How to Create Manual Backups

This article shows you how to create a manual backup of your WordPress website on Web60.

Back Up Your Website Files

1. Log into cPanel - Check your Web60 welcome email for your cPanel login details. Click the cPanel link and enter your username and password.

2. Open File Manager - Look for the "Files" section in cPanel. Click on "File Manager".

3. Find your website folder - You'll see a list of folders. Click on "public_html" - this contains all your website files.

4. Select all files - Click the "Select All" checkbox at the top of the file list. This highlights all your WordPress files and folders.

5. Create the backup - Click "Compress" in the toolbar. Choose "Zip Archive" and give it a name like "mysite-backup-january2024.zip". Click "Compress Files".

6. Download the backup - Find your new zip file in the list. Right-click it and select "Download". Save it to your computer.

Back Up Your Database

Your WordPress database contains all your posts, pages, comments, and settings. You need to back this up separately.

1. Open phpMyAdmin - In cPanel, look for the "Databases" section. Click "phpMyAdmin".

2. Find your database - You'll see a list on the left side. Your database name usually starts with your username followed by an underscore.

3. Export the database - Click on your database name, then click the "Export" tab at the top.

4. Choose export settings - Select "Quick" export method and "SQL" format. These are usually selected by default.

5. Download the database - Click "Go". Your browser will download a file ending in ".sql" - this is your database backup.

Store Your Backups Safely

Save both files (the zip file and the .sql file) in the same folder on your computer. Label the folder with the date so you know when the backup was created. Consider copying these files to a USB drive or cloud storage like Google Drive for extra security.

Important Notes

• Manual backups capture your website at a specific moment. If you make changes after creating the backup, those changes won't be included.
• Large websites may take several minutes to compress and download.
• The database backup is just as important as the file backup - you need both to fully restore your website.

If you're still stuck or encounter error messages during this process, contact Web60 support through your client area.

FAQ

Q: How often should I create manual backups?

A: Create manual backups before making major changes to your website, such as updating plugins, changing themes, or adding new content. Weekly backups are recommended for active websites.

Q: What's the difference between the zip file and the SQL file?

A: The zip file contains your website's design, images, and WordPress installation files. The SQL file contains your content like posts, pages, comments, and all your settings.

Q: Can I restore my website using these backup files?

A: Yes, but restoration requires uploading the files back to your hosting account and importing the database. This process is more complex than creating backups.

Q: Why is my backup file so large?

A: Backup size depends on your website content. Sites with many images, videos, or uploaded files will create larger backups. This is normal.

Q: What if I can't find phpMyAdmin in cPanel?

A: Look in the "Databases" section of cPanel. If you still can't find it, your cPanel layout might be different. Contact support for help locating it.

Q: Do I need both backups to restore my website?

A: Yes, you need both the file backup (zip) and database backup (SQL) to completely restore your WordPress website. One without the other won't work properly.

Q: Can I automate this backup process?

A: Manual backups must be created by hand each time. Web60 provides automatic daily backups, but manual backups give you control over timing and storage location.