This article explains the difference between incremental and full backups and how they work on Web60.
What is a Full Backup?
A full backup creates a complete copy of your entire website. This includes all your files, images, WordPress posts, pages, settings, and database information. Think of it like making a photocopy of every single page in a book.
When you run a full backup, it captures everything on your website at that exact moment. If your website was completely deleted, you could restore it perfectly using just one full backup file.
Full backups take longer to create and use more storage space because they're copying everything each time.
What is an Incremental Backup?
An incremental backup only saves the files that have changed since the last backup was made. It's like only photocopying the pages in a book that have been edited since yesterday.
For example, if you only updated one blog post since your last backup, an incremental backup would only save that changed post and any related database updates. It won't copy all your images, other posts, or unchanged files again.
Incremental backups are much faster and take up less storage space than full backups.
How Web60 Uses Both Types
Web60 runs both types of backups automatically:
- Full backups happen weekly to ensure you always have a complete copy of your website
- Incremental backups happen daily to capture any changes you make between full backups
You don't need to choose between them or set anything up. Both types work together to keep your website protected.
When You Restore Your Website
When you need to restore your website from a backup, Web60 automatically combines the relevant full backup with all the incremental backups made since then.
This means you get your website restored to the exact point in time you choose, whether that's yesterday, last week, or any other available backup date.
Checking Your Backup History
You can see all your backups (both full and incremental) in your Web60 portal. The system shows them as single restore points, so you don't need to worry about which type is which.
If you want to create additional manual backups before making major changes to your website, these will be full backups.
If you're still stuck or have questions about your specific backup needs, contact Web60 support through your portal.
FAQ
Q: Do I need to choose between incremental and full backups?
A: No. Web60 automatically runs both types for you - full backups weekly and incremental backups daily.
Q: Which backup type should I use to restore my website?
A: You don't choose the backup type when restoring. Web60 automatically combines the necessary backups to restore your website to your chosen date and time.
Q: Why don't I see separate incremental and full backups in my portal?
A: Web60 shows you restore points by date rather than backup types. The system handles combining incremental and full backups behind the scenes.
Q: Are incremental backups less reliable than full backups?
A: No. Incremental backups are just as reliable. When combined with full backups, they provide complete website restoration.
Q: Do manual backups use the full or incremental method?
A: Manual backups are always full backups, creating a complete copy of your website at that moment.
Q: How much storage do incremental backups use?
A: Incremental backups use much less storage than full backups because they only save changed files. The exact amount depends on how much you modify your website between backups.
Q: Can I turn off incremental backups and only use full backups?
A: No. The combination of both backup types is designed to give you the best protection while managing storage efficiently.
Last updated: 1 March 2026