How to Back Up Your Website (Step-by-Step)

A backup is the one thing that turns a website disaster — a bad plugin update, a hacked account, accidental deletion — into a minor inconvenience instead of a catastrophe. Here’s how to do it properly.

What a Complete Backup Includes

A website isn’t just one file — a proper backup needs to cover:

• Website files — your theme, plugins, uploads, and core software files
• The database — where your actual content, settings, and (for WordPress) posts and pages are stored

Backing up only one of these isn’t enough to fully restore a site if something goes wrong.

Step 1: Log In to Your Hosting Control Panel

Log in to your cPanel or DirectAdmin account using your usual credentials.

Step 2: Open the Backup Tool

Look for a Backup or Backup Wizard icon, typically found in the Files section of your control panel.

Step 3: Choose What to Back Up

You’ll usually have the option to download a full account backup, or to separately back up just your website files or just your database. For a complete safety net, back up both.

Step 4: Save It Somewhere Safe

This is the step people most often get wrong: downloading a backup but leaving the only copy sitting on the same server. Save your backup file to your own computer or a cloud storage service, so it survives even if the server itself has a problem.

Step 5: Make It a Habit (or Automate It)

A backup from six months ago isn’t much help if your site changes daily. Set a recurring reminder to back up manually, or better yet, use an automated backup service that runs on a schedule without you having to remember.

What to Back Up on a WordPress Site

• The wp-content folder: themes, plugins and uploads.
• The database: all posts, pages, comments and settings.
• wp-config.php: the connection settings for your database.
• Custom code: any changes you made to themes or functions.

The 3-2-1 Rule

• Keep at least 3 copies: the live site plus two backups.
• Use 2 different storage locations.
• Keep 1 copy off the server.

When to Back Up Manually

• Before updating WordPress, themes or plugins.
• Before a redesign or large content changes.
• Before moving hosts or changing DNS.
• Before a big sale or launch.

Check That Your Backup Works

Download it, confirm it opens, and check the size looks right and the database file is complete. Ask support how to restore before you actually need to.

Restoring a Backup

1. Find out what went wrong first, so you do not restore the same problem.
2. Choose a backup from before the problem started.
3. Restore the files and database through your control panel.
4. Check the home page, inner pages, login and forms.
5. If unsure, contact support before overwriting anything.

FAQ

How often should I back up?

It depends on how often your site changes. A busy store needs more frequent backups than a brochure site, but always back up before updates.

Does my plan include automatic backups?

Every Edish hosting plan includes Acronis Cyber Cloud Backup. If you are unsure it is active on your account, contact our team.

Skip the Manual Work Entirely

Every Edish hosting plan includes Acronis Cyber Cloud Backup, which automatically backs up your files and database on a regular schedule — no manual downloads required, and restoring is just a few clicks if you ever need to. Contact our team if you’re not sure whether automated backups are active on your account.