With the release of WordPress 4.7.1, control panels around the web are going nuts either self-updating or reminding you to update. The big banner at the top of many sites, especially those with Jetpack installed reads something like, “be sure to back up your site first!”
This is a great time to ask: Where are my WordPress backups?
There can be many answers to this question, but let’s start with the most common.
Your host. Many modern hosting plans include automatic daily backups. If you think this may be the case, log in to your control panel and look for a section that says “backups.” Or you can call the hosting company, like GoDaddy, and they can get you up to speed.
Your email. Some plugins will send an email with the backup attached. If you’re getting those emails, be sure to keep several in a safe place.
Your server or FTP. Other plugins and cron jobs will save the backup right to your server. Your host may have set up a cron job – script that runs on a schedule and backs up your database – for you.
Dropbox. Still other plugins are more savvy and can save backups right to a dropbox account. It may not be your account, so be sure to double check the settings if you have a plugin installed that’s using dropbox.
Once you locate your WordPress backups, make a note of it. Check on them every once in a while to make sure they’re running.
You’ve spent hundreds of hours on your website – and this is the only way to save your work.
Servers crash, accounts get hacked, and updates sometimes fail.
If you don’t have a backup and don’t want to set it up yourself, let me know and I can help guide you through the process.