This post is part of my Website Foundations series — written for business owners who want to better understand how to protect and manage their WordPress websites. In the last post, we covered how to back up your website. Today, let’s look at what happens when things go wrong, and you need to restore your site from a backup.
Why You Might Need to Restore a Backup
Restoring your website from a backup is hopefully something you rarely ever have to do, and the chances are you won’t need to do it. But if you ever do have to do this, it’s usually urgent.
You might need to restore if:
- A plugin update very badly broke your layout or functionality
- You were hacked and your site is full of spam
- Your hosting company had a technical failure
Whatever the reason, the goal is to get your site back online and functioning correctly as quickly as possible.
How Restoration Works
Here’s a simplified look at how restoring from a backup typically works:
- Access your backup tool
Whether you’re using a plugin, a service like ManageWP or a web hosting control panel, you’ll need to log in and access your saved backups. - Choose the backup version to restore
You’ll usually see a list of available backups (by date). Choose the most recent version before the issue occurred. - Restore the database and files
The tool should restore both your database (which holds all your content and settings) and your files (images, plugins, themes, etc.). - Test your site thoroughly
Check pages, forms, menus, and functionality to make sure everything looks and behaves as expected. - Be cautious about updating the plugin that caused the issue (if it was a plugin)
If a plugin update triggered the issue, skip that update and consider replacing the plugin with a better one. You should also put in a support request with the plugin developer, especially if the plugin is a premium one – as often these plugin updates will be affecting other users and you’ll not just be helping yourself by getting support.
What I Do for Clients
When I manage a client’s website, restoring from a backup is a standard part of my service. I keep:
- Multiple daily backups
- Off-site storage
- Automated backup retention
- One-click restore tools
This means I can roll back a website quickly if anything breaks. I also test major updates on a staging site first (see post #1 in this series), so the chance of needing a restore is minimal. But if we do? It’s quick and painless.
DIY? Be Careful
If you’re restoring a backup on your own:
- Make sure you have a working copy of your site to fall back on
- Understand whether your tool restores only files, only the database, or both
- Be aware that restoration can overwrite recent changes or content if you’re restoring an older backup
If you’re unsure or nervous about doing it live, get in touch.
Need a Recovery Plan?
I offer ongoing website care plans that include daily off-site backups, priority support, and expert restoration when needed. Whether you’re managing a business site, blog, or eCommerce store I can help.
Contact me to learn more or ask about my WordPress care options.
