This procedure will take you step by step through installing and configuring the WordPress Database Backup Plugin.

This plugin allows you to schedule a regular database-only backup and it will email you a backup file from which you can restore your WordPress database.

Important note: this plugin only backs up your database, NOT your WordPress files, images and other customisations. It’s important you use a backup option provided by your web host or download these files on a regular basis. You can do this using an FTP program like Filezilla or Cyberduck.

Assumptions

• You have WordPress installed (the screenshots below are from WordPress 3.0.1).
• You have a valid email address to which the plugin can email your backup files

Step 1: Backup your WordPress Installation

Make a backup of your website using cPanel or a similar utility provided by your web hosting provider.

Step 2: Browse to Add New Plugins

Login to your WordPress Dashboard.

In the menu on the left, click Plugins -> Add New

Step 3: Search for the WordPress Database Plugin

Type “wp-db-backup” into the search box, and click Search Plugins.

Step 4: Install the Plugin

Check the description (circled). It should list Version 2.#.#, by Austin Matzko or similar.

Click Install Now.

Click OK to the message asking you if you’re sure you want to install the plugin

Step 5: Activate the Plugin

Check there are no errors listed on the following screen after installation.

Click Activate Plugin.

Step 6: Configure the WordPress Database Backup Plugin

Now check to see if the plugin has activated successfully. Click Plugins in your Dashboard (#1 below).

Check the information similar to #2, showing that the WordPress Database Backup plugin is activated. The entire row will be greyed out if it is inactive.

Now we need to configure the backup. Click on Tools -> Backup as shown in #3 below.

Step 7: Run a Test Backup

On the Tools -> Backup screen you’ll see 3 different sections.

Tables. Backup Options. Scheduled Backup.

1) Tables allows you to select any additional tables that you would like to backup. Often if you install plugins they will have their own table in your database to store settings. So, check that all tables that you want to backup are selected.

2) Backup Options gives you 3 choices to backup the database right now. I recommend to use either the “Download to your computer” or “Email backup to: ” options. Saving the file to your server means you have to use another program to download the backup file – much easier to download it immediately, or have it sent to your email.

To start the backup immediately, select one of the options and click Backup now!

Step 8: Setup Scheduled Backups

The other (my preferred) option is to setup a scheduled backup that emails the WordPress database backup file to your email at regular intervals.

To do this, scroll down a little further on the Tools -> Backup options screen until you see the Scheduled Backup section as shown below.

Select your desired schedule as shown at #1 below.

Select any other database tables to be included in your backup as shown at #2 below. Yours may look a little different depending on how many plugins you have installed.

Enter your preferred email address as shown at #3 below.

Click Schedule backup.

Step 9: That’s all folks!

You should now receive regular emails on the schedule you have set. The email will have an attachment containing the database backup for your WordPress site.

Questions or Comments

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Do you have any further questions regarding WordPress Database Backups?

Would you like to see a specific tutorial?

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Pre-Requisites

This guide assumes you are using a web hosting provider with cPanel*. Many of the popular web hosts do.

Personally, I both use and recommend Linux Web Hosting from Hostgator (aff. link).

They use cPanel* for their Linux Hosting Plans.

* What is cPanel?

Step 1

Login to the cPanel for your website.

If you’re using Hostgator (aff. link), you will find your cPanel at http://yourwebsite.com/cpanel

Step 2

Click on the Backup option as shown below.

Step 3

Click the button Download or Generate a Full Website Backup.

Step 4

Enter your email address as shown at #1.

Then click Generate Backup as shown at #2.

Step 5

Wait for a minute or two, then refresh the page (press F5 or click the refresh button in your web browser).

You should see a file listed similar to the one circled below.

Click this file link, and save the backup file to your computer when prompted.

Important! Make sure this file is backed up from your computer. For true peace of mind, I recommend you backup your important files to an external hard drive and to an online storage service like Dropbox, Jungle Disk or similar.

Questions or Comments

Was this tutorial helpful for you?

Do you have any further questions regarding cPanel backups or any of the software mentioned above?

Would you like to see a specific tutorial?

Please leave a comment below!