Website data loss can happen unexpectedly, whether from hacking attempts, malware infections, server crashes, or even accidental deletion. For WordPress site owners, this can mean losing months or years of work, customer data, and valuable content.
The best way to protect your site is by creating regular backups. A backup acts like an insurance policy, it allows you to restore your website quickly without starting from scratch.
In this article, you’ll learn how to back up your WordPress site to Google Drive for free, using the UpdraftPlus plugin. This method is reliable, beginner-friendly, and leverages the 15GB of free storage that comes with every Google account.
Importance of Backing Up Your WordPress Site to Google Drive
Backing up your WordPress site to Google Drive provides multiple advantages:
1. Protection from Data Loss: If your site is hacked, compromised, or accidentally deleted, you can restore it quickly from your Google Drive backup.
2. Secure Offsite Storage: Backups stored on your hosting server can be affected if the server is compromised. Storing them on Google Drive keeps them separate and secure.
3. Free 15GB Storage: Every Google account comes with 15GB of free storage, which you can use for website backups. You can upgrade to more space at a low cost if needed.
4. No Hosting Space Usage: Since backups are stored in the cloud, they won’t consume your web hosting storage.
5. Easy Recovery: Restoring a Google Drive backup takes just a few clicks with the right plugin.
Automatic vs. Manual Backups: Which Should You Choose?
Automatic Backups: These are scheduled backups that run at regular intervals without manual input. They are the most convenient and ensure your site is always protected.
Manual Backups: These are backups you trigger yourself before major changes (like theme installations, plugin updates, or new content uploads). They provide an extra layer of safety.
For best results, use both methods (scheduled automatic backups plus manual backups) before significant updates.
How to Back Up Your WordPress Site to Google Drive Automatically
Since WordPress does not have a built-in backup tool, you’ll need a plugin. UpdraftPlus is one of the most popular and reliable free backup plugins for WordPress.
STEP 1: INSTALL AND ACTIVATE UPDRAFTPLUS
- From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins, and click on Add New.
- Search for UpdraftPlus.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
STEP 2: CONNECT UPDRAFTPLUS TO GOOGLE DRIVE
- Go to Settings, and click on UpdraftPlus Backups.
- Click the Settings tab.
- In the Choose your remote storage section, select Google Drive.
- Click Sign in with Google and grant permission for UpdraftPlus to access your Google Drive.
- Click Complete Setup to finalize the connection.
STEP 3: SET AN AUTOMATIC BACKUP SCHEDULE
- In the Settings tab, set how often you want backups for:
- Files backup schedule (themes, plugins, images).
- Database backup schedule (posts, pages, comments, settings).
- Common recommendations:
- Blogs updated weekly: Weekly backups.
- Online stores or active sites: Daily backups.
- Choose how many backup copies to keep before older ones are replaced.
- Click Save Changes.
STEP 4: SELECT WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE BACKUP
By default, UpdraftPlus backs up:
- Plugins
- Themes
- Uploads
You can exclude specific file types or folders to save space. Unless you have special requirements, keep all default options checked for a complete backup.
STEP 5: ENABLE BACKUP NOTIFICATIONS
- In the Settings tab, scroll to Email.
- Check the box to receive email notifications when backups complete successfully.
- Save changes.
How to Back Up Your WordPress Site to Google Drive Manually
Even with automatic backups, there are times when a manual backup is necessary. For example, before major WordPress updates or site redesigns.
To create a manual backup:
STEP 1: Go to Settings, click on UpdraftPlus Backups, and click Backup/Restore.
STEP 2: Click Backup Now.
STEP 3: Confirm that files and database are selected.
STEP 4: Click Backup Now again to start the process.
How to Restore a WordPress Backup from Google Drive
If your site goes down, gets hacked, or needs to be restored to a previous version, you can easily recover it from your Google Drive backup.
STEP 1: Install and activate UpdraftPlus on your WordPress site.
STEP 2: Go to Settings, click on UpdraftPlus Backups, and click Settings.
STEP 3: Select Google Drive as your remote storage.
STEP 4: Sign in to the Google account where your backup is stored.
STEP 5: Go to the Backup/Restore tab (UpdraftPlus will scan your Google Drive and list available backups.)
STEP 6: Select the backup you want, click Restore, and choose which components (files, database) to restore.
Follow the prompts until the restoration is complete.
Tips to Keep Your WordPress Backups Reliable
Creating backups is just the first step, ensuring they remain usable and accessible is equally important. Following these tips will help you avoid unpleasant surprises when you need to restore your site.
- Periodically try restoring a backup on a staging site to confirm the files are intact and the process works smoothly.
- Store copies in different places, such as Google Drive and an external hard drive, to safeguard against data loss in one location.
- Always keep your backup plugins and WordPress core updated to maintain compatibility and security.
- Use strong, unique passwords for both your WordPress admin and Google Drive accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
- Schedule backups during off-peak hours because running backups when your site has low traffic reduces performance slowdowns and ensures a faster process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How often should I back up my WordPress site?
A: It depends on how often your site changes. A static site may only need weekly backups, while an online store should back up daily.
Q: Can I use this method for large websites?
A: Yes, but large sites may require more Google Drive storage or a premium plugin version for faster processing.
Q: Do I need to pay for Google Drive storage?
A: No. Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage. You only need to pay if you exceed that limit.
Q: What if my Google Drive account runs out of space?
A: You can delete older backups or upgrade your Google Drive storage plan.
Q: Is UpdraftPlus secure?
A: Yes, it uses secure connections to transfer data to Google Drive. Always keep the plugin updated.
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