How do I back up my website?

Why backups matter

A backup is a saved copy of your website that you can restore if something goes wrong, whether that is accidental deletion, a failed update or a security issue. Without a backup, recovering lost content can be difficult or impossible.

What a website backup includes

A complete backup usually covers two parts: your website's files, such as images, themes and plugins, and your database, which stores content like blog posts, pages and settings. Missing either part can mean an incomplete restore.

• Website files, including themes, plugins and media
• The database, which holds your content and configuration
• Email account data, if that is hosted alongside your website

Ways to back up your website

There are several ways to create backups, and using more than one method adds an extra layer of protection.

• Through your hosting control panel, where backup tools are often built in
• Using a backup plugin if your site runs on WordPress
• Downloading a manual copy of your files and database periodically
• Using a dedicated backup service for automated protection

How often to back up

How often you need backups depends on how frequently your site changes. A site that is updated daily, such as an online shop, benefits from more frequent backups than a simple brochure site that rarely changes. The plan page for your hosting will list the exact backup allowance and options available.

Restoring from a backup

If you ever need to restore your site, having a recent, complete backup makes the process far smoother. If you are not sure where to start, support is available via /contact, and our website security guide explains other steps you can take to reduce the chances of needing a restore in the first place.