How to Set Up Automated WordPress Backups (2026)

How to Set Up Automated WordPress Backups

A backup you haven't tested is not a backup. Automated, verified backups are the safety net between your content and disaster. Here's how to set them up correctly.

What to Back Up

• Database: All posts, pages, comments, settings, and user data
• wp-content: Your theme, plugins, and uploads directory
• wp-config.php: Site configuration and database credentials

The WordPress core files don't need backing up — they can be reinstalled. Focus on your data and customizations.

SiteICO Built-in Backups

Every SiteICO site has automated daily backups included. From your SiteICO dashboard, go to your site's Backups tab to view backup history, download backups, and restore with one click. No plugin configuration needed.

For additional off-site backups to your own S3/R2 bucket, configure the remote backup settings in your SiteICO account.

UpdraftPlus Plugin Setup

If you need backups on a different host, UpdraftPlus is the standard plugin (3+ million active installs).

1. Install and activate UpdraftPlus
2. Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups → Settings
3. Set Files backup schedule to Weekly and Database backup schedule to Daily
4. Set Retain this many scheduled backups to 4
5. Choose remote storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3 (all free in UpdraftPlus free)
6. Authorize the remote storage connection
7. Click Save Changes, then run a manual backup to test

Testing Your Backups

Schedule a quarterly backup restoration test. Spin up a staging environment on SiteICO, restore a backup to it, and verify the site loads correctly. A backup that hasn't been tested is an assumption, not a guarantee.