WordPress Database: Back it Up!
Disclaimer: This isn’t the sexiest, most glamorous post but it’s an important one. Most of you WordPress users are probably already familiar with performing a WordPress Database Backup but if I can save just one person out there the misery of losing all of their beloved content, then so be it!
If you’ve been blogging long enough, common sense tells you to back up all of the content on your server including photos on a regular basis. For years, I’ve been religiously doing this. BUT! Amazingly enough, I didn’t realize that I was supposed to be doing a SECOND, equally important backup until quite recently.
If you use the WordPress platform (such as I do), your WordPress Database contains all of your posts, comments, and links. In essence, it’s the content that gives your blog its unique format. A database backup may be the only saving grace if you ever install a bad plugin, have an upgrade go terribly wrong or get stricken by hackers. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Conveniently enough, a a free plugin can do all of the work for you. To use it, simply download the plugin, upload it to your plugins folder on your server and activate it.
Next, go to the Tools tab in the left column of your dashboard and click on Backup.
Once you’re in the Backup Options screen, scroll down and click on Download to your computer. It will do the rest!
Once you have a full backup, I would recommend scheduling regular backups from now on. Scroll down to Scheduled Backup and click the frequency (I do once a week) and make sure your correct email is on file.
Now, you can have peace of mind knowing that all of your hard work is tidily zipped for safekeeping.
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24 People have left comments on this post
Wow, thank you for writing this, I recently started a blog and this is something I didn’t even think about. Without you, I would have had to learn this the hard way…
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As soon as I read this, I promptly did this and it does feel so much better to see my files in one place. Sometimes through the craziness of blogging whether you are new or established at it, you forget the little important tasks. Thank you very, very much for this post.
On another note, your blog is wonderful and I’m happy that I came across it early last year. I love your Link Love posts in particular! It’s hard to see everything online and you always seem to round up a nice variety of subjects that I like! Take care :]
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Thanks for the advice! I’m pretty much in love with WordPress plugins.
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Alice: You’re welcome. There’s so much else to worry about that sometimes we overlook backing up what we’ve already produced!
Karen | imisutoo: Good for you. You’re exactly the type of reader who I wanted to reach through this. I’ve been blogging since 2007 on my site and nobody ever told me to do a database backup! I guess to everyone else around me, it was common sense! Ahhhh.
Kiersten: Me too. They can do EVERYTHING. Love.
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Thanks for sharing this tip! I used to go into my actual SQL database to back everything up and it’s a paaain in the rear end, let me tell you. So this makes things way easier.
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Backup complete! makes me feel a little less crazy that this plugin auto schedules. Being a photographer I already have enough backups on my plate. So this sort of takes some of the thought out of it. Great recommendation.
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Nubby Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Luke: Glad to hear that you’re getting all backed up. Running our own businesses means that we have enough to worry about and this is one less hassle.
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I need to install this plug in for sure. Thank you!
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Thanks so much Nubby! I’ve been wondering how others do this. So glad for the info.
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Perfectly timed. The first time I tried to click this I got some (maybe unrelated) virus protection spam site and freaked out a little bit but when I loaded your site directly today there was no problem. Just backed up and feel better. (I also downloaded my uploads via FTP and saved an export file this week – very paranoid.)
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Nubby Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Janine: Yeah, I’ve had some issues with the site lately…everything should be permanently sorted by this weekend. When you think of the amount of time and hard work you put in to producing content, it does bring up some paranoia if you consider what would happen if you potentially lost it all!
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I’ve had this plugin installed forever, but had never used it. Thanks for the great reminder to back up my files!
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Nubby Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Tashina: Glad to remind you! Super duper important!
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Sexy? No. Life-saving? Yes.
Thank you!
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Nubby, thanks so much! I’ve just barely started my blog, and I’m so glad you covered this! This plugin is super easy to use and I’ve got it scheduled for weekly backup. Thank you!!
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Thank you so much for posting this Nubby. It took less than a minute!
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Nubby Reply:
May 29th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Candi: Glad I could help! It feels good to know you have a solid copy of all of your hard work…
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Indeed, data backup is important, for reminding
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Came back to this post after setting up a website for my man’s band through WordPress. Thanks for the link! I’ve installed the plugin and appreciate you sharing it.
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Hey! Thanks so much for this post! I remember when you posted this but I was still on WordPress.com. I finally switched to a new host and got everything transfered today and had to search for this! You may have saved my sanity some time in the future!
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Thanks Nubby!! Just another invaluable piece of advice from you. You are truly a life saver…from someone in the very early stages of blog development
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