Manually Backup and Restore a WordPress Blog Without Plugins

Managing your WordPress blog involves not only creating and updating content but also ensuring the safety and integrity of your website. While plugins offer convenience, manually backing up and restoring your blog is a valuable skill to have. This guide will walk you through the process of doing this step-by-step without relying on any additional tools.

Backup Process

1. Backup WordPress Files

The first step is to back up your WordPress files. This process involves downloading all your website's files from your web hosting account to your local computer. Here’s how to do it:

Access Your Web Hosting Account: Use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software like FileZilla, or access the file manager provided by your web host. Download WordPress Files: Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation, usually found in public_html. Download all files and folders to your local computer. This includes: wp-content Your themes, plugins, and uploads wp-admin wp-includes All other files in the root directory like .htaccess, , etc.

2. Backup the Database

Next, you need to back up your database using PHPMyAdmin:

Access PHPMyAdmin: Log into your web hosting control panel, such as cPanel, and find and open PHPMyAdmin. Export the Database: Select your WordPress database from the list on the left. If you're unsure of the database name, check your file. Click on the Export tab, choose the Quick export method, and the format as SQL. Click Go to download the database file to your computer.

Restore Process

1. Restore WordPress Files

Once you have your files backed up, you can begin the restoration process:

Upload WordPress Files: Use your FTP client or file manager to navigate to your web hosting account. Ensure the root directory is empty if you are restoring to a new installation. Upload all the WordPress files you backed up earlier.

2. Restore the Database

Now, restore your database:

Access PHPMyAdmin: Log into your web hosting control panel and open PHPMyAdmin. Create a New Database if Necessary: If you are restoring to a new site, create a new database and a user, then grant the user all privileges. Import the Database: Select the database you want to restore to. Click on the Import tab, choose the SQL file you downloaded earlier, and click Go to import the database.

3. Update if Necessary

If you created a new database, make sure to update the file with the new database name, username, and password.

Final Steps

After restoring both the files and the database, complete these final checks:

Check Your Site: Visit your WordPress site to ensure everything is working correctly. Permalinks: Go to Settings Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and re-save your permalinks to ensure there are no broken links.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully backup and restore your WordPress blog without using any plugins. This method gives you full control over your backup process and ensures you have a complete copy of your site.