How to create and manage WordPress backups

The Backups tab in JetHost WordPress Manager provides a comprehensive backup solution for your WordPress installation, allowing you to create, download, and restore complete site backups with just a few clicks. In particular, this feature lets you choose between full backups (files and database), database-only backups, or files-only backups. Furthermore, you can add optional notes to each backup for easy identification and organization.

Accessing backup management

To access backup features, navigate to the Backups tab from the top navigation menu in WordPress Manager. Once there, you’ll see a list of all existing backups (if any) or a message indicating no backups exist yet, along with a prominent Create Backup button.

Creating a new backup

To create a backup, click the orange Create Backup button. This opens a backup configuration dialog where you can specify exactly what to include:

Backup type options

Choose from three backup types based on your needs:

• Full Backup (Files and Database): Creates a complete snapshot of your entire WordPress installation, including all files, themes, plugins, uploads, and the database. This is the most comprehensive option and recommended for most situations.
• Database Only: Backs up only your WordPress database, which contains posts, pages, comments, settings, and user accounts. This option is faster and uses less storage, ideal for capturing content changes without files.
• Files Only: Backs up your WordPress files (themes, plugins, uploads) without the database. Useful when you’ve made theme or plugin changes but content hasn’t changed.

Adding backup notes

The optional Backup Note field lets you add a descriptive label to identify the backup’s purpose. For instance, you might note “Before plugin update” or “Monthly backup” or “Before theme customization.” These notes appear alongside each backup in your backup list, making it easy to find the right restore point later. Consequently, descriptive notes save time when you need to identify a specific backup months later.

Creating the backup

After selecting your backup type and adding an optional note, click the orange Create Backup button. The backup process begins immediately. Depending on your site size, this may take a few seconds to several minutes. Moreover, you can continue using WordPress Manager while the backup runs in the background.

Managing existing backups

Once created, backups appear in a list showing important details about each backup:

• Backup date and time: When the backup was created
• Backup type: Whether it’s full, database-only, or files-only
• Backup note: Your custom description (if added)
• Backup size: Storage space used by the backup
• Action buttons: Options to download, restore, or delete the backup

Downloading backups

Click the Download button next to any backup to save a copy to your computer. This creates an offline backup copy for extra protection. Additionally, downloading backups allows you to keep archives of different site versions or migrate your site to another host.

Restoring from backups

The Restore button lets you revert your WordPress installation to a previous state. When restoring, the system replaces your current site with the backup version. Therefore, always create a fresh backup before restoring if you want to preserve your current state as well.

Deleting backups

Remove old or unnecessary backups using the Delete button. This frees up storage space on your hosting account. However, be careful not to delete backups you might need later—once deleted, backups cannot be recovered.

When to create backups

Regular backups protect against data loss from various scenarios. Create backups in these situations:

Before making changes

Always create a backup before:

• Daily backups: For sites with frequent content updates, e-commerce stores, or membership sites
• Weekly backups: For regularly updated blogs or business websites
• Monthly backups: For static sites or portfolios with infrequent changes

After significant milestones

Create backups after completing important work such as:

• Launching new features or pages
• Completing major design changes
• Finishing content migrations
• Resolving security issues

Best practices for backup management

Following these recommendations ensures your backups remain useful and reliable:

Use descriptive notes

Always add backup notes explaining why you created the backup. For instance, “Before Elementor 3.20 update” is much more helpful than an unmarked backup when you’re looking for a specific restore point weeks later. Similarly, include dates or version numbers when relevant.

Maintain multiple backup versions

Keep several backup versions rather than just one. This provides multiple restore points if problems aren’t immediately apparent. For example, you might discover an issue days after it was introduced – having multiple backups means you can restore to a point before the problem began.

Download critical backups

Download important backups to your local computer for offline storage. This protects against server failures, account issues, or accidental deletions. Moreover, offline backups provide an extra layer of disaster recovery protection.

Test backups periodically

Verify your backups work by occasionally restoring them to your staging environment. This confirms the backup files are valid and complete. Consequently, you’ll have confidence your backups will work when you truly need them.

Monitor storage usage

Backups consume storage space on your hosting account. Check your available disk space in the WordPress Manager overview and delete old backups when storage runs low. Additionally, consider downloading and removing older backups to free up server space while maintaining offline copies.

Combining backups with other features

WordPress Manager backups work alongside other features for comprehensive site management:

• Staging: Create a backup before pushing staging changes to production
• Auto Updates: Backups run automatically before WordPress auto-updates are applied
• Security: Back up before enabling new security features that might affect functionality
• File Manager: Create backups before editing files via File Manager

Troubleshooting backup issues

Backup creation fails

If backups fail to create, first check your available disk space. Additionally, very large sites may time out during backup – try creating a database-only backup first, then a files-only backup separately. Contact JetHost support if backup failures persist.

Restore doesn’t complete

Incomplete restorations may result from corrupted backup files or insufficient resources. Verify the backup file isn’t damaged by downloading and checking its size. Similarly, ensure your hosting account has adequate disk space for the restoration process.

Missing files after restore

If files appear missing after restoration, verify you restored a full backup rather than database-only. Database-only backups don’t include themes, plugins, or uploaded files. In this case, restore a full backup or separately restore a files-only backup.

Need more help?

Explore more WordPress Manager guides and hosting tutorials in our knowledgebase. The WordPress Manager is included free with all hosting for WordPress plans at JetHost.

For additional support with backup strategies or disaster recovery planning, our team is here to help you protect your website data.