Backing Up via FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) provides direct access to download your website files. This method works with any hosting provider.

Recommended FTP Client

FileZilla – Free, reliable, and cross-platform FTP client
→ Download from: https://filezilla-project.org/

Note: Download the “Client” version, not “Server”

FileZilla Setup

1. Install FileZilla Client on your computer
2. Open FileZilla and click “File → Site Manager”
3. Click “New Site” and enter your connection details:
   • Host: Your domain or IP address
   • Port: 21 (or as provided by your host)
   • Protocol: FTP or SFTP
   • User: Your FTP username
   • Password: Your FTP password
4. Click “Connect”

Downloading Your Files

Once connected, you’ll see two panels:

• Left panel: Your local computer files
• Right panel: Your server files

To backup your website:

1. Navigate to your backup folder on the left (local)
2. Navigate to public_html on the right (server)
3. Select all files in public_html (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A)
4. Right-click and choose “Download”
5. Wait for all files to transfer

Using cPanel Backup Wizard

cPanel provides built-in backup tools that are faster and more convenient than FTP for most users.

Accessing cPanel

Login to cPanel using one of these methods:

• Go to: yourdomain.com/cpanel
• Or use the cPanel URL provided by your host
• Username/password are typically the same as FTP credentials

Using the Backup Wizard

Once logged in, locate and click the “Backup Wizard” icon:

Step-by-Step Backup Process

Visual Guide

Alternative: File Manager Method

For large sites or slow servers, using File Manager can be more efficient:

1. Open “File Manager” in cPanel
2. Navigate to public_html
3. Select all files (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A)
4. Right-click and choose “Compress”
5. Select “Zip Archive” and name your file
6. Once compressed, download the zip file

Restoring from Backup

To restore your backups:

1. Open Backup Wizard
2. Select “Restore” instead of “Backup”
3. Choose what to restore (Home Directory or MySQL Database)
4. Upload your backup file
5. Click “Restore” and wait for completion

Using phpMyAdmin for Database Backup

phpMyAdmin is the standard tool for database management and is available on most hosting platforms.

Accessing phpMyAdmin

In cPanel, find and click the phpMyAdmin icon:

Exporting Your Database

1. Select your database from the left panel
2. Click the database name to expand and show all tables
3. Scroll to the bottom of the table list
4. Check “Check All” to select all tables
5. From “With selected” dropdown, choose “Export”
6. Click “Go” button

Export Settings

On the export screen, use these recommended settings:

• Export Method: Quick (for most cases)
• Format: SQL
• Compression: gzipped (for large databases)

Importing/Restoring a Database

To restore a database backup:

1. Select your database in phpMyAdmin
2. Click “Import” tab at the top
3. Click “Choose File” and select your backup
4. Ensure format is set to “SQL”
5. Click “Go” to import

Note: For large databases, you may need to:

• Drop (delete) existing tables first to avoid conflicts
• Increase PHP upload limits if file is too large
• Use compression (gzip) to reduce file size

For detailed database restoration instructions, see: Database Backup Guide

WordPress-Specific Backup Considerations

WordPress sites require special attention due to their dynamic nature and frequent updates.

What to Backup

A complete WordPress backup includes:

• WordPress Files: Core files, themes, plugins, uploads
• Database: Posts, pages, comments, settings, users
• .htaccess file: Often contains important redirects and settings
• wp-config.php: Contains database connection details

Before Updates

Platform Updates (WordPress core):

• Backup both files AND database
• Core updates can affect both components
• Older themes may break with major updates

Plugin Updates:

• Database backup is usually sufficient
• Plugin files can be reinstalled if needed
• To disable a problem plugin: rename its folder via FTP

Theme Updates:

• Backup files if you’ve made customizations
• Consider using a child theme for custom code
• Database backup recommended for widget settings

WordPress Backup Plugins

While manual backups are important, these plugins can automate the process:

Recommended Free Plugins:

• UpdraftPlus: Schedule automatic backups to cloud storage
• BackWPup: Comprehensive backup with multiple destination options
• Duplicator: Great for migrations and full site copies

Premium Solutions:

• VaultPress/Jetpack Backup: Real-time backups by Automattic
• BlogVault: Incremental backups with staging features
• WP Time Capsule: Incremental backups like Apple Time Machine

Recovery Planning

Test your backup recovery process before you need it:

1. Create a test subdomain or local environment
2. Practice restoring both files and database
3. Document your recovery steps
4. Note how long the process takes
5. Keep recovery instructions with your backups

Common Backup Issues & Solutions

Solutions to frequent backup problems and error messages.

File Size Limitations

Problem: Backup file too large to download or upload

Solutions:

• Use compression (zip or gzip format)
• Backup in segments (separate files and database)
• Exclude large folders like cache or backup directories
• Use FTP for large file transfers instead of HTTP
• Consider command-line tools if available (SSH access)

Timeout Errors

Problem: Backup process times out before completion

Solutions:

• Use File Manager to create compressed archives first
• Backup during low-traffic hours
• Break large backups into smaller chunks
• Contact host to increase PHP timeout limits
• Use backup plugins with resume capability

Database Import Errors

Problem: Database won’t import or shows errors

Solutions:

• Check file size against phpMyAdmin limits
• Ensure database name matches wp-config.php
• Drop existing tables before importing
• Verify character encoding matches (usually UTF-8)
• Use command line MySQL if available

Corrupted Backups

Problem: Backup files won’t extract or are damaged

Prevention:

• Verify backups immediately after creation
• Use checksums to verify file integrity
• Keep multiple backup copies
• Test restore process periodically
• Use reliable transfer methods (avoid interrupted downloads)

Storage Issues

Problem: Running out of space for backups

Solutions:

• Rotate old backups (keep last 3-5 versions)
• Use incremental backups for large sites
• Store backups off-server
• Compress backups before storage
• Clean up temporary backup files on server

Permission Errors

Problem: Can’t create or access backup files

Solutions:

• Check file/folder permissions (usually 755 for folders, 644 for files)
• Ensure correct ownership (user/group)
• Verify FTP user has necessary privileges
• Contact host if permissions keep resetting