, themes, plugins, media and configuration files | The database that stores your content and many settings |
The database is normally MySQL or MariaDB and lives separately from the directory you see through FTP or a hosting file manager. That is why downloading a folder called public_html, or any other web root, is not by itself a full backup.
Choose a download method
You can make the two-part set manually, use a host-level backup facility, or install a backup plugin. The best route depends on the access and control your hosting plan provides.
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| Method | What you download | Skill level | Main dependency | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual: phpMyAdmin plus FTP or file manager | A database export and a separate archive or folder of all WordPress files | Basic hosting and file-transfer knowledge | Your host must provide database access and a way to download files | Owners who want independent copies without installing a plugin |
| Host full-backup tool | Often one host-generated archive containing site files and databases; exact contents vary | Low to moderate | The host and your plan must offer a full-backup download | Sites where the host supplies a complete account backup |
| Backup plugin | A package created inside WordPress; some plugins combine database, files, themes and plugins | Low once configured | The plugin, available storage and your WordPress access | Scheduled backups and less manual handling |
| Managed WordPress backup area | A provider-generated database or site backup, depending on the service | Low | The managed provider and environment permissions | Managed WordPress installations |
Menu labels differ between hosts and plans. If a label in this guide is not visible, look for an equivalent database, file-manager, backup or download area rather than assuming the feature is unavailable.
Before you start
Identify the correct site and web root
Confirm the domain or subdirectory you are backing up, especially when one hosting account contains several WordPress installations. The files may be in public_html, a domain-specific folder or another directory chosen by the host. The location is host-dependent.
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Open the site’s wp-config.php and note the database name and login values, or retrieve them from your hosting account. You need the correct database selected in the export tool. Do not edit the file merely to read it, and treat its credentials as secrets.
Prepare a local backup folder
Create a folder named with the site and date, then plan separate subfolders for the database and files. Keep the two downloads together as one backup set. A date and time in the folder name makes it easier to match a database export with the files created around the same time.
Plan secure storage
Database exports can contain user accounts, email addresses, comments and other private data. Store the files on a computer or storage service you control, restrict access, and avoid leaving an unprotected copy in a public web directory. Keep more than one copy when the site is important; a single download can be lost or corrupted.
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Step 1: Download the WordPress database
The recommended order is database first, then files. Starting with the database gives you a clear content snapshot before the file transfer begins.
Using phpMyAdmin
- Sign in to your hosting control panel and open its phpMyAdmin link. Hosts place this link in different sections.
- In phpMyAdmin’s left-hand database list, select the database name recorded from
wp-config.php. Do not export a different site’s database from the same account. - Open the Export area. A common interface offers a Quick method and SQL format; these labels are reported in hosting instructions but can differ by phpMyAdmin version and host.
- Start the export and save the downloaded file in your dated database folder.
- Check the filename and extension. Database exports commonly arrive as
.sql,.gzor.bz2. Compression changes the packaging, not the fact that this is the database portion.
If your host presents a different export screen, select the equivalent option that exports the complete selected database rather than a single table. When the download finishes, record its size and keep the original file unchanged.
Other database export routes
- MySQL Workbench: the WordPress Codex lists it as an alternative database-export method for users who administer databases through that application.
mysqldump: command-line administrators can create a SQL dump from a shell where the host permits it. The exact command and permissions depend on the server, database host, username and password, so use the syntax documented by your provider.- WordPress Database Backup plugin: a plugin can generate database backups from WordPress. Confirm where it stores the resulting file and download it rather than leaving the only copy on the server.
- Managed hosting backup area: some managed services expose database backups separately. On WordPress VIP, for example, the documented workflow is to choose the environment in the database-backups area and select Download. Your provider may use different navigation and retention rules.
What the database export preserves
The export preserves database-held content such as posts, pages and comments. It does not contain media files or other uploads. An export that opens as SQL text, or as a compressed SQL archive, is expected; it is not supposed to contain your image library.
Step 2: Download every WordPress file
After the database download is complete, copy the entire WordPress directory. The goal is not just the visible homepage files but everything required to recreate the installation.
Use an FTP client
- Obtain the FTP or SFTP connection details from your host and connect with an FTP client.
- Open the directory that contains this WordPress installation. It may be
public_htmlor another host-defined folder. - Select all files and folders in that directory, including hidden files if the client offers a setting for showing them.
- Download the selection to the dated local folder you prepared. Preserve the directory structure and filenames.
- Wait for the transfer queue to finish. Review the client’s failed-transfer list and retry any missing items before disconnecting.
Use the hosting file manager
Many hosts provide a browser-based file manager. Select the WordPress directory and use its archive or compress function, then download the resulting ZIP file. This is convenient for thousands of small files, but archive names, size limits and compression options vary by host. If the file manager cannot archive the complete directory, use FTP instead.
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Files that deserve special attention
wp-content: this normally contains your uploaded media, modified themes and additional plugins. Losing it can remove the site’s appearance, extensions and media even when the database is intact.wp-config.php: this stores database connection details and other installation-specific configuration. Protect it like a credential file and include it in the download.- WordPress core files: copy the complete directory rather than only
wp-content. Core files may be replaced during a rebuild, but retaining the exact set simplifies recovery and preserves custom changes. - Hidden and custom files: include files that an FTP client or file manager may hide by default. A partial copy can omit configuration needed by the host or plugins.
Verify that the download is complete
Do not treat a transfer-success message as proof that the backup can be restored. Perform a short inspection while the original site is still available.
- Confirm that the database file exists, opens as a SQL export or compressed SQL archive, and has a non-zero size.
- Confirm that the file copy contains
wp-content,wp-config.php, themes, plugins and upload directories. - Compare the number of files reported by the FTP client with the number downloaded when the client provides those figures.
- Open several downloaded images and documents to check that transfers did not produce zero-byte files.
- Keep the database export and file archive in the same dated folder and label which site they belong to.
- If the host supplies checksums or archive-test options, use them; otherwise retain the original download and do not modify it while checking.
A backup is most useful when you can identify exactly which database belongs with which file set. If you repeat one part later, record the new time and keep the pair’s relationship clear.
Host-provided full backups
Some control panels offer a Full Backup generation or download option, alongside separate partial backups for files or databases. A host-generated archive can save time, but “full” is a provider-defined label. Read the completion notice or archive contents and confirm that both the database and the WordPress directory are included.
Host backups may also be restricted by plan, account size, retention period or download method. A backup that remains only on the host is not an independent copy: an account problem could make both the live site and its backup inaccessible. Download the generated archive when the host allows it and store it with your other copies.
Backup plugins and one-package downloads
Plugins can automate database and file backups and schedule them without repeating the manual phpMyAdmin and FTP process. Install from the WordPress Plugin Browser or the WordPress Plugin Directory, then review the plugin’s storage and restore workflow before relying on it.
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What to check in a plugin
- Whether one job includes both the database and all files, rather than only one component.
- Where the package is stored and how to download it off-site.
- Whether the plugin reports failed files or an incomplete database export.
- How long packages are retained and whether older copies are automatically deleted.
- Whether the restore process requires the same plugin, a separate installer or host access.
Duplicator is described as producing a complete package containing the database, files, plugins and themes. Treat any package as a backup only after confirming that it downloaded successfully and that its contents match the site you intend to protect. Automation reduces repetitive work, but it does not remove the need to test downloads and secure sensitive archives.
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WordPress.com sites use the provider’s own backup and export interfaces rather than the FTP and phpMyAdmin workflow used by many self-hosted installations. WordPress.com support documentation covers downloading a site backup, and some Jetpack backup interfaces expose a Download backup action from the menu beside Restore to this point. Interface names and availability can change, so follow the controls shown for your account and plan.
Managed providers may also separate database downloads from file or environment backups. Select the correct environment before downloading and check whether the provider’s archive includes media and configuration files or only the database.
Why Tools > Export is not a full backup
WordPress’s built-in content export is intended for moving content such as posts, pages and comments. It is not a substitute for a complete database-and-files backup when the goal is to recreate the site, because it does not package the server files, themes, plugins, uploads and installation configuration. Use it as a content-transfer tool only, not as your sole disaster-recovery copy.
Restoring the site from the two-part set
Restoration reverses the creation order. Put the files in place first, then import the database. This sequence gives WordPress its code and configuration before the content tables are loaded.
- Prepare the destination WordPress directory and upload the backed-up files, preserving paths and permissions as required by the host.
- Open the restored
wp-config.phpand compare its database name, username, password and host values with the destination database. If credentials changed during a migration, update the file to match the new database. - Create or select the destination database using the host’s database tools.
- Import the matching SQL export, decompressing a
.gzor.bz2archive first if the import tool requires an uncompressed file. - Open the site and test the front end and administration area. Check representative posts, comments, images, themes and plugins rather than assuming a successful login proves a complete restore.
Restoring to a different domain or directory can require additional migration work, such as updating site URLs. That process is separate from downloading the backup itself; do not alter the original archive when preparing a migration copy.
Common problems and fixes
The downloaded site looks complete but posts are missing
The file copy cannot recreate database content. Download the database separately, verify that it belongs to the same site and import it during restoration.
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Images are missing after importing the database
Images are files, not database rows containing the image data. Restore the backed-up wp-content upload directories along with the database.
The archive is too large to download
Use an FTP client to transfer the directory in batches, or ask the host whether its file manager can generate a downloadable archive. For the database, use the host’s database export facility or an approved command-line method. Keep all resulting parts in the same dated backup folder.
Some FTP files fail
Review the transfer log, retry failed items and check for hidden files or permission errors. Do not declare the backup complete until the retry queue is clear or you have documented exactly what could not be copied.
The database import reports credential or connection errors
Compare the destination database credentials with the values in wp-config.php. A migration often changes the database name, user or password; update the configuration to the destination values while retaining the original backup unchanged.
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Host control panels use different labels and layouts. Look for equivalent entries such as phpMyAdmin, Database, File Manager, Backups, Export, Archive or Download. If a feature is absent from your plan, use the manual alternative or ask the host which supported method exports both components.
A practical backup routine
- Choose a time when site activity is low so the database and files represent a close point in time.
- Export the database and save the resulting
.sql,.gzor.bz2file. - Download the complete WordPress directory, with special attention to
wp-contentandwp-config.php. - Place both parts in a dated folder, restrict access and keep an additional copy away from the hosting account.
- Inspect the archive, database file and several media files; record any transfer failures.
- Periodically perform a test restoration in a suitable staging environment so you know the files, database and credentials work together.
The reliable standard is simple: retain a matched database export and file copy, know where each was downloaded from, and verify that both can be read before the live site needs them.
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