How to back up your WordPress blog in 60 seconds

Posted by on May 16, 2009 in Blogging, Technology | 86 comments

Backing up your WordPress blog takes less than 60 seconds and will save you hours of heartache later if something goes wrong. Back up frequently, at least once every few posts so that you don’t lose them or the comments your readers have left.

Here’s how in one screenshot:

Backing up your WordPress blog

Click to see this full size.

Other blog platforms should be just as easy. If you’ve ever lost a blog, you know how much of it – especially comments – is unrecoverable and permanently lost.

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  • Gill

    Thanks man!

  • Gill

    Thanks man!

  • Gill

    Thanks man!

  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    Yeah… I use a plugin that automatically backs up the whole database and emails it to me. Daily. I save a month's worth of backups so if something goes ugly or gets hacked, I can walk it back to when it WORKED. :)

  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    Yeah… I use a plugin that automatically backs up the whole database and emails it to me. Daily. I save a month's worth of backups so if something goes ugly or gets hacked, I can walk it back to when it WORKED. :)

  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    Yeah… I use a plugin that automatically backs up the whole database and emails it to me. Daily. I save a month's worth of backups so if something goes ugly or gets hacked, I can walk it back to when it WORKED. :)

  • http://www.jeremymeyers.com/ Jeremy M

    Please be aware, though, that the WP export function only backs up internal-to-wordpress portions of your database.

    If you use plugins that store information in DB fields (such as PodPress), this will not keep that data safe.

    For that, I suggest you use WP-DB-Backup

  • http://www.jeremymeyers.com/ Jeremy M

    Please be aware, though, that the WP export function only backs up internal-to-wordpress portions of your database.

    If you use plugins that store information in DB fields (such as PodPress), this will not keep that data safe.

    For that, I suggest you use WP-DB-Backup

  • http://www.jeremymeyers.com/ Jeremy M

    Please be aware, though, that the WP export function only backs up internal-to-wordpress portions of your database.

    If you use plugins that store information in DB fields (such as PodPress), this will not keep that data safe.

    For that, I suggest you use WP-DB-Backup

  • Gill

    Thanks man!

  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    Yeah… I use a plugin that automatically backs up the whole database and emails it to me. Daily. I save a month's worth of backups so if something goes ugly or gets hacked, I can walk it back to when it WORKED. :)

  • http://www.jeremymeyers.com/ Jeremy M

    Please be aware, though, that the WP export function only backs up internal-to-wordpress portions of your database.

    If you use plugins that store information in DB fields (such as PodPress), this will not keep that data safe.

    For that, I suggest you use WP-DB-Backup

  • http://www.hanifinloyalty.com/ billhanifin

    Chris, This simple post was invaluable for those of use who work hard to create the content and might overlook something critical like making sure we have that content protected. Can't thank you enough.

  • http://www.hanifinloyalty.com/ billhanifin

    Chris, This simple post was invaluable for those of use who work hard to create the content and might overlook something critical like making sure we have that content protected. Can't thank you enough.

  • http://www.hanifinloyalty.com/ billhanifin

    Chris, This simple post was invaluable for those of use who work hard to create the content and might overlook something critical like making sure we have that content protected. Can't thank you enough.

  • http://www.hanifinloyalty.com/ billhanifin

    Chris, This simple post was invaluable for those of use who work hard to create the content and might overlook something critical like making sure we have that content protected. Can't thank you enough.

  • http://www.aveconsulting.com/ Avery Horzewski

    Thanks Chris!

  • http://www.aveconsulting.com/ Avery Horzewski

    Thanks Chris!

  • http://www.aveconsulting.com/ Avery Horzewski

    Thanks Chris!

  • http://www.aveconsulting.com/ Avery Horzewski

    Thanks Chris!

  • http://www.dslfragen.com/alice Alice

    Thanks for this info. This simple tutorial will help many new bloggers to preserve their content.

  • http://www.dslfragen.com/alice Alice

    Thanks for this info. This simple tutorial will help many new bloggers to preserve their content.

  • http://www.dslfragen.com/alice Alice

    Thanks for this info. This simple tutorial will help many new bloggers to preserve their content.

  • http://www.dslfragen.com/alice Alice

    Thanks for this info. This simple tutorial will help many new bloggers to preserve their content.

  • http://www.nsdigital.co.za/ Nick Soper

    What about uploads?

  • http://www.nsdigital.co.za/ Nick Soper

    What about uploads?

  • http://www.nsdigital.co.za/ Nick Soper

    What about uploads?

  • devinotway

    Sounds like a good plugin, whats the name of it if you don't mind sharing?

  • scrodiddy

    Sounds like a good plugin, whats the name of it if you don't mind sharing?

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    WP-backup!

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    WP-backup!

  • scrodiddy

    Sounds like a good plugin, whats the name of it if you don't mind sharing?

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    WP-backup!

  • http://twitter.com/BlueMoonCandles Blue Moon Candles

    Thanks Chris!
    I wish everything was as easy as you made this. The visual really helped me.

  • http://twitter.com/BlueMoonCandles Blue Moon Candles

    Thanks Chris!
    I wish everything was as easy as you made this. The visual really helped me.

  • http://twitter.com/BlueMoonCandles Blue Moon Candles

    Thanks Chris!
    I wish everything was as easy as you made this. The visual really helped me.

  • http://www.ChandrasDietSuccess.com/ Diana

    Damn that was so useful. THANKS!

  • http://www.ChandrasDietSuccess.com/ Diana

    Damn that was so useful. THANKS!

  • http://www.ChandrasDietSuccess.com/ Diana

    Damn that was so useful. THANKS!

  • http://www.financialfutureproofing.com/ Arnold Karsten

    Thanks

  • http://www.financialfutureproofing.com/ Arnold Karsten

    Thanks

  • http://www.flash-design.dk/ mads

    I wouldn't recommend this backup options if your blog is big/many posts. I recently tried to backup my blog with the export feature and I ended up with a xml file bigger than 10Mb. I really had to change many things and split the xml file before I could proceed. I recommend a proper database backup.

  • http://www.flash-design.dk/ mads

    I wouldn't recommend this backup options if your blog is big/many posts. I recently tried to backup my blog with the export feature and I ended up with a xml file bigger than 10Mb. I really had to change many things and split the xml file before I could proceed. I recommend a proper database backup.

  • FromAtoPink

    Thank you! This was SO helpful! One question: Say I DO lose my content, how do I restore it using the back up file I just created?

  • FromAtoPink

    Thank you! This was SO helpful! One question: Say I DO lose my content, how do I restore it using the back up file I just created?

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    There's an Import option right next to the Export one.

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    There's an Import option right next to the Export one.

  • http://www.defensivecycling.com/ Paul

    Fantastic. Just what I was looking for. Thanks a lot, I feel happier now.

  • http://www.defensivecycling.com/ Paul

    Fantastic. Just what I was looking for. Thanks a lot, I feel happier now.

  • http://healthnaturalproducts.net/ Ed

    Very invaluable! cheers mate. thnx again.

  • http://healthnaturalproducts.net/ Ed

    Very invaluable! cheers mate. thnx again.

  • http://www.CarolGiambri.com/ Carol Giambri

    What are you backing up to? CD, a folder on hard drive? Thanks tons.

  • http://internetmarketingcrunch.com/ Mukul Verma Internet Marketing

    Thanks a lot, this was useful in helping me backup wordpress in 20 seconds :)

  • jdpruitt

    Quick and to the point. I love it. Thanks!

  • jdpruitt

    Quick and to the point. I love it. Thanks!

  • http://www.minimalwall.com Ralphibus

    Is this equal to a backup of the database? After reading more about backups I think I will try the Word Press Database Backup” plugin.

  • http://www.minimalwall.com Ralphibus

    Is this equal to a backup of the database? After reading more about backups I think I will try the Word Press Database Backup” plugin.

  • http://gainfullyunemployed.net Chris

    Thanks for the (easy) tip Chris. Do you recommend any other way to save wordpress blogs if something happens on the server side? I've read about the DB manager plugin, but I've also read about paid services that will back everything up. Recommendations?

  • http://gainfullyunemployed.net Chris

    Thanks for the (easy) tip Chris. Do you recommend any other way to save wordpress blogs if something happens on the server side? I've read about the DB manager plugin, but I've also read about paid services that will back everything up. Recommendations?

  • http://twitter.com/LatifahShay Latifah Shay Artist

    Found this post through Google.
    Thanks for sharing this info – it really was a 60 sec backup. ;)

  • http://twitter.com/LatifahShay Latifah Shay Artist

    Found this post through Google.
    Thanks for sharing this info – it really was a 60 sec backup. ;)

  • http://www.maitravelsite.com Federico

    Awesome

    Backup done in 15 seconds. Great tip!

    maitravelsite.com

  • http://RhandellMitchell.com/ Rhandell Mitchell

    Thanks a lot… I also found this post on Google… I'm taking my blogging efforts very seriously and I want to ensure that my information is all saved and filed away safely. Thanks again.

  • http://www.maitravelsite.com Federico

    Awesome

    Backup done in 15 seconds. Great tip!

    maitravelsite.com

  • http://RhandellMitchell.com/ Rhandell Mitchell

    Thanks a lot… I also found this post on Google… I'm taking my blogging efforts very seriously and I want to ensure that my information is all saved and filed away safely. Thanks again.

  • http://djsteen.com/wp djsteen

    Thanks for this tip, Chris! I didn't know it was this dead-simple to export/backup a WordPress installation.

    I have been using Backupify and WordPress Database Backup for double the backup goodness.

    I've never lost any WordPress installations, but ever since I lost a hard drive I backup anything and everything with redundant methods.

  • http://djsteen.com/wp djsteen

    Thanks for this tip, Chris! I didn't know it was this dead-simple to export/backup a WordPress installation.

    I have been using Backupify and WordPress Database Backup for double the backup goodness.

    I've never lost any WordPress installations, but ever since I lost a hard drive I backup anything and everything with redundant methods.

  • Josh

    True to your word. Backed up in 60 seconds. Thanks for your help.

  • Josh

    True to your word. Backed up in 60 seconds. Thanks for your help.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vivek-Bandebuche/1851505783 Vivek Bandebuche

    ty for this nice post

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vivek-Bandebuche/1851505783 Vivek Bandebuche

    ty for this nice post

  • Tim Colletti

    This was a GREAT tip. I just had a scare with my blog, so I am backing it up right now!

  • Tim Colletti

    This was a GREAT tip. I just had a scare with my blog, so I am backing it up right now!

  • Pl Warner

    I feel like a fool, but I'm not sure I did this right…I exported and downloaded onto my computer, then dragged into an external hard drive. But when I opened it up on that drive, it showed 2 errors, and a ton of writing. What should it look like when I open it up on that external hard drive?

  • Pl Warner

    I feel like a fool, but I'm not sure I did this right…I exported and downloaded onto my computer, then dragged into an external hard drive. But when I opened it up on that drive, it showed 2 errors, and a ton of writing. What should it look like when I open it up on that external hard drive?

  • Pl Warner

    I feel like a fool, but I'm not sure I did this right…I exported and downloaded onto my computer, then dragged into an external hard drive. But when I opened it up on that drive, it showed 2 errors, and a ton of writing. What should it look like when I open it up on that external hard drive?

  • http://ronaldredito.org/blog ronaldredito

    I tried this to back up my old blog but it only made back ups on post, pages and comments. I had a hard time backing up the photos.

    I think my site was penalized because of broken links when I transferred to a new host.

  • Gary B.

    Priceless!

  • Pingback: How to backup Wordpress completely -

  • Aaron Sylvan

    FYI, I have a photo blog, with about a 0.5GB of images on it… and the dump I just got from these instructions was only 1.6MB, suggesting that it's basically text-only.

    Also, I'm pretty sure these instructions don't capture theme settings, just your writing. Of course it *is* important to back up your writing. But it might be a good idea to do a full mySQL dump and/or to archive all the media files that might be used by your blog.

  • http://twitter.com/Hills_Charlotte Charlotte Hills

    Thanks for that, I’ve been trying to work out how to back up my blog site since I don’t have a plugin feature available on my site. Thanks!!

  • Pingback: Backing Up Your Wordpress Blog for Beginners!

  • http://dlpetcu.ro Tibi

    That is really good, though a full backup from cpanel would be better

  • http://dlpetcu.ro Tibi

    That is really good, though a full backup from cpanel would be better

  • Anonymous

    Thank you so much.

  • http://jcopro.net Jscook55

    Thanks! If you’re restoring this, how do you get your pictures back? How is that handled?

  • http://glamiva.com/ Glamiva

    Thanks for sharing this! I’m a wordpress newbie and was searching on how to backup my template. Thank u so much!

  • Anonymous

    Brilliant. Thank you!