How to Restore WordPress from Backup
Restoring a WordPress site requires access to both the database and file system, ideally using a staging environment or a fresh installation.
Based on 8 community reports.
Linked sources: 8.
Known Issues
- DNS record misconfiguration after migration
- Database and file system mismatch
- Expired domain ownership loss
Community Q&A
How do I restore a WordPress site from a backup?
You must restore both the site files and the database to a fresh WordPress installation, then update your DNS records to point to the new server.
What if I don’t have access to my hosting account?
Without hosting access, you cannot restore your site files or database. You may need to check if the Wayback Machine has snapshots of your content.
Do I need to update DNS records after a restore?
Yes, if you are moving to a new hosting plan or server, you must update your A and CNAME records to point to the new server’s IP address.
Reddit Sources
- How to actually get a hacked WordPress site clean and keep it clean, step by step (with a free playbook). (r/Wordpress)
- HELP PLEASE - WordPress website down on DigitalOcean (r/Wordpress)
- Restoring a Website - HELP (r/Wordpress)
- My Website Launch Checklist Before Every WordPress Site Goes Live (r/Wordpress)
- Speed wasn’t what caused me the most WordPress problems (r/Wordpress)
- The “boring” WordPress ops stack that stops 90% of downtime, hacks, and surprise bills (a practical playbook) (r/Wordpress)
- Critical error help request (r/Wordpress)
- Any chance of anyone telling me whats wrong? (r/Wordpress)