A WordPress site is two things: the files in public_html and the database. A usable backup contains both, and is stored somewhere other than the server it came from.
Method 1 — cPanel full backup
- In cPanel open Backup under Files.
- Click Download a Full Account Backup, leave the destination as Home Directory, and click Generate.
- You will be emailed when it is ready; return to the same page and download the archive to your computer.
This captures everything on the account including email. Delete the archive from the server afterwards so it does not consume your disk quota.
Method 2 — separate files and database
- Files: File Manager → select
public_html→ Compress → download the zip. - Database: phpMyAdmin → select your database → Export → Quick → Go.
Method 3 — backup plugin (recommended for schedules)
UpdraftPlus is the usual choice. Configure it to send backups to Google Drive or Dropbox rather than leaving them on the server, and set a retention limit so old archives are pruned.
Important: plugin schedules rely on cron. Because HTTP wp-cron is disabled on our servers, set up a real cron job first or your scheduled backups will never run.
How often
Weekly for a static brochure site; daily for a blog; and always immediately before updating, migrating or making design changes.
A backup you have never restored is an assumption, not a backup. Test one on a staging subdomain at least once.
