AdvancedLesson 14 of 22 · 7 steps

Back up and restore a WordPress site

Create a portable backup and practice restoring it on a test destination.

Video coming soon

Your next step is ready.

Follow the complete written guide below.
The video will join it here when it’s ready.

Start the written lesson

Before you start

  • A practice site and permission for the task.
  • EMCP Pro with Backup, Sync & Migrate enabled.
  • Enough storage and a disposable restore destination.

Let’s do this, step by step.

Step 01

Choose the backup scope

Open Safety → Backup & Migrate → Backup. Under What to include choose Full site, Database only or Files only, and optionally enter Backup name.

Choose what the backup should include and give it a useful name. A partial backup only protects its selected content.

Step 02

Create and download

Click Start backup and keep the tab open. When complete, use Download in Your backups or the History section.

Wait for the completed backup, then download its archive. Backups stay on this server; there is no remote storage destination in this version. Keep a downloaded copy elsewhere.

Step 03

Upload to the restore section

On a practice destination, back up its current state. Open Restore and use Drop an .emcp file or choose one. To restore a backup listed under Backup, download it first and upload it here.

Check the destination address and protect its current state. Upload your chosen archive in Restore. Wait until it appears under Available to restore.

Step 04

Restore the selected archive

Select the archive’s radio button in Available to restore. Tick Restore database, Restore files or both. Click Restore selected, type RESTORE and keep the tab open.

Choose the archive and the parts to restore. Read the confirmation carefully, type RESTORE, and keep this tab open until the work finishes. The destination content you select will be replaced.

Step 05

Verify recovery

Open the destination homepage, admin, representative pages, media, and plugin screens.

A usable backup is one you have tested. Record what you restored and any checks that still need attention.

Step 06

Set and verify a schedule

On Backup health choose Set up or Edit beside Schedule. Enable Run scheduled backups, choose Daily or Weekly, site-local Time, scope and Keep the newest, then Save schedule. Verify a completed scheduled archive later.

Choose a schedule and how many recent scheduled backups to keep. Older scheduled copies are removed after a new one finishes; manual copies are kept. Scheduled work needs site traffic or a working server scheduler. Check that a backup actually finishes.

Step 07

Recover a stalled scheduled job

If a scheduled backup stops moving, open Backup. When offered, choose Continue in this tab and keep it open. Investigate the scheduler before relying on the next run.

If WordPress reports a stalled scheduled backup, you can continue it in this tab. Let it finish, then fix the scheduling problem so future backups can run.

You’re done when…

A completed backup exists off-site and the practice restore passes its page and admin checks.

Keep the reference handy.

The docs cover tool details and requirements for this lesson.