How to Set Up UpdraftPlus Backups in WordPress
UpdraftPlus is one of the most widely used WordPress backup plugins because it makes scheduled backups and restores simple for site owners.
This guide explains how to set up UpdraftPlus backups step by step, while covering the settings that matter most for reliable recovery.
Why UpdraftPlus Is a Practical Backup Choice
A WordPress backup strategy should protect both your database and your files, including themes, plugins, uploads, and configuration data.
UpdraftPlus supports scheduled backups, remote storage, and one-click restores, which makes it useful for blogs, business sites, and WooCommerce stores.
The plugin also supports popular storage providers such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Microsoft OneDrive, and SFTP-compatible destinations.
That flexibility matters because local backups alone can fail if the hosting account, server, or site is compromised.
Install and Activate the Plugin
Before configuring anything, install the UpdraftPlus plugin from the WordPress dashboard.
After activation, the plugin adds a new section under Settings where you can manage backups, storage, and restore options.
- Open Plugins in the WordPress admin area.
- Click Add New.
- Search for UpdraftPlus.
- Install and activate the plugin.
Once active, go to Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups to access the main control panel.
Choose What UpdraftPlus Should Back Up
The first important decision is what data to include in each backup.
UpdraftPlus separates site files and the database, so you can back them up together or on different schedules.
What should be included?
- Database: posts, pages, comments, settings, and user data.
- Plugins: WordPress plugin files and settings stored in files.
- Themes: active and inactive theme files.
- Uploads: media library images, PDFs, and other uploaded assets.
- Others: additional files in the WordPress directory that are not covered above.
For most websites, a full backup is the safest starting point.
If your site changes often, especially with new posts or orders, you may want more frequent database backups than file backups.
Set a Backup Schedule
Scheduling is what turns a backup tool into a dependable recovery system.
UpdraftPlus lets you set separate frequencies for files and databases, which is useful because each changes at a different pace.
Recommended scheduling logic
- Database backups: daily for active sites, hourly for stores or membership sites.
- File backups: weekly for blogs and brochure sites, more often for sites with frequent media uploads or theme changes.
When choosing a schedule, think about how much data you can afford to lose.
A daily database backup may be enough for a content site, while a WooCommerce store may need a shorter interval because orders and customer updates can happen throughout the day.
Select a Remote Storage Destination
One of the most important parts of learning how to set up UpdraftPlus backups is moving backups off-site.
Remote storage protects your backups if the web server fails or the hosting account is affected by malware or accidental deletion.
Common storage options
- Google Drive: easy to use and popular for many WordPress owners.
- Dropbox: simple authorization and reliable file storage.
- Amazon S3: a strong option for larger sites and scalable storage needs.
- Microsoft OneDrive: useful for users already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
- SFTP or FTP-compatible storage: suitable for custom infrastructure or managed backup systems.
After selecting a destination, follow the authorization prompts in UpdraftPlus.
For example, Google Drive requires linking your Google account and granting access so the plugin can write backup files to the chosen folder.
Configure Retention Settings
Retention settings determine how many old backups UpdraftPlus keeps before deleting the oldest copies.
This matters because backups consume storage space, especially on sites with many images or large databases.
A practical retention policy balances safety and storage cost.
Many site owners keep several recent backups plus a few older restore points in case a problem goes unnoticed for days.
Retention tips
- Keep at least 2 to 4 recent database backups.
- Keep at least 2 full file backups for recovery from major issues.
- Increase retention if your site updates infrequently but must preserve older states.
If your hosting plan or remote storage space is limited, use shorter retention windows but test restores regularly.
Run the First Manual Backup
After the schedule and storage destination are configured, run a manual backup to verify that everything works.
This step confirms that the plugin can connect to your storage provider and complete the backup process without errors.
- Open Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups.
- Select Backup Now.
- Choose whether to include the database and site files.
- Start the backup and wait for completion.
After the job finishes, check that the backup appears in the existing backups list and that the remote storage location contains the expected files.
Test the Restore Process
Backups are only useful if they can be restored.
UpdraftPlus includes a restore option that lets you recover the database, plugins, themes, uploads, or the full site from a stored backup set.
To verify reliability, test the restore process in a staging environment whenever possible.
This reduces risk and helps you confirm that your backup set is complete and readable.
What to check during a restore test?
- Site content loads correctly after restoration.
- Media files appear in the uploads directory.
- Theme settings and plugin functionality are preserved.
- Database-driven features such as forms or product data still work.
Regular restore testing is a core part of disaster recovery planning, not just a technical extra.
Use Advanced Settings Carefully
UpdraftPlus includes advanced options that can improve reliability on larger sites.
These settings can help if your backups time out, exceed server limits, or need tuning for large databases.
Useful advanced options
- Split archives: breaks large backups into smaller files.
- Email notifications: alerts you when backups fail or complete.
- Exclude directories: prevents unnecessary files from being included.
- Include additional remote storage: useful for redundancy in enterprise workflows.
If your site uses caching, custom upload folders, or large media libraries, review exclusions carefully so you do not accidentally omit critical content.
Security and Maintenance Best Practices
A backup plan should support security, not replace it.
Use strong admin passwords, keep WordPress core and plugins updated, and restrict access to backup storage accounts with multi-factor authentication where possible.
It is also smart to monitor backup logs periodically.
A plugin can appear to be working while quietly failing due to storage authorization changes, expired API access, or file permission issues.
- Check logs after plugin or hosting changes.
- Confirm email alerts are reaching the correct inbox.
- Reauthorize storage providers if access tokens expire.
- Review backup size trends for unexpected growth.
When UpdraftPlus May Need Extra Planning
For very large websites, backup duration, server load, and storage management become more important.
Sites with high traffic, extensive WooCommerce data, or large multisite installations may need customized schedules and off-site storage policies.
In those cases, the basic setup still applies, but backup frequency, retention, and restore testing should be documented as part of operational maintenance.
The goal is to ensure that a restore can be performed quickly when needed, without guessing which backup set is current or complete.