How to Restore WordPress from Backup

An unexpected website crash, an accidental deletion of critical content, or discovering that your site has been hacked—these scenarios can shake any WordPress site owner to the core. The panic of seeing your online presence compromised, the potential loss of revenue, and the fear of damaged credibility can be overwhelming. It’s like unexpectedly hitting a pothole on a smooth drive. When your site goes down, the urgency to restore it to a functional state becomes paramount.

Experiencing the dreaded white screen of death after a failed update, or realizing that vital blog posts and pages have suddenly been deleted and need to be restored; both of these add immense pressure. It’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out; or someone else’s, whichever is closer. The repercussions are not limited to just technical issues; your business operations and customer trust hang in the balance.

TL;DR If your WordPress site is facing data loss, security breaches, update conflicts, or accidental changes, don’t let panic set in. Quickly restore your site from a reliable backup plugin like BlogVault for an efficient and straightforward restoration process, ensuring your site is back online with minimal hassle and stress.

In these high-stress situations, the key to regaining control lies in having a reliable backup and knowing how to restore your WordPress site quickly and effectively. Thankfully, restoring your site doesn’t have to be a daunting task especially if you have a backup. With the right tools and methods, you can seamlessly revert to a previous stable version and minimize downtime.

Restore a WordPress site from a backup using BlogVault (RECOMMENDED)

Restoring your WordPress website from a backup doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task if you have reliable backup plugins like BlogVault installed on your website. Here’s how you can go about it:

1. Access your backups on BlogVault: On the BlogVault site, navigate to your BlogVault dashboard and locate the Backup card for your site.

2. Start the restore process: Click on the Restore button within the Backup card. This will bring up options for restoring your site.

3. Select your backup: You’ll be prompted to choose the backup version you’d like to restore. You can also select specific files and database tables for more granular control over the restoration process. After making your selections, click on the Continue button. BlogVault will then handle the rest, restoring your site to its former glory.

And that’s it! It is that simple. BlogVault makes the restoration process as smooth as butter, so you can get back to running your website like nothing ever happened. It’s like hitting the undo button on your worst online nightmare.

Why we recommend BlogVault backups

1. 100% restore rates: Restores for large sites are known to fail with cPanel and other plugins. BlogVault restores have a 100% success rate. 
2. Partial restores: Although BlogVault takes full backups of your site every time, you can restore a single page, post, or plugin, while keeping all the other changes intact. 
3. Test restores: It can be unsettling to restore an older backup, especially manually because it involves deleting the existing site files and database. With BlogVault, you can test an old backup before restoring it, to make sure everything works as it should. 

Restore a WordPress site from a backup using your web host

Your web hosting provider can often be your first line of defense against website crashes, data loss, security breaches, or other technical issues. Many hosts offer built-in backup and restore features, making the restoration process quick and convenient. 

These can simplify what could be a technically intimidating task, ensuring that you can revert your site to a previous state with minimal effort. Here’s how you can restore your WordPress site from a backup using your web host—for this article, we’ll be using Cloudways as an example.

1. Log in to Cloudways and find your site: First, log into your Cloudways account and find your site listed on the server panel. Once located, click on it to open the management interface.

2. Find your backups: On the left panel of the dashboard, locate the Backup and Restore section. This is where all your backup versions are stored.

3. Select the backup version: From the list of available backups, choose the version of your site you want to restore. This could be the most recent backup or an older one, depending on when your site was last functioning properly. Once you’ve chosen the right backup version, click on the Restore Application Now button to initiate the restoration process.

4. Select the type of restore: You may be given options for the type of restore you want to perform (e.g., full restore, partial restore). Select one and click on Proceed to complete the process.

Note: While some hosts offer automatic backups, others may require manual intervention—something to consider when choosing your hosting provider. 

Restore a WordPress site from a backup manually

If you prefer manually restoring your WordPress site from a downloaded backup, there are a few methods you can try. Keep in mind that these methods can be more time-consuming and require a bit more technical know-how.

A. With cPanel access

If your web host provides cPanel access and you have a ZIP file containing your website’s files and database, you can use this method to restore your site.

1. Log in to cPanel and access your backups: Log into your cPanel account, locate the Backup Wizard under the Files section, and click on it.

2. Start the restore process: Inside the Backup Wizard, click the Restore button to start the process.

3. Upload your backup files: To restore your site’s files, click on Home Directory. This will prompt you to choose the ZIP file containing your website’s files. Open it and click Upload.

4. Upload your database file: To restore your site’s database, click on MySQL Databases. You’ll be prompted again to choose the ZIP file containing your database. Select it and click Upload.

B. Without cPanel access

If you don’t have cPanel access, you can restore your files with the help of FTP and your database through phpMyAdmin. In this section, we will look at how you can restore your site files using FTP with Cyberduck as the client.

1. Connect the FTP client to your server: Start by opening Cyberduck and clicking on the Open Connection button. You’ll need to enter your server details provided by your hosting provider.

2. Start the upload process: Once connected, you will see the files of your website appear on your screen. This is where you’ll manage the restoration. Right-click within the directory and select the Upload option. Next, choose the file (your root file) you want to restore from your local machine.

3. Overwrite existing files: After selecting the file, click the Upload button. You’ll receive a prompt asking if you want to overwrite the existing file. Click Continue to replace the old file with the new one.

You’ve managed to restore your website files, but your content is still MIA. Restoring your WordPress database through phpMyAdmin is the next step to get everything back online. Whether you’re accessing phpMyAdmin through cPanel or directly, this method provides a straightforward way to restore your database. 

1. Navigate to the import tab on phpMyAdmin: Once you’re in phpMyAdmin, locate and click on the Import tab. 

2. Select the database file: Click on the Choose File button to select the database file you want to upload from your computer. Ensure it’s the correct file to avoid any mishaps. Check the format of your database file and select the corresponding format from the dropdown menu. The most common format used is SQL, so you’re likely safe choosing that.

3. Import the database: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Import button. The restoration process will begin, and in a few minutes, your database will be back in action.

Restore a WordPress site without a backup

The absence of a readily available backup can make recovery seem impossible. However, all is not lost. There are still a few methods to salvage your site and recover its functionality and content. However, we strongly recommend taking preventive measures such as using a backup plugin that takes regular backups of your site to avoid landing in this mess.

A. Using Google and Bing web cache

Search engines like Google and Bing periodically cache web pages, storing a snapshot of your site’s content. These cached versions can be a lifeline, allowing you to recover lost text and some layout elements even if the original site is down. Here’s how you can utilize these tools:

 Google web cache:

1. Access the cached page: Copy and paste this URL into your browser, replacing “https://user.com/” with your website’s URL:

`http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://user.com/`

2. Copy and paste content: Manually copy the visible textual content and paste it into a text editor or directly into a WordPress editor for safekeeping.
3. Create a new post/page: Log into your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Add New under Posts or Pages, and rename it to the original title. Paste the recovered text into the content area of the new page or post and rearrange it accordingly.
4. Restore images: From the cached snapshot, save the images to your device. Then, upload them to the new page/post of your website, rearranging them to where they were originally located.
5. Reapply themes and reactivate plugins: Manually search for the themes and plugins you were using, then reapply and activate them accordingly.

 Bing web cache:

1. Search for your site on Bing: Open Bing and search for your website or specific pages (e.g., `user.com`).
2. Access the cached snapshot: In the search results, click on the downward arrow next to the URL and select Cached to view a cached snapshot of the page.

3. Copy and paste content: Manually copy the visible textual content and paste it into a text editor or directly into a WordPress editor for safekeeping.
4. Create a new post/page: Log into your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Add New under Posts or Pages, and rename it to the original title. Paste the recovered visual test into the content area of the new page or post and rearrange it accordingly.
5. Restore images: From the cached snapshot, save the images to your device. Then, upload them to the new page/post of your website, rearranging them to where they were originally located.
6. Reapply themes and plugins: Manually search for the themes and plugins you were using, then reapply and activate them accordingly.
7. For obvious reasons, using cached copies of your site instead of a proper backup is not ideal. However, when you’re all out of options, this is a handy trick to keep in your toolkit. Remember, though, that preventive measures like regular backups are your best defense against future mishaps. 

B. Using Wayback Machine

Wayback Machine is an online archive that stores snapshots of websites over time, offering another way to recover lost content.

Search for your site on the Wayback Machine: Open the Wayback Machine website on your browser, search for your website’s URL using the search bar at the top of the page, and press Enter.

Select the timeline: A calendar view will appear showing the specific days your site was archived. Click on a particular date to view the snapshot of your site from that time.

Navigate through archived pages: Browse through the archived version of your site to find the pages you need. Open each page and manually copy the visible textual content. Paste the copied text into a text editor or directly into your WordPress editor for safekeeping and further use. Bear in mind, not all pages will be archived. 

Create a new post/page: Log into your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Add New under Posts or Pages, and rename it to the original title. Insert the copied text into the content area of the new post or page and rearrange it accordingly.

Recover and upload images: From the cached snapshot, save the images to your device. Upload them to the new page/post on your website, arranging them as they were originally.

Reapply themes and plugins: Manually search for the themes and plugins you were using, then reapply and activate them accordingly.

Note: Always take backups if you don’t want to end up piecing your website together from scraps found on the internet with glue that may or may not work.

Understanding WordPress restores and backups

Types of restorations

Full site restore: It reverts all files, themes, plugins, and databases to a previous state. This comprehensive method ensures that your entire site is returned to a specific, stable condition. It’s handy in the following scenarios:

• Severe hacking or malware attack: When your site has been compromised and you need to ensure all traces of malicious code are removed. But restoring from a backup isn’t always the best move. Pinpointing the exact time of the compromise can be tough without detailed logs. Alternatively, if you decide to restore a much older version that you know for sure isn’t compromised, you might lose any recent changes you’ve made. We would advise you to consider the potential data and updates you might end up sacrificing.
• Complete site failure: When your entire site is down or inaccessible.
• Major update issues: When multiple updates cause compatibility issues that break your site.
• Data corruption: When critical data components are corrupted beyond simple repair.

Partial restore: This allows you to restore specific components, such as only the database or a particular set of files. This method is less disruptive than a full restore and targets specific problems. It’s ideal for the following situations:

• Database errors: When you encounter issues specifically related to your WordPress database.
• Content recovery: When specific posts, pages, or media files are lost or accidentally deleted.
• Plugin/theme issues: When a particular plugin or theme is causing problems and you need to revert just that component.
• Targeted fixes: When minor issues occur that do not require a full site restore, such as CSS or JavaScript errors.

Incremental restore: It applies incremental backups sequentially to restore only the changes made since the last full backup. This approach minimizes restoration time and resource usage. It’s particularly effective in the following cases:

• Frequent updates: When your site undergoes regular updates and you want to restore to a very recent state without reverting too far back.
• Performance optimization: When you need to quickly restore recent changes to improve site performance without touching the entire site.
• Data consolidation: When you need to restore specific sets of data or recent changes due to a minor issue.
• Quick recovery: When minor, recent issues need addressing without a full-site downtime.

Whether you need a full site restoration after a severe issue or just a targeted fix for minor problems, it’s essential to know how to approach the restoration process efficiently. Because let’s face it, no one wants to be staring at a white screen of death at 3 AM wondering where their site went.

A solid grasp of the different types of backups, methods for creating them, storage options, and verification practices will not only help you restore your website effectively but also ensure you’re prepared for any future hiccups.

Types of backups

Full backups: A full backup includes all your website files, databases, themes, plugins, and settings. This is the only type of backup that is worth having. Partial backups, like file backups or database backups, are useless. Plugins and themes, not to mention WordPress, use files and the database to run. Therefore, with a partial backup, you can never be certain that your site will function correctly after a restore; and in our experience, it invariably doesn’t.  The best way to take backups is with a backup plugin. 

Database backups: A database backup captures only the content and settings stored in your database, excluding site files. It is never a good idea to just backup the database, so we strongly recommend going in for full backups instead. 

Incremental backups: You may have come across this term when researching site backups. However, incremental backups are actually a mechanism used for backups, rather than a backup type, and are used with full backups. Incremental backups capture changes made since the last backup, thus saving storage space and reducing backup time. This method is useful for frequently updated, larger websites.

Things to do after restoring a WordPress backup

Restoring your WordPress site from a backup is a significant step toward recovery, but it doesn’t always guarantee a flawless return to normalcy, unless you test your restore just beforehand. Post-restoration issues can arise, and troubleshooting them is crucial to ensure your site operates smoothly. Here are key points to consider after restoring WordPress from a backup:

Check for missing content

Verify all pages, posts, media files, and custom content are fully restored. It’s essential to ensure that nothing has been inadvertently left out during the restoration process.

Ensure all links are functioning

Ensure that all links within your site are functioning correctly. This includes internal and external links. Fix any broken links to maintain the usability of your website.

Re-upload missing media files

Re-upload any images or media files that did not restore correctly. Sometimes media files can get lost or corrupted during the backup and restoration process, unless you have used a proper backup plugin.

Update and configure theme and plugins

Ensure your theme and plugins are up-to-date and properly configured. Deactivate and reactivate plugins to resolve any potential conflicts that may have arisen during the restoration.

Verify database credentials

Confirm that your database credentials (host, username, password, database name) in the wp-config.php file are correct. If there are issues, repair the database through the WordPress dashboard or using phpMyAdmin if needed.

Perform a security scan

Perform a security scan to check for malware or compromised files that might have been restored with the backup. Use security plugins like MalCare for comprehensive scanning to ensure your site is safe and secure.

Monitor site performance

Monitor your site’s loading times and server response times to identify performance bottlenecks. This will help you determine if the restoration process has negatively affected your site’s performance.

Verify user accounts and permissions

Verify that all user accounts and permissions are intact and correctly set up. Ensure that admin privileges are not compromised and that no unauthorized accounts have been restored.

Test your backup system

Test your backups to ensure that future backups will be reliable. Schedule regular backups and verify their integrity periodically to prevent future data loss.

Restoring a WordPress site is a critical skill for any site owner. Backups provide a safety net against data loss, hacking attempts, and technical failures. Understanding the different types of restorations available can help you choose the right approach for your specific situation, ensuring a swift and effective recovery.

Parting thoughts

Restoring your WordPress site from a backup is an essential safeguard against those pesky, unexpected disruptions. Knowing how to restore your site from a backup is critical for maintaining your site’s integrity and functionality. 

Remember, ensuring your website’s continuity involves more than just making backups. It also requires regular testing and verifying the restore process to spot any potential issues. Think of it as a regular check-up for your site’s health. 

By integrating these practices into your routine, you can minimize downtime, protect your data, and maintain the trust of your users and customers. Implement these measures, and your digital presence will remain robust, resilient, and ready for whatever comes its way.

FAQs

Can I restore only specific parts of my WordPress site, like a single page or the database?

Yes, you can restore specific parts of your WordPress site, such as individual pages or the database. Many backup plugins, like BlogVault, offer granular restore options, allowing you to choose exactly what needs to be restored. Similarly, for database-only restoration, backup plugins can restore the database without affecting the rest of your site.

How do I verify that my backup is complete and functional?

To verify that your backup is complete and functional, perform a test restore on a staging environment or a local server. This ensures that all your files and databases are intact and that there are no missing elements. You can also regularly review your backup logs, which are often available within backup plugins, to confirm that backups have been successfully created.

Can a web archive service like the Wayback Machine fully restore my WordPress site?

While web archive services like the Wayback Machine can be useful for recovering lost content, they are not a comprehensive solution for full site restoration. The Wayback Machine captures snapshots of your website’s pages, which can help recover text and some layout elements, but it won’t restore plugins, themes, or database content. Think of it more as a last-resort option rather than a primary backup method.

How do I fix my WordPress site after a failed update?

If a WordPress update fails, the first step is to try restoring your site from a recent backup. If no backup is available, you can attempt to manually deactivate plugins via FTP or the file manager in your hosting control panel to identify any conflicts. If the site is still accessible, you can use the WP Rollback plugin to revert themes and plugins to their previous versions. Restoring the core WordPress files via FTP or a manual reinstallation can also resolve issues.

What should I do if I accidentally delete important files from my website?

If you accidentally delete important files from your website, don’t panic. The first course of action should be to restore the site from your most recent backup. If you don’t have a recent backup, try contacting your hosting provider; many hosts keep temporary backups that can be restored upon request. For individual files, you might also find them in your hosting account’s Trash or Deleted Items folder if such a feature is available.