Learn how to backup WordPress website using UpdraftPlus, Jetpack VaultPress Backup, and All-in-One WP Migration with easy step-by-step instructions.

How to Backup WordPress Website

If you own a WordPress website, creating regular backups should be one of your top priorities. Whether you run a personal blog, business website, portfolio, or WooCommerce store, a backup ensures that your website can be restored quickly if something goes wrong.

Many website owners only realize the importance of backups after losing valuable data due to a server failure, hacking attempt, plugin conflict, accidental deletion, or a failed update. Fortunately, learning how to backup WordPress website is simple, especially with the right backup plugin.

In this guide, you’ll learn three of the easiest and most reliable ways to create a complete backup of your WordPress website using:

• UpdraftPlus with Google Drive
• Jetpack VaultPress Backup
• All-in-One WP Migration

These plugins are beginner-friendly and don’t require any coding knowledge.

Why Is It Important to Backup Your WordPress Website?

A WordPress backup is a complete copy of your website that includes your files, database, themes, plugins, uploads, and settings. If your website experiences an unexpected issue, you can restore everything without rebuilding the site from scratch.

Regular backups protect your website from situations like:

• Accidental deletion of important content
• Failed WordPress, plugin, or theme updates
• Malware or hacking attacks
• Hosting server crashes
• Database corruption
• Website migration mistakes

Instead of spending hours fixing your website, you can simply restore a recent backup and continue working.

Method 1: How to Backup WordPress Website Using UpdraftPlus and Google Drive

UpdraftPlus is one of the most popular WordPress backup plugins available today. It offers both free and premium versions and supports cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, and more.

Using Google Drive is one of the safest options because your backup files remain stored separately from your web hosting account.

Step 1: Install UpdraftPlus

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins → Add New Plugin.
3. Search for UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin.
4. Click Install Now.
5. Activate the plugin.

After activation, go to:

Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups

You’ll see options for creating backups, scheduling backups, restoring backups, and connecting cloud storage.

Step 2: Connect Google Drive

To automatically save backups in Google Drive:

1. Open the Settings tab inside UpdraftPlus.
2. Scroll down to the Choose Your Remote Storage section.
3. Select Google Drive.
4. Click Save Changes.
5. Follow the authorization link.
6. Sign in with your Google account.
7. Allow UpdraftPlus to access your Google Drive.
8. Return to your WordPress dashboard.

Your Google Drive account is now successfully connected.

Step 3: Create Your First Backup

Click the Backup Now button.

A popup window will appear asking whether you want to include:

• Database
• Website files

Leave both options checked and click Backup Now again.

The plugin will create a complete backup of your WordPress website and automatically upload it to Google Drive.

Depending on your website size, the process may take several minutes.

Step 4: Schedule Automatic Backups

Instead of creating manual backups every time, you can schedule automatic backups.

Recommended settings:

• Database Backup: Daily
• File Backup: Weekly
• Storage: Google Drive

You can also choose how many backup copies to keep.

Automatic backups ensure your latest website data is always protected without any extra effort.

Benefits of Using UpdraftPlus

Some of the biggest advantages include:

• Free version available
• Easy Google Drive integration
• Automatic scheduled backups
• One-click restore
• Supports multiple cloud storage services
• Suitable for beginners and professionals
• Reliable backup history

For most website owners, UpdraftPlus is an excellent choice because it combines ease of use with powerful backup features.

Method 2: How to Backup WordPress Website Using Jetpack VaultPress Backup

If you want automatic, real-time backups managed by a trusted WordPress company, Jetpack VaultPress Backup is an excellent choice. Developed by Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com), it securely stores your website backups in the cloud and makes restoring your site simple, even if your website becomes completely inaccessible.

Jetpack VaultPress Backup is especially useful for:

• WooCommerce stores
• Membership websites
• Business websites
• High-traffic blogs
• Websites that publish content frequently

Step 1: Install Jetpack

Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.

Go to:

Plugins → Add New

Search for:

Jetpack

Click Install Now, then Activate.

After activation, connect your website to your WordPress.com account.

Step 2: Enable VaultPress Backup

Once Jetpack is connected, choose a plan that includes VaultPress Backup.

After activation, the backup feature starts protecting your website automatically. Depending on your plan, backups may run in real time or on a scheduled basis.

Unlike manual backups, VaultPress Backup continuously protects your latest website changes.

Step 3: Verify Your Backup

Open the Jetpack dashboard.

Navigate to the Backup section.

Here you can view:

• Latest backup date
• Backup history
• Available restore points
• Website activity log

This dashboard helps you confirm that your website is being backed up successfully.

Step 4: Restore Your Website

If your website experiences problems after an update, malware attack, or accidental deletion, restoring is straightforward.

Open the Backup section.

Choose the backup you want to restore.

Click Restore and follow the on-screen instructions.

Jetpack automatically restores your website files and database to the selected backup point.

Advantages of Jetpack VaultPress Backup

Some of the biggest benefits include:

• Automatic cloud backups
• Real-time backup support on eligible plans
• One-click website restoration
• Secure off-site backup storage
• Activity log for tracking website changes
• Excellent option for WooCommerce stores
• Easy-to-use interface for beginners

Method 3: How to Backup WordPress Website Using All-in-One WP Migration

All-in-One WP Migration is widely known as a migration plugin, but it’s also an excellent tool for creating complete WordPress backups. It exports your entire website into a single file, making it easy to store, transfer, or restore later.

This plugin is especially useful when you’re moving your website to a new hosting provider or keeping an offline copy of your website.

Step 1: Install the Plugin

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins → Add New Plugin.
3. Search for All-in-One WP Migration.
4. Install and activate the plugin.

Step 2: Export Your Website

After activation:

1. Go to All-in-One WP Migration → Export.
2. Click Export To.
3. Select File.

The plugin will begin creating a complete backup of your website.

Depending on your website’s size, the export may take a few minutes.

Step 3: Download and Store the Backup

Once the export is complete, download the backup file to your computer.

For extra protection, store a copy in cloud storage such as:

• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• OneDrive
• External hard drive

Keeping multiple copies of your backup is always recommended.

Step 4: Restore Your Backup

If you ever need to restore your website:

1. Install WordPress on your hosting account.
2. Install All-in-One WP Migration.
3. Open Import.
4. Upload the backup file.
5. Confirm the import process.

Within a few minutes, your website will be restored exactly as it was when the backup was created.

Which Backup Plugin Should You Choose?

Each plugin serves a different purpose, so the best option depends on your website’s needs.

Best Practices for WordPress Backups

No matter which plugin you use, following these best practices will help keep your website safe:

• Schedule automatic backups instead of relying on manual backups.
• Keep multiple backup copies instead of only one.
• Store backups outside your web hosting account.
• Test the restore process occasionally to ensure backups work correctly.
• Create a fresh backup before updating WordPress, plugins, or themes.
• Delete outdated backups to save storage space while keeping enough recovery points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I backup my WordPress website?

If your website changes daily, schedule daily backups. For WooCommerce stores or frequently updated websites, real-time or multiple daily backups provide better protection.

Are free backup plugins enough?

Yes, many small and medium-sized websites can be protected effectively using free backup plugins like UpdraftPlus. However, websites handling frequent transactions or critical business data may benefit from premium backup solutions such as Jetpack VaultPress Backup.

Can I restore my website after a plugin update fails?

Yes. All three plugins covered in this guide allow you to restore your website from a previous backup, helping you recover quickly after update failures or other unexpected issues.

Should I keep backups only on my hosting account?

No. Always store backups in a separate location, such as cloud storage or your local computer. Off-site backups provide additional protection if your hosting server becomes unavailable.

Conclusion

Knowing how to backup WordPress website is essential for protecting your files, database, and valuable content from unexpected problems. Whether you prefer the flexibility of UpdraftPlus with Google Drive, the automated protection offered by Jetpack VaultPress Backup, or the simple export and import process of All-in-One WP Migration, each plugin provides a reliable way to safeguard your website.

The most important step is to create backups regularly and store them in a secure location outside your hosting account. A recent backup can save hours of recovery work and help you restore your website with minimal downtime whenever something goes wrong.

Helpful Links