How to Back Up a WordPress Site with UpdraftPlus (Step-by-Step 2026)

Every WordPress site can break. An update can fail, a plugin can clash, or a hacker can get in. When that happens, a fresh backup is the fastest way back. In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to back up WordPress with UpdraftPlus, one of the most popular backup plugins, using the same steps described in the official UpdraftPlus documentation.

Why You Should Back Up WordPress with UpdraftPlus

A backup is a copy of your site that you can restore later. It has two parts: your files (themes, plugins and uploads) and your database (posts, pages, settings and comments). You need both to rebuild a site fully.

UpdraftPlus handles both parts for you. Moreover, it can send your backups to cloud storage, run on a schedule, and restore your site from inside the WordPress dashboard. As a result, you do not need to touch FTP or phpMyAdmin.

Here are the most common moments when a backup saves the day:

• Before a WordPress core update, such as the recent WordPress 7.1.3 update.
• Before installing a new theme or plugin.
• After a hack or malware infection.
• When you move your site to a new host.

What You Need Before You Start

First, you need admin access to your WordPress dashboard. Next, decide where you want to store your backups. Keeping them only on your own server is risky. If the server fails, the backups disappear with it. For that reason, the UpdraftPlus team recommends an off-site location such as a cloud service.

The free version supports UpdraftVault, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloud Files, Google Drive, FTP, OpenStack (Swift), DreamObjects, S3-compatible storage and email. Premium adds Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft Azure, SFTP/SCP, Google Cloud, Backblaze, WebDAV and pCloud.

Finally, install the plugin. For the free version, go to Plugins > Add New, search for “UpdraftPlus” and click Install Now, then Activate. You can also find it on the UpdraftPlus page on WordPress.org. For Premium, upload the ZIP file under Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.

How to Back Up WordPress with UpdraftPlus: Step by Step

The steps below follow the free version, and they work the same way in Premium. Here is how to back up WordPress with UpdraftPlus from start to finish.

Once the plugin is active, open Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups in your dashboard. You will see several tabs. Most of the setup happens in the Settings tab. Then, the backups themselves live in the Backup / Restore tab.

Step 1: Turn On Email Reporting

Before anything else, enable reports. They tell you whether each backup worked. In the Settings tab, scroll down to the Email section and tick the box. Then click Save Changes. Reports will go to your admin email address.

Step 2: Choose Your Remote Storage

Next, find Choose your remote storage and click the icon of the service you want. Then follow the prompts to connect it. For example, Dropbox and Google Drive ask you to sign in and approve access, while FTP asks for your FTP details. When you are done, click Save Changes.

Step 3: Set Your Backup Schedule

Now, look for Files backup schedule and Database backup schedule. You can set them separately, which helps spread the load on your server. The free version offers manual only, every 2, 4, 8 or 12 hours, daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly.

So which schedule is best? According to the UpdraftPlus scheduling guide, one of the most common setups is weekly backups for files and daily backups for the database. If your site rarely changes, fortnightly or monthly can be enough. On the other hand, a busy store may need backups every few hours.

Step 4: Set Retention and Choose What to Include

Beside each schedule, set how many backups to keep. Once the limit is reached, UpdraftPlus deletes the oldest one automatically. This keeps your storage tidy.

Then scroll to Include in files backup. By default, plugins, themes and uploads are included. Untick anything you do not need, and click Save Changes.

Step 5: Run Your First Manual Backup

Do not wait for the schedule. Instead, test your setup right away. Open the Backup / Restore tab and click the blue Backup Now button.

A pop-up will appear. Here, you can choose whether to include the database and files, and whether to send the backup to remote storage. You can also lock this backup so it is not deleted by your retention limit. Click Backup Now again and wait for it to finish.

Step 6: Check That the Backup Worked

After the backup completes, scroll down to Existing backups. Your new backup should appear in the list. In addition, open your cloud storage and confirm that the files arrived. Finally, check your inbox for the email report.

How to Restore a Backup in UpdraftPlus

A backup is only useful if you can restore it. Fortunately, UpdraftPlus makes this simple.

1. Go to Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups and open the Backup / Restore tab.
2. Scroll to Existing backups and click Restore next to the backup you want.
3. In the restore wizard, pick the parts to restore, such as the database, plugins, themes or uploads.
4. Follow the prompts and wait for the process to finish.

If your backup is saved on your computer instead, click Upload backup files and add the ZIP files. Then restore it the same way.

Extra Features When You Back Up WordPress with UpdraftPlus Premium

The free version covers the basics well. However, UpdraftPlus Premium adds tools that save time and storage, according to the official UpdraftPlus backup guide:

• Multiple storage locations, so one failed cloud account does not leave you without a backup.
• More storage options, including OneDrive, Backblaze, SFTP and pCloud.
• Exact backup times, so backups can run overnight when traffic is low.
• Incremental backups, which save only files that changed since the last full backup.
• Automatic backups before updates, for extra protection.
• Detailed reports to several email addresses, with backup size and checksums.
• Wider file coverage, including WordPress core files and other files on your server.
• Database anonymisation, which can hide personal data in a manual backup.

If you want these features, you can download UpdraftPlus Premium from our site.

Best Practices for Safe WordPress Backups

• Use off-site storage. Never rely only on your hosting server.
• Keep more than one copy. Retain several backups so you can go back further if needed.
• Back up before every big change. Updates, new themes and migrations all count.
• Test a restore now and then. Try it on a staging site so you know it works.
• Install only clean files. A backup of an infected site is still infected. Read our guide on GPL vs nulled themes to stay safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is UpdraftPlus free?

Yes. The free version on WordPress.org includes scheduled backups, cloud storage and restore. Premium adds extra features like incremental backups and multiple storage locations.

How often should I back up my WordPress site?

It depends on how often your site changes. The UpdraftPlus documentation says a daily or weekly backup suits most websites, and weekly files plus daily database is a common setup.

Where are UpdraftPlus backups stored?

By default, they are saved on your server. However, you should connect a remote location, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, so your backups stay safe if your server fails.

Can I restore a backup to a different site?

Restoring is done from the Backup / Restore tab, and you can upload backup files from your computer. Moving a site to a new domain or host is a migration, which is a separate topic we will cover in a future guide.

Final Thoughts: Back Up WordPress with UpdraftPlus Today

To sum up, it takes only a few minutes to back up WordPress with UpdraftPlus, yet it can save your whole website. Turn on reports, connect cloud storage, set a schedule, and run your first manual backup today. Then check that it worked. Once that is done, you can update, experiment and grow your site with confidence.

Looking for more tools to build and protect your site? Browse our full collection of GPL themes and plugins.